Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-03-16
Signature Closing Chapter
in Long Fight to Secure
Act for Benefit of Work
men of the State.
SIX OTHER BILLS
GIVEN APPROVAL
Five Measures Vetoed, In
Guiding the Storey Regis
tration Bill and the Uni
versity Judgment Bill,
Which Was Disapproved
Two Years Ago.

w - ~
Governor Alexander today signed
the workmen's compensation bill and
Idaho comes into possession of what is
known as one of the most constructive
workmen's compensation acts in the
union. The bill was signed at noon.
Previously it had been carefully
checked owing to its Importance and
because of the additional fact that it
is one of the voluminus measures pas
sed by the legislature.
The new law carries an appropria-
ton of $4,000 with which to establish
the state workmen's compensation in
surance fund. The insurance depart
ment comes into being July l and will
be under the jurisdiction of an insur-
ance manager appointed for term of
five years at a salary of $4,000 per an
mum. The compensation board does
not organize until January 1, 1918, 1t
is composed of three members at a
salary of $4,000 per annum. The gov
ernor also signed six other bills and
vetoed five.
RESULT OF BITTER FIGHT.
The placing on the statute books OF
Idaho of q workmen's compensation
act was the result of the most bitter
fight of it's kind in the history of an
Idaho legislature. At previous sessions
efforts had been made to secure a
compensation law but they failed. Dur
ing the recent session three compen-
sation bills were introduced dividing
the legislators into camps. :.
The bill that became a law today is
combination of all thrce-a COM
promise measure to which no partic-
ular member of the legislature enjoys
the distinction of having his name at
tached. Its sponsor was the senate
conference committee. The final act
is largely composed Of the provisions
of the so-called Anderson bill and Is
given the finishing touches by the bet
ter provisions of the Bates and Rock
we'll measures.
Elective in form, the worlSmen's
compensation law permits employers
| to enjoy the option of carrying their
| own compensation or taking advan-
| tage of state compensation. The final
draft is said to treat the employer and
employees fairly showing neither pre-
ference.
BILLS VETOED.
The governor attached his veto TO
the following house bills: No. 236 by
Sims, seeking to appropriate SSO72.9S
to pay a recommendatory judgment to
the First National bank of Moscow
against the regents of the University
of Idaho: No. 90, by Storey, closing the
registration books of certain munich
i 40
! ing an election; No. 1874. by McMurray,
requiring Carey act irrigation COM
panies to show the source of water
supply He also vetoed senate bill No.
1871, by Jackson, requiring plumbers to
have certificate from a board of eX-
aminers of plumbing before engaging
in his business in Idaho and senate bill
Il No. 9S by Lowe of Cassla relating to
grounds for demurrers to complaints.
REASON GIVEN.
The governor vetoed the university
II judgment bill because he investigated
its merits two years ago, he said, and
vetoed similar measure passed by
the Thirteenth legislature. With re-
card to the Storey registration bill
which would amend the Black law he
says in his veto message:
This bill seeks to close the regis
tration books of certain MUNICIPALITIES
within the state on the tenth day next
preceding the election and provides
that such registration books shall re-
main closed and no person be allowed
to register until after such election.
This seems to me to be an unrea :
sonable requirement restricting regis
tratiOn The present law provides for
registration up to the Saturday night
preceding an election which appears to
me to be a reasonable provision. The
rule is to facilitate registration and To
add to the inducement of voters to &c
to the polls and cast their ballots.
This bill, IL it should become a law
instead of accomplishing this would
work hardship and retard voting
therefore. my signature is withheld and
the bill is noS approved"
WOULD HAMPER LAND BOARD.
OF the amendment proposed in the
McMurray Carey act bill the governor
says in his veto message:
This amendment would deprive the
land board and the bonafide settler OF
one of the remedies that is at their
command to assist in cutting down
some of the Carey act projects to the
size where there may be sufficient
water to irrigate said lands in accord
ance with the needs of the settlers to
raise crops and it would retard the set
Element of some of these projects in
definitely and therefore my signature
is withheld from the bill and the same
is not approved"
PROVISIONS TOO STRINGENT.
The provisions of the plumbers IL
cense bill vetoed by the governor are
! found to be too drastic for in his veto
message he says:
1.-The provisions of this bill are toe