The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-03-11
IMPORTANT WORK Of |DAH0'S
FIFTEENTH LEGISLATURE

BOISE.-The fifteenth Idaho legis-
lature has completed it's labors. Aft
er 62 days of lawmaking the general
public is given a breathing spell and
an opportunity to review what it has
accomplished. That a large amount
of constructive legislation has been
| passed, together with much that Is
immaterial, is generally conceded. The
appropriations will be high when the
| final summary is made, but special
or general tax leyies is to keep
abreast of the times, will not be bur-
| densome.
Generally speaking. the legislature
has accomplished many things it set
out to do. On the whole the record is
satisfactory, especially to the party
that was dominant-the republican
Many of it's pledges have been enacted
into laws and other good legislation,
that the planks did not call for, was
sent to the governor.
State Government Changed.
First and primarily, the form of state
government was remodeled and ma
terially changed. This was proposed
by Governor Davis and met with the
approval of both houses The govern
standing at the head of as many de-
partments, grouped under which are
present state commissions, boards and
departments, co-ordinated and consol-
idated. Governor Davis will appoint
this cabinet-that is, he will name its
head This centers responsibility in
administering of the affairs of state.
The hackers of this new form of gov
III mil h0
just as successful in Idaho as it has
proved to be in the state of Illinois
On March 81 the plan will go into ef-
feet.
The legislature did not forget it's
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 to work in
cooperation with the government, and
passed a bill creating state COM
mission which the governor will ap-
point for that purpose. T.
Three New Counties Made.
The number of counties in the state
was increased from Al to A through
the creation of three new counties.
Jerome, Clark and Caribou. The for
mer has Jerome as the county seat
and is organized out of parts of Good
ing, Lincoln and Minidoka counties.
Clark is created out of the western
portion of Fremont county, with Du-
bois as the county seat; and Caribou
is formed out of Bannock county, with
Soda Springs as the seat of govern
ment. The officers of all three coun-
lies have been appointed by the gov
srnor
The annexation acts for Franklin.
Jamas, Ada and Bonneville counties
'ailed. The roposed new counties of
lake in the north and Nampa and
3uhl in the south also met with de-
eat. The general enabling act to
permit counties to settle their own
jivision problems by popular vote in
tead of the legislature to be troubled
With them every session it convenes,
vas also killed.
Levy for Roads Passed.
Good roads and better highways
anne in for favorable consideration.
face to face with an exhausted limit
n bond issues, a two-mill levy law
vas passed which, by direct taxation
will raise $1,800,000 to be distributed
yer the main trunk highways of the
tate. Combined with the help of coun-
les and the federal government, 1T
makes possible the expenditure of ap-
roximately $6,000,000 on Idaho's
highways in 1919 and 1920.
There was appropriated 100000
or the maintenance of the highways
nd the interest rate on the 100000
ond issue of the fourteenth session,
till unsold, was raised from IL to
3-4 per cent to permit their sale
In addition greater lee
yay was given to county commission
rs and good road districts in all
arts of the state to build better
Dads.
Aid for Institutions.
Liberal allowances were made for
ne various state institutions, not
My for maintenance but for needed
editions and new buildings as well.
he state normal at Lewiston was
lowed $150,000 for a new admins
'ation building. Other allowances
ere for girls building for the Ida
} industrial training school at st.
nthony to cost $4,000, building
r the state feeble-minded institute
Nampa to cost $4,000, and build
G for the deaf and blind school at
ooding. The attempt to consolidate
e Albion state normal with the Ida
, Technical institute at Pocatello,
,proved and indorsed by the state
ard of education failed.
The educational laws of the state
ere codified. Teachers in public and
ivate schools were removed from
e jurisdiction of the state industrial
cident board and the school laws
nerally strengthened. In the future
instruction for all subjects in both
ivate and public schools will be ex-
lsively in the English language, for
is made misdemeanor to instruct
any other language. The Ameri--
nization plan for the education Of
reigners by giving them special in
'uction in English and the English
lguage was also approved.
Capitol Addition Planned.
Conditional upon Boise securing
IL ~