Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-12-03
Will Strengthen
Cabinet System
TO INTRODUCE APPROPRIATION
BILL FIRST DAY-THREE-C COR
NERED FIGHT FOR SPEAKER

Boise. Nov 2S.-The legislative
program this session will cal, for q
number of important administrative
measures which seek to strengthen
the state commission form of gov
erhment law. Idaho has had com
mission state government now for
TWO years. It's advocates for it
claim great success. With another
TWO years trial, they assert, this
VIII be so conclusively proven that
ldaho VIII never again return to its
olu FORM or state government re
sardless of which party is in power.
The general appropriations bill will
be introduced the first day of the
session, the administration announce
thus breaking all former records.
The bill will have been exported by
the financial department of the state
SO that the legislature will be saved
the trouble of doing this. 1t can
be passed and moved out of the way
early in the session instead of be-
ing held off until the last day as
has been the case heretofore. This
Will permit the legislature to give
its time to other important mat
ters.
included among the latter will be
law similar to the one approved
by the electors of the state Of Cal
lfornia at the last session OF the leg
islature. or an anti-alien measure
seeking to prohibit aliens from own
ing land in the state In California
1T has been called the anti-Japanese
Dill. Idaho now has a law permit
ing alien to own land. An effort
VIII be mad to repeal 1t. Four
years ago the anti-Japanese issue
caused pretty row in the legisla-
ture and passage of an anti-alien
law was only prevented through in
tererence from Washington, the sec
retary of states department taking
a hand. The fight reached a eli
max in an investigation in which
it was charged that claims had
benn made by those engaged in the
lobby for and aginst the bill that
money had been used The charges
were probed by the senate and
found to be groundless. Consider
able excitement was caused, how
ever. 1t is likely that pressure will
be brought to bear to prevent repeal
of the anti-alien law at the next
regular session and that there will
be stiff lineup for and against
any move aimed at the Japanese
Direct Primary.
There will be a concerted effort
having support in many parts Of
the state. to get the legislature to
reenact the direct primary law, re-
pealed two years ago. The republi-
an party platform is construed bv
many to infer that the entire issue
Of the direct primary Is In the
hands Of the legislature which Is
pledged to strengthen the present
semi-primary law.
For Speakership.
The speakership fight for the
house will probably be a four cor
nered fight or contest in which 1t
will be Peter G. Johnston, repre-
sentative-elect from Bingham coun-
ty, against the field. The other as
pirants are likely to be c. J. Hugo
of Latah. w. Scott Hall of Oneida
county and Charles D. Storey of Ada
county. Storey has twice welded the
gavel in the lower house. He has
been serving Ada county for many
years there. Hall was a member of
the session two years ago as was
also Hugo. Formal announcements
any of these solons. They are feel
ing out the sentiment of members
elect to the house before doing So
That Johnston will be in the race
to stay is we'll known by his friends.