The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-01-30
LIVELY SCRAP OVER COUNTY DI-
VISION BEFORE HOUSE COM
MITTEE LAST WEEK.
BULL ATTEMPTS TO DISCREDIT
CANDOR OF SEN. ATHERTON
Senator Defends His Position and Is
Supported BY Barker and Denton
Houses. OverwOrked Saturday, Ad-
jOurn Without Clearing Calendar.
{ EditorIal Correspondeneel

{ Editorial Correspondence
BOISE, Jan 29-The house COM
mittee on county lines and boundaries
held a heated session one day last
week when the merits and demerits
of the proposed country Of Buhl were
given an airing by the respective par
tisans.
Some unlooked-for sensations were
sprung, in the most approved dramatic
fashion. Senator AthertOn and Fred
Nihart had leading roles. The cli-
max was reached after Atherton had
declared that the legislative fight in
Twin Falls county was based upon
the county division issue, and that he
had been elected on an anti-divisiOn
platform. Nihart charged into the
contest at this point, claiming that
county division was not an issue in
the general election and that it was
understood at Buhl that Atherton was
not strongly opposed to the division
of the county
Atherton came back with the infOr-
nation that Nihart knew very well
/ just where he stood, as did everybody
else. That in his advertisements dur
ing the campaign, and on his cards,
and in his talks, he was committed
to the proposition Of maintaining the
unity of the county. Nihart sprung
an affidavit by Faris, the Bull bank
er, in which Faris charged that Ather-
ton had given him to understand that
he would not oppose the creation Of
Buhl county. Atherton hotly denied
that he had done any such thing
Then came affidavits from Alfred an
other Buhl banker. Harvey, an attor-
ney, and Peck, all of Bull Each
swore that they had gathered from
what Atherton told them that he
would not oppose the proposition ALI
red said he did all he could to help
elect AthertOn for that reason.
Claiming a frame up" Senator Ath-
erton informed the committee that he
would present to the committee copies
of papers containing his advertise
ments and copies of other campaign
literature, which clearly committed
him to the opposing of the creation
Of a new county.
Chairman Richards Of the commit
tee and Sims took no part in the hear
ing, both attending a hearing of the
committee on state affairs and appro-
priations.
| Representative Barker made brief
? statement supporting Senator Ather-
tons claims, as did also d. M. Denton,
> the only other Twin Falls man pres
! ent. Several Bull men talked
e The Buhl people are very anxious
to get a favorable report from the
committee, as they believe the house
will be guided largely by that report.
The delegation from Twin Falls coun =
: ty are, on the other hand, hoping for
fI,o4 III 4 -
: all are committed against the dividing
of the county. The division bill was
{ introduced by Lucas of New Meadows
& a brother-in-law of Alfred, a Buhl
banker. Lucas is also a member OF
the committee on county lines and
boundaries.
No report has yet come from the
l. committee. and this, in itself, encour-
It ages members of the Twin Falls dele
e cation to believe that the commi,fet
s has found little merit in the measure
i They believe that had the COMMITTEES
y intended to report the bill favorably
d they would have done so several day:
e ago.
t. The danger of county division, tn,
d delegation believes, lies not in tn,
is Lucas division bill, but in one o
f the several enabling acts that hav'
lie been introduced, under the provision
lie of which the divisionists in the west
S end might be able to create thei
at county.
lie Too much raw material clogged tn
legislative mill Saturday For tn
very first time during the session
adjournment was taken before tn
N calendar could be cleared. Up to thi
time the house had struggled valianti
to keep abreast of the calendar.
III During the week bills have been in
r irOduced in the house to put into ei
ne feet the initiative, referendum an
re recall; revising drug laws; memorial
ne izing congress to act on national pre-
ST hibition amendment; providing 70
ny state comptroller and accounting sys
ne tenn; appropriations for state depart
v ments; seeking $4,000 for Owsle
nd ferry bridge; $4,000 to enforce Care
act project contracts; constitution;
Vn amendment for one-house legislature
-st ighway road supervisors bills; bi
n to create Nampa county; King. Hi
w relief bill; giving governor power
nj remove appointees; consolidatin
~ boards of health, pure food depar
IL ments, etc, authorizing issuance
ne 81 ,000, 900 for roads; and bill crea
of ----- - - -
fCOntinued nm napo Q)