Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-13
Members of Delegation Have
Their Ears to the Ground
to Find Out What People
of the County Desire.
TO BE AN IMPORTANT
ISSUE AT SESSION
Representative Rich ar S
Makes His Position Clear,
Announcing That He Pro
poses to Act According to
the Wishes of His Con
stituents.

That he has no interest In the dtvi-
sion issues OF Bannock county other
Tan to comply with the will OF his
constituents is the attitude of Repre-
sentative j. s. Richards. If major
Ety sentiment is in favor of division
he favors it; If majority sentiment is
against division he is against II. Mr..
Richards made this plain when In
terviewed. Before he came to Boise
Representative Richards says that the
question of dividing Bannock ceuuty
was preached, He says that he advised
that the sentiment of the county De
learned on the division issue. and IL It
was favorable he would introduce n
division bill.
.aa 2cnnooH county division issue
promises to play an Important part in
southeastern Idaho legislation, y dele-
cation of Soda Springs citizens, fay
orable to division, arrived in Boise this
morning.
COMMITTEE ORGANIZES.
The county lines and boundary com
mittee of the house was organized
yesterday afternoon with Richards as
chairman and Monsoon. OF Franklin
secretary. Ii will soon have THREE
county division issues in Its hands
for the Seltway. Butte and Camas bills
have been introduced, Other meas
uros will follow. Those fer and against
division will be given Il chance to tie
heard. Chairman Richards annnounces
for 1t is the desire 10 get at all the
facts in connection with each case.
This committee promises to be one uf
Importance during the present session
The members are Richards. Jones'
Qutnlan. Peckham, Monson of Frank
lie, smith ana lucas.
George 1t Fisher, former state sem
ator from Ranueck county, spent sev
eral days this week in the city con-
sulting with tho Eanuock county rep
rtscntatiyes regarding tho county dit
vision issues, He represented n nam
Der Of towns in Ranuock county and
was against division. Before he lefI
he received a telegram from Soda
Springs citizens. stating the situation
had changed there and that instead
of being against division they were fot
It. MIR. Fisher loft last night FOR hts
home.
P0RTHEuF AND WILSON,
Il have no interest in division other
than to carry out lie wish OF my con
stituents.s said Representative Rich
ards. ar sentiment is Cor county diI-
sion | VIII introduce 4 hin tu divide
Bannoek county, If sentiment IL
IL against county division will not
do so This Is the stand | have taken,
] believe II is a fair one, There Inns
been camnaicn IN progress in Ban
mock county 10 ascertain the sentiment
of the people there. The result will
be known shortly"
Under The proposed division plans
the S25.000 Jon assessed valuation in
Rannock county would be cat down
TO Si0,0O0,000 fos the old county. rho
northwest portion Of the county Is
proposed for the new county OF Port
ncnf. This aclndes the Marsh Val
ley country. Tho assessed valuation
in this proposed county would be ST.
100000, II would have an area of 700
square miles. HcGammon, Arime
Lava Hot SPRINGS aud Downey are III
available county seatn, and that issue
II is proposed 10 settle by popular
vote
The second new county proposed Il
he carved ent Of Hammock is largely
confined 10 tlls eAsl Sldf OF TIE pres
ent county, or the Gentle Valley end
II would have an assessed valuation u
sSnDo,0e0 and 1890 square miles. Pan
croft. Soda springs and Grace would
be the candidates for the county seat
and Il majoriiy vote is proposed to set
lie that issue,
GOULD SUPPORT FIVE COUNTIES
The proposed division would leave
old Rannock county with Pocatello n
the county sept, m assessed valuation
Of $40, 900 and an rca of o01
square miles.
Figures that have been gathered
from Bannock and other counties now
In the possession of Representative
Richards show that on tho present an-
nual cost of maintaining Bannocl
county five counties Hike FRANKLIN
could be maintained. The state and
county levy for Bannock county In lglt
was sr.l6. for Power county. 81.
Franklin county, 81. The total cost OF
county offices fer the sitine year In
Bannocl county. including district
courts was s60.06 IS; Of power coun
~ s23.254.S6. and of Franklin eoun.
ty, $12,639.A9. Tho cost Of maintainp
Franklin county in 1876 was therefore
~. S1a,63O.ta. The cost of maintaining
Rannock county. The territory out
side of what Is to be left IN old Ban
noe. II the tri-diyislon plan goes
through, claims that the heavy cost IL
due to the expense In Poeatello.
senator Cummings and Representa-
.b..l.a t.xv4t II Dr. IL