The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-03-14
IDAHO LEGISLATURE
ENDS ITS LABORs
FlFTEEHTH SESSION COMES TO
CLOSE AFTER sixTY-TWo
DAYS or WORK.
Large Amount Of Constructive Legs
lation Passed and Many Measures
Of Little Importance Consigned
to Oblivion.


sessions Ii being generally conceded
that a large amount Of constructive
legislation has been passed, as wen
as much that is OF little consequence
and could have just as well been left
undoue.
One Of the most far-reachfng acts Of
the legislature prior TO adjournment
was passage Of the act eliminating
the statewide primary election law
and substituting In lis place another
providing that candidates for Emitted
States senator. congressman, justice
Of the supreme and judges OF the dis
trict courts. governor and all state
elective officials, shall be nominated
at state conventions instead Of at
statewide primaries.
Probably the most important piece
Of legislation was the renOdeIIing and
material changing Of the form Of state
government. This was proposed By
Governor Davis and met with the APP
proyal Of the two houses. The gov
ernor was given a cabinet Of afae mem
beers. standing at the heads OF as
many departments, grouped under
which are preSeat state commissions,
boards aad departments. co-ordinat-
ing ard consolidating them. Cover
nor Davis via appoint This cabinet
that is he wiz name It's heads. The
neU P48a goes into effect March 81.
The legislature did not forget its
soldiers. and. regardless Of the fact
that congress failed TO push through
its land settlement plan during the last
session, the Idaho solons passed the
necessary legislation 10 work Ia CO
operation with the government. II
passed bill creating state commits
sion which the governor VIII appoint
for that purpose.
The number Of counties in the state
was increased from foFty-one 10 forty
four through the creation OF three new
counties-Jerume. Clark and Caribou.
with Dubois as the county seat. and
Caribou is formed our OF Bannoek
county. with Soda Springs as county
seat
The lawmakers were liberal in their
appropriations for better roads Face
TO face with an exhausted limit in bond
issues. two-milI levy was passed,
which by direct taxation. viii raise
81. So0OI0. to be distributed over the
main trunk highways Of the state
highway system, resulting in the build
ing during the next two years of
many miles Of roads. In fact. CON-
binad with the help OF counties and
the federal government il makes pos
sible the expenditure OF approximately
100000 on IdahO's highways in 1919
and 1929.
Liberal allowances were made for
the various state institutions not only
in 50 far as maintenance IS concerned.
but for needed additions and new
buildings as well as Improvements.
Conditioned upon Boise securing the
approaches 10 the state capitol and
parking them, the legislature author
lied tile Issuance Of 100000 in bonds
to raise the necessary funds 70 com
pIete the state capitol by building on
the two wings at 8 cost Of $4,000
each.
The educational laws OF the state
were codified The teachers in public
and private schools were removed from
the jurisdiction OF the state Industrial
accident board and the school laws
generally strengthened
The land board was given greater
power in dealing with and adjudiCat-
Ing water rights N Carey act projects.
and $4,000 was appropriated for an
investigation Of the water resources
Of the state. The bonded warehouse
act MAS passed. measures 10 prevent
discrimination in handling farm pro
tiuee, and bonded real estate deal
srS bill. A new fish and game bill
ssas passed. act 10 eOdify the laws Of
saleSnanShip, etc. and boxing was
IssaliEed. A measure Was approved
"a reimburse stock owners for stock
Condemned for tuberculosis : creating
! state conStabUlary TO enforce the
laws aUsharizing the governor TO re-
orsanize The state miliTia; Sj0.0Oo pro
vS6ea for il direct taxes for the state
fsSr AZ Be5se and Lewiston livestock
show: ersa uRE q state forestry bureau;
i state sd aUalyst; the Eleventh
SaSse.al dsSrr4e< created, for Boundary
sas Rsaner csseatieS. and the Twelfth
district for Washington and Adams
counties: legislative superintendent
measure, making il = penalty 10 dis
plSy the red flags authorizing the
state 10 mauufacturs reed materials:
sterilization of degeneEsteS.
There was authorized constructed st
Lenora. in Boundary county. across
the Kootenai river. bridge: $4,000
was appropriated fer Improvements
along the Snake river in Madison and
jefferson counties: $4,000 for the
of Lava Hot Springs. IN
Bannoek county, and $4,000 for a
drainage district in Kootenai county.
Generally speaking the legislature
accomplished many things it set ont
tE.s rss.-ss,f.e -