The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1917-02-16
SENATE STANDS BY
THE COMMISSION
ATTACK ON PUBLIC UTILITIES
MEETS DEFEAT AFTER A
THREE-DAY FIGHT.
Drastic Liucor conhacatlon Bill
Would Give sheriFs Right 10
Seize and Search Baggage Of
Suspects.

Boise, IDAHO The fight 70 abolish
the public utilities commission before
the legislature here was lost on
February ., when the senate voted Ia
indefinitely postpone the bill intro
duced by Senator Cummings Of Ban.
mock county. following a three days
debate. II was the FIRST test vote
taken. showing where the upper house
stood with relation to the commits
son which has been under fire ever
since the legislature opened its SEES
sion. The Cummings bin proposed to
repeal the act creating the commits
sion. Il was killed by vote Of Is
to g.
1 A drastic antlliquOr conhscatlon
bill was introduced on February o. Il
/ gives the sher Ms OF counties the
right to seize and search all aatchels.
grips, handbags, suiteases. trunks or
other rceeptacles used within the
state. together with horses. wagons,
automobiles and other vehicles. for
the transportation OF liquors. and II
the owners are convicted on the
charge Of violating the prohibition
laws the property may be con6scated
and sold at public auction 20 the high.
est bidder.
The lawmakers seem determined 20
get through with their work In record
time II possible. and TO that end a
session was held on Saturday.
AZ meeting OF the state fedora.
Z Of Ltah
the state farm markets bureau bills
pending In the house OF representa-
tiyes were Endorsed for passage and
the important action taken TO declare
for farmer control In politics.
Boise. Idaho.-The long-expected
light on the public utilities commits
sion broke in the senate on February
when the bin, introduced by Sen
ator Cummings OF Bannoek county.
was debated. The commission was
branded by Cummings as the creation
OF "fossllized. superannuated profess
sors. as a body that had gone tail
and hide" over to tho corporations.
stiAed competition among public utilI-
ties in this state, permitted monopoly.
and that It should be abolished.
Cummings Is the author OF a bin 10
repeal the act creating the commits
sion. Charges we're made during the
course OF debate by the senator from
Hammock county. that the Electric
Bond aud share company. OF which
the idaho Power and the Utah Power
and Light companies are subsidiaries.
had control of the southern Idaho
electrical field 10 the exclusion OF all
others. and was retarding It's develop
ment and holding the territory. with
the sanction OF the commission. In or
der to take over the contract, within
short time, for electrihcation of the
Oregon short Line railroad,
No action was taken by the senate
on the Cummings bill
Both branches OF the legislature
were Interested In tho report eirculat
ed that a tristate division plan may
be launched soon. seeking not only TO
give northern Idaho a new state, but
also 10 create new state out OF
western and south central Idaho. leay,
tug the present state confined to the
southeastern part OF the state. West
ern senator's and representatives are
working hard ON such plan. Il Is
said The reference committee OF the
house reported the resolu ION 60
create state OF northern Idaho for
pr'nt'ng A test vote will be reached
IN few days
Il II also helng charged that deal
sza been en- srcd into between north.
ern and southeastern members of the
legislature 90 back bin cai'ing for
preferential vote en- the permanent 10.
eation Of tbc capital. % determine II
il shalt remain In Ro'se
The constitution provides that after
having been located twenty years, the
state can take preferential vote 90
definitely bx the loya ton of The esp.
ital Onjyr such en- agreement both
sections we're 60 vote % change the
location from Boise 70 poeateIlp
Northern members deny TIA such IN
agreement exists. and assert tEft the
ruunr Is only being used 70 cloud the
northern division plan.
The house passed tho jury -tea sure.
house bill No. 81. by Speaker Alfred.
after hot debate. In Which the az.
torneya Ia the lower house attacked
tho measure,
The adjustment Of capital punish.
mout in idaho Is asked for In bin
introduced BY Sims of Twin Fails
Under the terms OF the measure pFr.
sous found guilty. OF first degree uur
der shall get fe Imprisonment, In the
state pcnitentiary.
Idaho viii have a board o. irriga.
tion. as do Oregon. California and GER
tain other western states, n bill In,
PRODUCED in the lower house OF the les.
tslature by the committee on irrlga.
ton. reservoirs and reclamation be
comes Law.
Provision for the creation OF the Of.
flee OF state mineral inspector Is con.