Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-03-18
UTAH LEGISLATURE
COMPLETES WORK
SESSION LASTED SIxTY.TWO
DAYS, MANY NEW LAWS
BEING ENACTED.
Some Bureaus Merged and Member
ship Reduced for the Sake OF
Eoonomy.-All "Freak" Bills
But One Defeated.

During the sixty-two day session 127 |
bills were introduced in the senate
and pa In the house.
Legislation which will reyolutionlze |
the several departments of the staSe
has been enacted. The first of these |
measures is the creation of depart |
ment OF finance and purchase, which |
turns over number of boards and |
commissions and makes the one de- |
partment responsible for number |
OF things, all purchases for the state |
having to be made through this de.
partment and centrallzing the gov
| eminent in this branch.
Another creates the department Of
registration and In this department is
centered number of commissions and
boards, which does away with mum
| Der of others.
Still another department is that OF
I agriculture, which was one of the new
bureaus to be created and which, like
the others, takes over several old
boards and commissions.
Changes have been made in the
state board of equalization md assess
ment the number comprising that
body being reduced from four to three.
In the state road commission the
law has been completely changed, the
new commission being composed OF
three, all of whom must be practical
men, instead of the former commits
sion, which was composed of the gov
ernor secretary of state, auditor OF
state, attorney general and the state
engineer.
In the land office the greatest
change has been made. Under the law
the board consisted of five members,
while the new law creates a one-man
board, with all the authority which
heretofore was vested in commits
sion of five.
| Authority heretofore vesting in the
state board of health has been ma
terially rurtalled, while some COM
missions have been merged In with
the board.
Among the greater changes that
have been made in departments out
side of the creation of new ones, Is
in the office of the state superinten-
dent of public instruction, where a
number of useless offices have been
abolished and the functions OF the SUI
perintendent, which had been usurped,
returned to him. The powers of the
state board of education have been en-
larged
Changes have also been made in the
motor vehicle law, new license fees
provided, greatly increasing the tax
placed on auto owners.
Another bond issue amounting TO
100000 is authorized for the main
tenance of the roads and to carry out
existing contracts. Another bond Is
sue of 100000 is authorized to care
for deficiency in the general fund
created under the last adminstra-
ton.
A measure was passed which makes
the senate consist of twenty senators
from thirteen districts and the house
to be made up of flfty-fve representa-
tives, with Salt Lake returning six
senators and sixteen members of the
house.
While the old law providing for @
bond issue Of $1,000,000 was repealed
owing to the fact that the government
. bill was passed which provides fol
and authorizes bond issue for the
purpose authorized In the soldier set
Element act of Utah.
Perhaps more freakish Legislation
y was proposed by this legislature than
\, any other since statehood. There were
five measures presented, one in the
: senate which has become "A law and
p four in the house, all of which met
| death.
\ The senate measure was the one OF
Q Senator SOuthwick, the anti-cigarette
e BILL which was passed after stormy
: debate In both house and senate. Its
Z provisions are drastic. Efforts made By
g the opponents Of the measure to sub
q stitute another less drastic measure
+ failed.
The measure of Representative Par
ker OF Cache county, which would
have created blue" Sunday was an
n other freak bill. This one prohibited
3 all kinds of amusement on Sunday ant
would have closed all ball parks ant
q picture theatres, but 1t was killed by
the committee to which IL was re
ferred.
Prohibition of the teaching Of sec
8 tartan and certain other doctrines II
h the public schools is contained in {
5, bill passed.
President Thomas T.. Mckay Of thu
senate and Speaker f. II. Callister o.
the house said farewell to their respec
tive houses shortly after adjournment
the presiding officer of the uppe
house shaking hands with everyone
:, ana the speaker of the house doni
: likewise, but, just prior to adjourn
No ment, speaking from the chair anC
thanking the members and employs
Sor their courtesy ana assistance.