Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-03-16
IDAHO LEGISLATIVE
SESSION AOJOURNS
STATE REMAINS UNDIVIDED AND
DISTURBING LEGISLATION
is AVOIDED.
Compromise Reached on Workmen's
Compensation Bill, Which Caused
One of Most Bitter Fights of
Fourteenth Session.

Boise, Idaho.-The Fourteenth Ida
no legislature passed into history Sat
urday night, when it adjourned sine
die at 10 O'Clock while hilarity reigned
supreme among the members
With its passing went the dreams
Of those who expected to see a new
state carved out of the ten northern
counties, the ambitions of those who
desired Idaho TO have workmen' 5
compensation commission realized,
and the defeat of two measures that
threatened International controver-
sizes, if not a complete breach-the
anti-Asiatic marriage bill and the
anti-alien land ownership measure,
both conceded to be aimed at the
time of their introduction at the Jap
anese.
The closing hours of the legislature
witnessed a compromise being reach
ed over the workmen's compensation
bill, which caused one of the most
bitter fights an Idaho legislature has
ever witnessed. without a dissenting
vote both branches passed a com
promise bill throwing the cloak of
protection over the laboring people Of
the state.
The final days session saw the pas
sage of appropriation bills carrying a
grand total of almost a million and a
half dollars The state educational,
penal and charitable institutions were
cared for by them. State departments
were given their biennial maintenance
money and numerous relief bills were
disposed of. One institution suffered
as the result of the final pruning
process, and only one The Univer-
sity of Idaho had $4,000 stricken from
its. maintenance for the payment of
expenses of lectures of the extension
department and $4,000 for the summer
school. Otherwise the state educa-
tional institutions are given the
amounts apportioned to them by the
rouse. The school for the deaf and
the blind gained $4,000 for a new
building and $4,000 for a central
heating plant.
BY a vote Of thirty-two 10 ten the
house joint resolution authorizing the
converting Of state convention at
Moscow to draft constitution for
the proposed new state to be created
out of the ten northern counties was
laid on the table and in that manner
its defeat was accomplished. 1t re-
ceived the support of but the ten
senators from the north. This reso- 4
luton had passed the house, a ma
jority of the members of which were
Us joint authors.
The anti-Asiatic marriage and the
anti-ailen land ownership bills were
defeated by being smothered in CON-
mittees. A majority of the senators
were opposed to the passage of either
international crisis.
Among other measures that failed |
to pass was the $S5O000 bond issue /
for completion of wings on the new |
state capitol. 1t was smothered on /
the calendar.
Labor secured its greatest victory
of any session of an Idaho legislature
when it succeeded in having passed
by a unanimous vote a workmen's
compensation bill providing for cleo
tive compensation. Regardless Of the
fact that many days were spent by
both houses in threshing out the COM
pensation issue and for weeks a bitter
fight was waged for and against the
three bills-.Rockwell, Bates and An
ierson-and a deadlock threatened to
prevent an adjournment for days, the
legislature unanimously agreed finally I
to a compromise measure that was
on the morning Of the last
days session and passed before the
lay was over without a dissenting
vote cast against it in either house.
"A commission of three members
and a state insurance manger and
are created by this bill;
a schedule of compensation for in
jured workmen or for the heirs of
those killed at labor ranging from As
per cent of the total weekly wages
for period of 400 weeks is provided
in the measure. Casualty insurance
companies are barred from participat-
Ing and an employer may elect to
come under state compensation or
give bond TO provide compensation
for his injured employees, as he de
sires The measure is conceded to
meet the differences of those factions
Interested.
By a decision of the attorney ger
raj the Portneuf county division bill
which passed the senate and house.
1ut was held by the president 10 have
allied to pass on account of the fact
hat when the senate voted upon it
he measure was in the possession of
he house. was held valid, and if
signed by the governor will become
/ law. 1t creates a new county out OF
3annock county.