The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-28
In The Legislature

others. Inore Is small element VI
whom Senator Keith of Owyhee is q
leader, which is opposed to both
measures, but it is hardly probable
that these will be strong enough to
defeat both and leave things In
ststus quo, tho since the force are
about evenly divided, this is possible.
Senator Thomas of Bingham is the
avowed leader of the senate forces
and his talk in favor of indefinite
postponement Tuesday made strong
impression. 1t is likely that some
change will be made in the primary
law, as this will be necessary to
carry into effect in some shape the
pledge of the Pocatello platform.
The friends of the senate bill prob
ably have no hope of forcing the
measure thru the house as intro
duced. They do believe, it is thought
that if they can carry their bill and
send it to the house compromise can
be effected and a measure passed
which will hold the Republican party
together. ss
A feature of the situation is the
uCNClOPlA6 opll1 vi COAIOuIlOA UC-
tween the two houses. Not only are
the friends of the house primary bill
peeved at the attitude of the upper
chamber, but the house is also indig-
nant at what is claimed to be the
summary manner in which important
measures like the school bills have
been disposed of in the senate with
out debate. Wednesday morning, the
house got back, when, without de-
bate 1t unanimously voted to table
senate bill No. 80 introduced by
Boughton of Kootenai, regarding the
control of floating logs down the
river. This spirit will have some
bearing on the primary law, since the
house is more or less sore on the
senate on all lines. This will make
compromise more difficult What the
Borah forces, strictly speaking, want
is something of mystery, and the
disposition to make show of driving
the house primary measure thru and
then letting it's foes kill it and take
the blame seems manifest in some
quarters. At the same time, it is
also true that most of those favoring
the measure in both houses are hon
est and will probably force to fight
ing to the end in good faith.
The soldier bill, appropriating
100000 passed Wednesday in the
senate by vote of SO to 4. A mo-
ton to put it in the committee Of
the whole with possible view of
reducing the appropriation to $780,.
600 was beaten by vote Of 80 to IS.
Friends of this motion contended
that the sum named might be enough
but said that if it could be shown
that even 100000 be needed they
would vote that amount. Harding of
Oneida voted for the bill making the
appropriation, but said he had been
requested by the post in Malad not
to vote for 1t and fifteen or twenty
others had passed similar resolutions.
However, as it seemed impossible to
do better for the boys he would vote
for the measure.
A real effort is being made to
merge departments of commerce and
industry and that of finance in &C
cordance with guber national recon-
mendations and bill introduced by
Shook provides for this. What will |
become of it is hard to tell.
Members of the appropriations
committees who are comforting with |
the governor say that good progress
is being made and that the economy
axe which has been welded so vigor-
ously during the past few days will
give few more effective chops. One
of the little chips knocked off Tues
day was the proposed salary increase
OF $4,000 for the governor.
The house is we'll cleared up on its
work and with the senate using the
pruning instruments and the bill
killer, perhaps things will be cleared
up in some shape by the time to end
the session.
The compact majority of thirty
one, which banded together to in
troduce the direct primary law stood
firm amid a perfect barrage of ora
tory and voted solidly in accordance
with the reputed plan to prevent
passage Of senate bills introduced by
those opposed to the direct primary.
The vote stood 81 tool.
The verbal battle started when
Callahan of Shoshone, moved to take
senate bill n from the table. A pre-
vious similar motion on another bill
had itself been tabled without de-
bate.
Callahan charged well organized
,onsouracy not only to pass the pri-
mary bill, but to prevent passage of
any measure from the senate which
was introduced by one of its foes.
He said that state officers, whose
salaries it had been proposed to
raise had had it intimated to them
that if they got right" perhaps the
salaries could be raised. He charged
. conspiracy to trade legislation.
Clifford of Adams, who has had
several tangles with Callahan tried
to stop him and was called down by
The speaker. Callahan served notice
that If that were the tactics of the
primary forces he would adopt
similar ones. He mentioned Gud-
mundson of Cassia as one who had
been approached A fiery debate
followed. The thirty-one denied the
accusation in general terms. Finally
Callahan stated that Haley of Clear