The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-03-17
UTAH LEGISLATURE
COMPLETES WORK
SESSION LASTED sIxTV-TWo
DAYS, MANY NEW LAWS
BEING ENACTED.
Some Bureaus Merged and Member
ship Reduced for the Sake Of
Economy.--Ali "Freak" Bills
But One Defeated.

afternoon, March -, after having ex-
ceeded the time limit by two days.
During the slxty-two day session 127
bills were introduced In the senate
and Pa In the house.
Legislation which will revolutionize
the several departments OF the state
has been enacted. The first of these
measures is the creation Of a 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 I'm this department Is
conferred a number OF commissions and
boards, which does away with num-
Der OF others.
Still another department is that Of
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 and 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 ana 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 one-man
board, with all the authority which
heretofore was vested In n commits.
sion Of five.
Authority heretofore vesting In the
state board OF health has been ma
terlally curtailed, 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 superlnten-
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 tho
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
| 81 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 administers
ton.
| A measure was passed which makes
the senate consist of twenty senators
from thirteen districts and the house
to be made up Of iifty-nve representa-
lives, with Salt Lake returning six
senators and sixteen members Of the
house.
While the old law providing for a
bond issue Of $1,OO0.OO0 was repealed,
owing to the fact that the government
did not provide similar amount, a
bill was passed which provides for
and authorizes bond issue for the
purpose authorized in the soldier set
Element act OF Utah.
Perhaps more freakish legislation
was proposed by this legislature than
any other since statehood. There were
five measures presented, one in the
senate, which has become law, and
four In the house, all Of which met
death.
The senate measure was the one Of
Senator Southwick, the anti-cigarette
bill, which was passed after a stormy
debate in both house and senate. Its
provisions are drastic. Efforts made by
the opponents of the measure TO sub
stitute another less drastic measure
failed.
The measure of Representative Par
/ ker Of Cache county, which would
J ave created blue" Sunday, was an
E jther freak bill. This one prohibited
e all kinds of amusement on Sunday and
S would have closed all ball parks and
y picture theatres, but 1t was killed by
/ the committee to which 1t was re-
'crred
Prohibition of the teaching OF sec
.aran and certain other doctrines In
e The public schools Is contained In
y bin passed.
d President Thomas IL. Mckay Of the
g senate and Speaker u. II. Callister of
4 the house said farewell TO their respec-
live houses shortly after adjournment,
the presiding officer Of the upper
!. house shaking hands with everyone.
' and the speaker Of the house doing
4 likewise, but just prior to adjourn
, lment. spenklng from the chair and