Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-01-18
SOL0NS PLAN TO
CUT EXPENSES
SENATOR KING WRITES THAT RE-
TRENCHMENT is WATCHWORD
OF PRESENT SESSION
FEWER BILLS TO BE PASSED
Believed State Should Have Not So
Many But Better Laws.

BOISE, Idaho, Jan. a. 1921.-To the
Herald: On the trip to Boise and on
our arrival here it seemed that every
legislator and every person interested
in the doings of the sixteenth legisla-
ture, was more interested in cutting
down appropriations, measures to re-
duce taxation and laws to do awav
with expensive commissions, than in
new legislation and the men who came
mere with the idea of securing some
pet appropriation for his home town
or county soon got the idea that
there would be nothing doing. Re-
trenchment and economy were bv-
words in the capitol corridors and in
the hotel lobbies.
! | wondered ii this was not "oId talk:
if when the legislature after being in
session a short while would not forget
its early program of economy and If
the legislators following the practice
of all sessions, would not in the maze
of trades and counter trades, pile up
just as large expenditures as in pre-
vious years. However, 10 date the
economy program still holds sway and
apparently there is to be no diversion
from it. Another thing, there is now
disposition to reduce the usual
amount of new legislation. The major
ity of the legislators believe that We
now have too many laws but that
many of these laws need rev sion and
amendments.
There will probably be as many if
not more, bills introduced this ses-
sion as heretofore but | believe the
number that will be eventually passed
will be greatly reduced, judging from
expressions | have heard from many
legislators. So far there have been
some 30 bills introduced in the senate
and some 40 measures in the house of
representatives.
The various committees of the house
and senate have in course of prepara-
tion several important bills and both
branches of the legislature are anx-
iously awaiting the completion of the
budget, now in the hands of the COVER
nor, from which an idea will be gained
OF the amount of the appropriation
necessary to run the state the next two
years.
Both the senate and the house, in
caucus, have agreed that no new legis-
lation may be introduced after 30 days
from the opening day of the sixteenth
session. This rule is being adopted in
order that the Legislators may have
as much time as possible to devote to
the study of the proposed legislation.
Committees in both houses of the
sixteenth session are busily engaged
in working out some solution of the
present highway problems. While a
policy of retrenchment is favored
members explain that there are many
) small stretches of road that must be
! completed
The big problem centers around the
amount to be expended on state high
; ways for the next two years. It has
) been suggested by administrative of
, ficers that so per cent of the two
million dollar bond issue voted a. the
, November election be turned over to
counties to be used for construction.
, The apportionment of the money TO
be based on either population or as
I sessed valuation The remaining 40
! per cent of the bond issue would un-
der this proposition be kept for emer-
: gency and repair work
q Legislators claim that the state high
/ way department is planning to reim-
4 burse counties that have spent more
q than their allotted amount on con
' struction work.
Members of both committees are at
present entertaining the suggestion
that the fee charged counties for the
e use of trucks be reduced from $50 to
d s5.
t The first measure introduced in the
S senate was a relief tax bill, by Sena-
> tor Witty, extending the time Of pay
il ment of the 1920 tax on real and per-
d sonal property to the fourth Monday
), in May, 1921 This measure has the
) support of large groups of farmers ir
i all parts of the state and several com
i lmercial clubs have addressed the legis'
5 llature. asking early passage.
d A bill was introduced in the senate
d for the creation of the Eleventh judi
# cial district In this connection Sena
IL tor Christensen. of Bonner county. ha:
a suggested that Shoshone. Kootenai and
'r Benewah counties be united in one ju
ID dicial district with two judges and tha
)f Bonner and Boundary counties be in
sr cluded in another district with on
Id Judge This proposal would not in
is ,cI ease the number of judicial district
st in the five northern counties but mere
= I1v provides for a better distribution
t. of the work.
: The first alien land measure to b.
introduced into the sixteenth 1egisla
le ture is fostered by Thompson of Mini
10 doka While 1t fails to mention tn
lt name of any nation it provides tina
IN land cannot be hold by foreigners. VIII,
le come from country that will not per
NIT United States citizens to hold
land. The measure also makes thi
se provision for the inheritance of Ians
a. in the United States. Section No. / O
at the bill reads:
ANY person whether citizen or alieY
,,e may take. hold and dispose OF proper