The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-02-16
SENATE STANDS BY
THE COMMISSION
ATTACK ON PUBLIC UTILITIES
MEETS DEFEAT AFTER a
THREE-DAY FIGHT.
Drastic Liuqor confiscation Bill
Would Give Sheriffs Right to
Seize and Search Baggage Of
Suspects.

Boise. Idaho.-The fight to abolish
the public utilities commission before
the legislature here was lost on
February 8, when the senate voted to
indefinitely postpone the bill intro
duced by Senator Cummings of Ban
mock county, following a three days
debate. 1t was the first test vote
taken, showing where the upper house
stood with relation to the commits
sion which has been under fire ever
since the legislature opened its ses-
sion. The Cummings bill proposed to
repeal the act creating the commits
sion. 1t was killed by a vote of %
to 6.
A drastic anti-liquor confiscation
bill was introduced on February 8. It
gives the. sheriffs of counties the
right to seize and search all satchels,
grips, handbags, suitcases, trunks or
other receptacles used within the
state, together with horses, wagons,
automobiles and other vehicles, for
the transportation Of liquors, and if
the owners are convicted on the
charge of violating the prohibition
laws the property may be confscated
and sold at public auction to the high
est bidder.
The lawmakers seem determined to
get through with their work in record
time if possible. and to that end a
session was held on Saturday.
At a meeting of the state fedora
ton of agriculture here on February
3 the stf = farm markets bureau bills
pending in the house of representa-
tives were Endorsed for passage and
the important action taken to declare
for farmer control in politics.
Boise, Idaho.-The passage of sew
eral important administration bills on
February 8 by the house of represen-
t~atives, including the act giving to the
governor of the state power to re-
move sheriffs and county prosecuting
attorneys for failure to enforce the
prohibition laws, and the activity on
the part of the majority to bring ap'
preparation measures to the front, to
gether with other administration bills
were said on excellent authority to be
the signs ~forecasting an early ad
journment of the fourteenth Idaho as
sembly. A ffty-day session may be
the limit, and the wheels of botf
houses may be expected to move rap
idly from now on.
The house passed the Hussman
Goehry administration bill, seeking to
clothe the commission with power tC
supervise the issuance of stocks
bonds and other securities by public
utilities under its jurisdiction, by
vote of AS to 10, almost without de
bate. No real opposition has SO ia
developed to the commission in thu
lower house. 1t has practically al
been confined to the senate.
Party lines were again drawn whel
the bill to empower the governor t
remoYe sheriffs and prosecuting attor
neys who failed to enforce the prom
bition laws was passed. The hous
passed the Storey-Johnson memorla
to congress-, asking that the Colliste
hats in Boise be purchased and re
moved to improve the approach to tn
state capitol.
The house also passed the Andersen
measure, house bill No. 1874, requiring
heads of state institutions TO max
monthly reports, covering all income
of the institutions they are executive
of. to the state auditor each month
except legislative income.
The following important bills wer
introduced in both houses:
Requiring state game warden to II
stall fish screens in bitches and al
propriating $4,000 therefor. by Lehl
has.
Requiring state auditor to audi
!. books of all state institutions ever
six months, by Anderson of Canyon
Appropriating $4,000 by Lewis an
Clark highway, by Quillan.
Allowing county commissioners !
employ county agents, by a~gricultur;
committee.
Requiring counties to pay cost {
maintenance for insane sent to stat
lasylums. by Alfred and Johnson.
Allowing county commissioners I
levy general school tax of not to e.
coed SIS per capita; making it misd,
meanor to aid in delinquency of chi
dren, by Sherer.
Pertaining to prospectors' rights o
state land, by Grant.
Providing valuation of public utilit
found by public utilities eommissio
shall be assessed valuation. by Steyel
son and Whitcomb.
The senate passed the Shopper
proposed constitutional amendrnen
4 known as senate joint resolution n,
A. providing counties and municipal
dies may become stockholders in an
give financial aid to fairs.
Idaho will have a board OF irrig'
tien. as do Oregon, California and ee
tain other western states, If a bill Il
/ ~ To.,a, 6l,,ca 81 fhn 10,