The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-03-21
Many Bills of Value.
Passed By Legisla-
tors of Sixteenth
Session
HOUSES DIVIDED
Fight on Primary Causes
Division Early in
Session
By JAMES D. WHELAN

The legislature is all over but the
shouting and that will not be over
until after the next election in the
opinion of all shades of politicians.
The last bill has been signed or
vetoed by Governor Davis and the
people will now begin to take stock.
So far as general legislation goes
1t is conceded that many good meas
ures went thru and were signed.
Among the long list of laws relat-
ing particularly to the legal part of
the state government, are many that
make the laws more clear and salts
factory. In this division may be cited
senate bill No. 157 by Thomas, which
removes disabilities of married
women in the administration of
estates; removing an injustice that
has survived nearly generation Of
woman suffrage in Idaho.
The laws relating to public lands
seem to give general satisfaction,
tho In this case, testing out of the
measures may be necessary I'm some
instances to determine whether they
are really improvements or not.
The first law relating to health
that was signed by Governor Davis
was house bill No. 229 requiring the
labelling of imported eggs, meats
poultry or butter, as importations,
except such as may be imported from
Canada. There are other good laws
relating to health that were also
enacted and some which will arouse
q good deal of criticism In some
quarters. The same may be said of
the list of bills touching corporations
and reclamation. Some of these
measures like house bill No. SO pro-
viding for the organization of agrf-
cultural non-proflt cooperative as
sociations and senate bill No. 121
making 1t unlawful for q bank Of
ficer to receive compensation per-
sonally for making a loan or extend
ing credit as so obviously just In their
avowed purposes that hope is ex-
pressed in all quarters that they may
prove faultless. Fear is expressed
that the provisions of senate bill No.
~ may be so sweeping and drastic
as to defeat their purpose. The
wording of the law forbidding the
circulation of derogatory remarks
about banks does not seem to make
1t clear that those who may utter
statements Of fact for a good purpose
are exempt, tho the title does bear
that construction. Making an act or
utterance felony is taking q long
step, and while anyone maliciously
circulating false statement about
a banking institution ought to be
IN the penitentiary by common con-
sent, this does not mean, in the judg-
ment of many, that those who on ap-
parently good grounds are moved to
warn relatives against what might
seem bad investments.
Three measures of soldier relief
were enacted. Most labor bills went
by the board, tho two measures got
by. The bill introduced after con-
sultation with the Industrial accident
board and labor leaders and employ
ers was altered in ways that made it
less satisfactory to workers than It
was in its original form. House bill
25S appropriating $4,000 to secure
the federal appropriation to aid
workmen injured in industry, re-
ceives more favorable consideration
from workers.
1t Is quite impossible in the course
OF single newspaper article to re-
view all the measures enacted or to
pass offhand on their merits were
this possible.
In the larger sense, I believe, that
tho Democrat, it will be conceded
that l do not err in saying that the
legislature as whole left q sense
Of disappointment when it adjourned.
Altho two major departments were
two new offices were
created and the net saving In the
matter of retrenchment on this score
sannot now be determined. The Of
Continued On page eight