Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-02-06
Republican Majority Me cts
With Little Opposition When
Measure Comes Up Under
Suspension.
SENATE WILL RATIFY
Idaho Destined to Be One Of
Few States in Union to Dis
card Anticipated System, Re-
placing It With Cabinet.

The administration state department
consolidation bill was amended and
passed by the house Of representatives
at S:16 Wednesday evening by vote of
%3 to IT. Passage took place under
suspension Of the rules after the meas
urs had been amended by agreement
satisfactorily to tho administration. in
committee Of the whole. The Demo-
orats led by Harrison OF Shoshone and
Hitchcock OF Bonner made feeble at
tempt to block the act, but failed.
Young Of Ada was the only Republican
who openly attacked the bill on the
floor. With him two others voted
against it-Conovsr and Cough.
The IT votes registered against the
bill are those of the following repre-
sentatives: Conover. Foley. Garbutt,
Cough, Harrison of Clearwater. Harri-
son Of Shoshone, Hitchcock, Hoff, Kir-
by. MCGOWAN. Patterson, Peckham.
Push, Schroeder, Snow. Thompson,
Young.
Immediately following the Joint SEES
sion Featherstone moved that the house
go into the committee of the whole for
tho consideration of the bill. Hitchcock
had previously objected, demanding to
hAo" ny WHdt iiShl thc 10
the bill had been printed. The Feather
stone motion prevailed and Storey took
the gavel.
DEMOCRAT LEADS ATTACK.
Harrison Of Shoshone Immediately
took the floor and spoke against the
measure. He argued that the proposed
change in state government does not
follow any Of the commission systems,
although commission in form, and that
two years was too short time to have
to attempt to put it into effect. Older
states like New York, he alleged, had
turned down a similar law. while the
Illinois law has the selective service
provision and the governor there holds
office four years. He informed the
house that a prominent Republican
state Official had told him the change
could not be made success In two
years. 1t was his contention the pres
ent is bad time to attempt to make
change in the state government. The
law enforcement feature came in for
special attack from Harrison. who said
the measure was rank invasion" of
the rights of the voters.
MINORITY CONGRATULATED.
Hitchcock ATTEMPTED to secure an adj
journment before the bill was passed, |
but the majority voted the motion down.
Young of Ada said he could not vote
for the bill because ii provided so dras-
tic a change in the fundamental law of
the administration OF the state govern
ment.
Hitchcock Of the Democratic minority
congratulated Young.
AS Democrat" he cried to the Re
publican majority wing. IT say, go to It, |
boys. That's the best thing you can |
do for us"
The majority did. They promptly |
passed the bill by a big margin and sent |
It as amended back to the senate for
ratification.
1t is reported in legislative circles
that the amendments made by the
house will be concurred in by the SEN
ate and the bill will be sent to the gov
ernor without delay. The house ma
5ority stand on the measure Wednes-
day clearly indicated that a satisfac-
tory agreement had been reached about |
the measure.