The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-10
In the Legislature

getting down to real business this
week and things are going to hap
pen. It is true that the final day for
bill introduction, which expired Mon
day will likely be extended five days,
in order to give the committees time
to work over Incorrectly drawn meas
ures and let in late arrivals, but the
big rush is over. It was not q big
rush this year, as the total number
of measures in reduced was much
smaller than usual.
Party harmony within the Repub-
lican ranks is apt to be preserved so
far as the two mill tax levy is con-
cerned, by compromise tentatively
arrived at, which will provide for a
three-quarter mill levy. This will
enable the state to reimburse count
Jos advancing money and perhaps
build the north and south road. 1t
is not likely that the legislature will
abolish the office of commissioner of
education, much as has been said on
that issue.
There are two places where party
lines are liable to be strained at con-
siredation of the direct primary bill
and the final determination in some
concrete way of the bitter contro-
versy relative to reports of depart
ments. Criticism of the book-keep-
il a, of several department is rife in
this respect and while little tangible
has happened SO far, the resolution
introduced Monday for the appoint
ment of committee to investigate
all departments and receive sworn
statements as to balances on hand
indicates that the legislators will get
down out of the clouds. Speaker
Johnston promptly called attention
to the rule that the state affairs COM
mittee was by the constitution of the
state authorized to do this sort of
work and called attention to the fact
that there had been an auditing COM
mission authorized by the last legis-
lature to ascertain the facts required,
Representative Weeks of Canyon, in
sisted that he had always been able
to get all the facts he needed from
the commission and suggested that
others could do likewise. Chairman
Shook of the state affairs committe
ga Il that it would be impossible for
any committee, however able, to get
n the facts during the rest of the
legislative term, or within three
months thereafter. He urged that
should the resolution pass certain
specific departments be named. He
"a | that the state affairs committee
has made no report but had intro
duced number of bills covering con-
ditiors which they thought should be
improved.
The direct primary bill will pass,
according to the best advices obtain
able, and pass substantially as intro
duced. Should it be presistently
opposed it may create Republican
discord in the future, but an acQuie-
scence will mean union in the Repub-
lican ranks, with Borah temporarily
in the ascendant; whether perman-
emily or not is a matter to be deter
mined later, of course.
There will be battle in the woods
No over two measures. One of
these is the state forestry bill which
is subject to charges and counter
charges, while the other is the bill
placing the driving of logs down
not navigable under the pub
lie utilities act. The fate of both is
The north state movement, like |
several county division movements Is |
again before the legislature. So far
as the state is concerned it is largely |
to keep the record in case of future |
since the measure will |
not pass this time. County division
r. eny shape looks remote so far as
this term goes. but you never can
tell
Whatever may be the fate of the
prop osition to submit a constitutional
am - dment to allow the legislature
10 ~ home thirty days to study laws
after all the bills have been intro
r''|ei. it is safe to say that most of J
the members would be glad to have
the change to do that, but the argu-
ment that it would add to costs
might defeat that measure now.
oaking of costs and taxes, Repre-
sentative Van de Steeg got glad |
hearing Monday when he moved the |
of the law relating to the |
city manager plan allowing cities to |
submit it at regular elections. W
The proposed amendment went |
thru without opposition. 1t had a
flavor, since it had to do !
with a comparatively new idea.
The legislature will be liable to
wind up with a progressive record.
The state committee meeting here on
Saturday in connection with the
Lincoln banquet will give chance |
10 on out kinks and let the solons |
know what "the old folks at home"
think of procedure. This will not be |
quite as satisfactory as thirty days |
at the grass roots would be, but 1t
will help some.
Following the final repeal of the
two mill tax levy for roads Governor
d. w. Davis on Wednesday sent to
the Legislature message advocating
- antinuance of the road work, by
means of the money raised by the
sale of the two million dollar bond
issue. by an increased tax of 2 cents
a gallon on gasoline, by an increase
of theA motor vehicle license tax so
ner cent and by a direct appropria-
ton from the general fund. This he
figured would furnish enough money
20 G. ntinue the work. The message
warmly defends Commissioner Halls