The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-10-31
IDAHO PLANNING
EXTRA SESSION

Sion tof TduKy the wnman'S suffrage
amendntent has stirred great interest
in Idahp's political circles. Under
Governor Davis's plan II would be al
inexpensive session TO the state, be-
cause nembera would not only pay
their own way 10 Boise to attend. bur
they we0ld agree not 10 accept the
per diem wage of IS. The only ex.
pense that would be attached 10 the
session. would be rental of public
building In which the legislators could
meet and the hire of such clerical
forces rs would be necessary.
The pioneer Legislative halls of
this state. in which many battles Were
fought. important legislation was
passed and exciting scenes enacted.
are no more. The building in which
they were located has been torn down
to MAXI way for the wings of the
new capitol. The state is therefore
without legislative halls and would
have to secure public auditorium In
which 70 convene the session extra
ordinary.
Deemed Important.
Governor Davis believes that rati-
icatioa Of the Susan D. Anthony
amendQent 10 OF sufficient Importance
to call the legialators together. II
they VIII agree tds home without pay.
II they should not axTee 70 this. there
will befno special seSsi0n. There ID q
general movement under way to get
most dkthe western etates to hold
sessions extraordinary for one day
merely A0 give formal approval of the
amendneht.
(SnvAehOr ctauhno. 30 rn,;eo.r,o a.
really Responsible for the plan, al
thougM Governor Davis said he has
had 1t Ander consideration for some
time. rhe proposal TO convene the
Idaho legislature. while not at all def
mite. VIII pave the way for an express
sion from the people. II there is no
serious objection, and there does not
appeaH to be any. the legislature Will
likely Smeet here some time In Novem-
Der.
So far as Idaho is concerned, wo-
man suffrage ceased to be an issue In
this state long ago. Shortly after
the state was admitted ino he union
the right of franchise was given to
women for the past twenty or more
years they have voted.
During the fight before congress to
pass the Susan B. Anthony amend
ment an attempt was made by nation
al suffrage leaders to divide the
women OF the state in their sup
port OF Senator William E. Borah,
whcnAEkhey biteAiy attacked because
! of his stand that woman suffrage was
state issue and not national one.
and that therefore he opposed the
amendment.
They succeeded in dividing the wo'
men to some extent, but they failed
to affect the vote OF the senior sena-
tor, for he led the Republican ticket
at the last election.
Unusual Situation.
1t is proposed that In the event the
Legislature is convened In extra ses
sion there be incorporated in the call
a provision authorizing the members
to pass an apportionment bill that
Twill straighten out representation by
counties for the legislature that meets
in 1920. The last legislature failed
to pass an apportionment bill, witt
the result that the legislature appor
tionment is left on the same basi:
that 1t was two years ago.
This means that representation II
the uhouse of representatives will b.
reduced at least ten votes, giving The
lower assembly fifty-four member
to forty-four in the senate. whereas
In the last session IL had sixtyfou
: members.
The reason for this situation is th'
: influenza situation a year ago. whicl
kept thousands OF voters away from
the polls. The last reapportionmen
: law provides that there shall be on
representative in the house for ever,
$500 votes cast at the preceding gen
,eral election and one representatiy
for every fraction of 1000 or over
The shrinkage in the vote reduce
! the fractions, with the result tha
many counties which had more tha
1000 votes but not $500. find that o.
the last returns they had less tha
1000.
Forgotten In Senate.
: The house realized that this sitt
alton was serious and drafted an
passed a reapportionment bill. Whe
: 1t reached the senate. however. It wa
jput away by some committee and fol
I gotten. The legislature adjourne
without making the apportionmen
: i Ills uOts HUI dHtAi tic piNbtHt iff
islature which will be called in extr
. session. but IL does affect the legii
] lature to be elected in 1920.
Counties which lose represents
: tive unless new apportionment
made and the apportionment the
r have in the next regular session Z
the legislature are: Ada. four: Bar
mock, four: Bingham, one: Bonnie
D one; Bonneville. one; Canyon. two
Fremont, one: Idaho. one: Kooteni;
two: Latah. two: Nez Perce. one
Shoshone. two; Washington, one. Tn
5 other counties. excepting Twin Fall
a with three, not including the me-
$ .ones-Caribou Clark and Jerome
a will each have one representative.
] These counties which are credite
:. with four had five, those with two ha
0 three and those with one had tw'
d and IL is one of the objects OF III
/ proposed reapportionment to plao
e them on that basis of representation
Passes in House.
l. The bill that was introduced In III