The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-02-09
ANTI-AL|EN LAND
BILL S|DETRACKED
IDAHO LEGISLATURE WILL DO
NOTHING TO EMBARRASS
THE NATION.
Leaders of the Senate, in Response to
Plea from Senator Borah, Decide
to Sidetrack Much Discussed
Measure.

2 that the anti-alien land ownership
bill, passed by the house, would be
killed in order not to embarrass the
United States government during the
present international crisis.
A telegram was read in the senate
from United States Senator Borah in
which he asked that no legislation of
this kind be enacted at this time. No
formal action was taken, but a move
| to kill the measure by indefinite post.
ponement was started.
Japan objected to the proposed bill,
which is similar to California's anti
alien land ownership law, and the
state department asked the Idaho del
egation in congress to use their in
| ftuence to prevent its passage.
Two hours discussion of the bill at
an informal session OF the senate at
night resulted in an apparent under
standing that the measure, if brought
out of committee, would be defeated
by almost unanimous vote.
| In telegram to the members of
the Idaho legislature, Senator Borah,
now in Washington, said in part:
| i am sending this at the earnest
request of the state department This
bill is causing the government deep
concern. l suggest that only upon the
most substantial and imminent rea-
sons should we embarrass the govern
ment, particularly at this time. In
this critical hour we ought not to
exercise our state rights unless the
situation compels US to do so.
Il have taken the liberty to assure
the president that neither the legis1a-
ture nor the people of our state would
want to add to his task at this juno
ture of our foreign affairs other than
for vital and controlling reasons"
Both houses of the legislature ad-
journed early Friday, February 2,
out of respect to the late Mrs. H. H.
Taylor, wife of former Lieutenant
Governor Taylor. She died Thursday
at Spokane. Senators Mitchell, Thorn
as, Lowe, Jackson and Harding and
Representatives Moody, MCGOWAN,
, Huseman, Hubbard and Richards were
appointed as committees to draft res
buttons of coincidence.
Governor Alexander and other state
authorities were exonerated OF any
blame for the delay occasioned in mus.
, tering out the Second Idaho infantry
when the committee in the lower
! house of the legislature reported back
, to the house. The committee held
the rehabilitation Of the troops to be
a matter entirely in the control of the
federal government.
Members Of the majority came back
at the minority in the house last week
with second administration measure
giving the governor power to remove
sheriffs and county attorneys who are
derelict in their duties. 1t is intended
to strengthen the anti-liquor laws 1t
reads differently, but has the same
meaning as a similar bill killed in the
house last week by the Republicans.
The new bill was drawn and intro
duced by Ernest Anderson. 1t pro
vides for the creation of a board made
up Of the attorney general, the gov
ernor and the secretary of state, who
shall pass upon the removal of any
sheriff or county attorney slated for
dismissal by the governor.
A bill presented by REPRESENTATIVE
Jones makes it unlawful for any per
son to buy. sell or operate an automo-
bile from which the manufacturers
serial number has been removed.
The proposal for removal Of the
state university from Moscow to
Monday when Alma Findlay of Bear
Lake introduced in the lower house Of
the legislature a joint resolution put
, ting the matter up to vote of the
people at the next general election.
Ffndlay does not say in his resolu-
ton where he would locate the uni
) versity, it is taken from northern
! Idaho, leaving that to be determined
] by the next legislature.
The proposal to raise the legisla-
tors pay from s. day to $3.50 was
contained in house joint resolution
by Grice. 1t provided that the voters
should be permitted to pass on the
: matter at the next general election.
: 1t required a two-thirds majority TO
: pass. Twenty-seyen members voted
l. against the increase in pay; 81 voted
a for 1t.
Another attack on the public utili.
n ties law is contained in a bill intro
a duced in the lower house of the legis-
! lature by the committee on agricul.
: ture and horticulture. 1t amends sec
: ton 4Sd of chapter 81 of the 1915 SEES
sion laws by relieving mutual and
s non-profit, or cooperative public
necessity and convenience.
l. In a bill that has been introduced
: in the lower house of the legislature
L the state of Idaho is asked to lend its
: credit to the development of an irri
1 cation project organized under the ir
: rigation district plan by raising money
through bond issue for the building
f of power plant at Arrowrock dam
l. from which would be drawn electricity
e for the operation of the pumping plant
a IN tba Cam irrixra fi0O district in