The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-12-17
Reporting the State Business
By MARK A. SHIELDS

BOISE, Dec. 14.-There is 9
marked absence of interest in politics
in the capitol tnIs week due largely
to the fact that the governor has but
few appointments at his command
The members Of the legislature will
not commence to arrive for another
two weeks and the department heads
about the capitol are working fever
ishiy upon reports and budgets which
must be in the hands of the governor
at an early date.
This year is the first in many that
a governor has not had large num-
Der OF vacancies to fill at the begin
mag OF a biennium when the faith
ful are always present with endorse
ments and seek the aid Of friends in
winning jobs, but the return of Gov
error Davis to power finds the Re-
pUolicans in control and the plum
tree barren OF fruit. James H.
brady, James HI. Hawley and John
NJ Haynes all Of whom served only
one term each in the governors Of
flee, had their appointments to make
and Moses Alexander had almost as
many vacancies to fill when he en-
tered upon his second term as he did
VIXEN he took office by reason Of the
fact that the Democrats had filled the
state house when he was reelected.
Governor Davis on the contrary has
been surrounded for two years by
Republicans and the appointments
which he made upon entering office
in 1919 will stand with the possible
exception of two or three minor Of
ficials. At least that is the word
which has been given out.
A. L. Freehafer, Democrat, for
six years a member Of the public
utilities commission, will quit office
January / and Captain D. ]. Banks,
head of the finance department, will
become state treasurer the first of
the year. These are the best jobs
open in the state house, and in fact,
about the only positions which will
be vacant. A week or more is, ex-
pected to elapse before either place
is filed.
No one has been mentioned to date
for commissioner of finance, but sew
eral we'll known Republicans are be-
ing groomed for the vacancy on the
utilities commission. Frank Ryan of
Weiser, ]. M. Thompson of Caldwell
and Col. L. v. Patch of Payette are
being talked Of for the place.
Thompson is said to be the strong
est candidate of the three.
The election of Judge Charles P.
Mccarthy of the third judicial dis
trict and Judge Robert N. Dunn of
the eighth judicial district to the
state supreme court bench and the
death of Judge II. w. Wood in the
first judicial district has left vacan-
cies which the governor is filing.
to Judge Dunn and Judge
Wood have been named, but Judge
McCarthy's successor will not be
named until late this month.
Several members Of the legislature
have been in the capital within the
last ten days, but they have visited
Boise more in their own interest than
In the interests Of friends for they
have learned that 1t is going to be
hard to obtain suitable living quart
srs here during the winter. The :.
hotels are filed upand houses are
scarce. The old Sherman house !
where many legislators were accus- !
omed to finding Accommodations
very session has been sold and .
losed and no new hotels have been !.
,uilt, The hotels here are enjoying
EXCELLENT patronage and they hesitate
o make rate to members of the l
legislature which will permit the law
makers to enjoy their hospitality.
but while the law makers are
eeking places to sleep several COM o
numerous organizations +
nd associations and many individ- "
als who expect or hope to wheedle n
he legislature out of appropriations G.
must of q necessity sit to think of "
ew ways by which they can get "
money for their pet projects for the b
Iord has been passed that appropria- e
ions are to be held down to the VI
minimum. Tight money, coupled "
nth the slow movement of grain and 7
ay and live stock, has caused re- CT
elton which is certain to be no
iced when the legislature convenes. d
his was made apparent by the Ell
ction of the state board of education n
hen it was in session here few OIL
avs ago for the purpose of passing IL
pom the budgets Of the six state edu- m
ational institutions. The budgets lc
admitted by the heads Of the insti-
ltions, were all cut heavily. A new
,ience hall will be asked for the b'
ate university and new admins m