Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-02-02
BUSY DAYS IN THE
IDAHO LEGISLATURE
NUMBER OF IMPORTANT BILLS
ARE CONSIDERED AND MANY
NEW ONES PRESENTED.
New Educational institution Consoli,
dstion Program Considered at Meet
ing of Committees From
Both Houses.

| Boise, IdahO.-The legislature con-
sidered a number of important meas
ures on Janaury 81. The Camas coun,
ty division bill was passed and sent
to the governor. The house passed a
relief bill appropraiting s26,322 for the
King Hill project; also a measure en-
powering the governor to fill vacancies
in the United States senate.
Bills were introduced, one creating
a 10000 bond issue for good roads,
another consolidating the pure food
and board of health departments.
third creating a state agricultural
board and fourth dividing the state
into two congressional districts.
A new tentative educational insti-
tuition consolidation program was pro-
posed at joint meeting of the educa'
tional institution committees of the
house and senate of the present leg
islature with the state board Of edu-
cation on January 81, which, in the
concrete, is to give the University of
Idaho a more central location by es'
tablishing it at Boise. or some place
in this section of the state; to aban,
don the Lewiston normal and estab-
lish it in the university buildings at
Moscow; giving to the north one state
normal; to abandon the Albion nor
NAL at Albion and locate it at Poca-
tello, combining it with the Idaho
Technical institute there, thereby
keeping the second state normal
school in the southern part of the
state.
Senator Harding of Oneida county
first proposed that a general cOnsoli-
dation program for the state educa-
tional institutions be worked out. He
was followed by Representative Stor-
ey of Ada county, for a number OF
sessions a member of the legislature,
who Endorsed the plan. Senator jack
son of Bonner county first suggested
that the University of Idaho be given
a more central location where eli
matte conditions would be more favor
able Other members of the commit
tee joined in the discussion. No def
mite action was taken The primary
purpose of the joint conference was
" dSGCILd44 lA4C AGCQo VI tAI SOW ~ -
institutions. A conference was held
with the appropriation committee OF
the house by the board regarding the
budgets for the several institutions
under its control, which have to be re-
vised owing to the limitation OF the
bonded Indebtedness of the state.
Boise. Idaho.-The anti-alien bill,
in the house of representa-
tives by Anderson and McMullen of
county, which, it was ad-
mitted on the floor of the assembly, |
seeks to bar Japanese from acquiring |
title to valuable lands within the Dor
ders of the state of Idaho, was pass |
ed by the house by unanimous vote |
on January 26.
In view of the fact that this meas |
ure is patterned after the California |
act, which raised an issue between
the United States and Japan, the &C
ton of the house is looked upon as
of unusual significance.
During the debate on final passage
pointed reference was made to the
activities of aliens in the United
States in the attempt to bring about
a violation of the neutrality of this
Members declared unequivocally
for Americanism and American rights
over those of foreign birth who do
not. while in this country and enjoy
ng its privileges and benefits, be-
come naturalized citizens.
When the anti-alien bill came be
ore the house, and while speaking
or it's passage. Representative Nc
Mullen of Bonneville county declared
hat the main purpose of it was to
prevent Japanese from gaining title
O valuable sugar-beet and other
ands located in his county. He also
explained that the measure would put
Jack on the statute books the law
hat was repealed four years ago. The
Japanese, he said, were acquiring
ands gradually and the American
itizen found their occupancy dis
asteful.
Anderson of Canyon asserted that
he bill was American in every par
ocular. He called to the attention
( the house the activity of aliens in
be United States, seeking to force
mis- country to violate its neutrality
Iajority Leader Moody referred
ointedly to the California situation
n the same subject and said his
ympathies were with the Califor-
ians in their fight against Japanese
There was applause
hen the speaker announced after
lie roll call, that the bill had passed
Y a unanimous vote.
The bill creating the county of Bear
liver out of territory to have been
lken from Bannock county was in
postponed in the lower
ouse of the Legislature. on motion oil
representative Richards, one of its
Jonsors.
Senator Thomas Elliott of Fremont
,rnt,v introduced hills m create th