Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-03-11
IDAHO LEGISLATURE
COMPLETES WORK
CLOSING SCENES WITNESSED BY
HUNDREDS or SPECTATORS
IN BOTH HOUSES.
Last Hours OF Sixteenth Session
More Of Social Relaxation and
Sonufest Than . Deiiher-
alive Assembly.

ance committees had cleared the decks
on the various appropriation bills over
which there had been a disagreement
and near deadlock over D direct pri-
mary referendum was broken. The
closing scenes We're witnessed by hun
dreds of spectators in both houses,
the singing Of songs by members and
the presentation of tokens OF esteem
to the officers and the attaches.
The last hour of the session was
more Of social relaxation and song
fest than a deliberative assembly, ex
cept for the necessary finishing
touches to the appropriations meas.
ures. A quartet spontaneously sang |
several inpromptu selections based on |
incidents of the session. The entire |
membership of the house arose and |
marched over to visit the senate, sing
ing, columbia. the Gem Of the Ocean,"
after marching around the house
chamber singing America"
The conference committees adjust
ed the general appropriation bill, hast
ening the adjournment, but in doing so
defeated the appropriations of $20,-
600 each for the state fair and live
stock show at Lewiston and $4,000
for the Blackfoot district fair. The
boom bill was defeated on third read
ing by vote Of thirty-five to fiji
teen. 1t was bone Of contention
during the entire session.
Both the house and the senate
passed the ad valorem tax measure,
house bill No. $40, by unanimous
vote. This raises $5,2O0,0O0 through
levy OF 3& mills, which Is " mill
less than the levy two years ago.
The deadlock came up during the
closing hours on the direct primary
referendum after the committee in
the two houses appointed to confer on.
the primary failed to agree and so re
ported. The house passed a joint
resolution, referring the question to
the voters at the next general cleo
ton, as to whether or not they desired
the next legislature to pass a direct
primary law. At the same time, the
senate passed bill providing that the
question should be submitted at the
primary election. The house amended
| this bill, providing the referendum
| should be had at the general instead
| Of the primary election The senate
refused to concur in the house amend
ment by vote of twenty-five to eight
cen.
The senate failed to act on the
house joint resolution, 50 the primary
failed to pass.
Four tax and bond measures were
the last to be acted upon by the leg
islature. House bill No. POI and house
bin No. DOT, carrying appropriations
for the general state expenses and the
maintenance OF the University Of
Idaho, respectively. were in confer.
ence as late as II o'clock Saturday
night. The former took two confer.
ences. As finally amended and &C
cepted by both houses. the general ap
/ preparations totaled approximately
81, 65OOO0.
The university appropriation bill
finally passed as recommended by the
house with q total Of 1858 627. TIL
senate cut down the provision for thu
university extension division from
$128,627 to $4,000, but at the last ac
copied the report of the conference
committee to restore the former sum
which was recommended by the gov
ernor.
House bill No. 314 received al
amendment in the last hour Mt In
hands of the senate. This Is the meas
ure which apportions the receipts an
ticipated from the s2.OOOOO0 highway
bond issue. As drawn and passed b.
the house, the apportionment was tt
be made to the counties Of the stat,
on a schedule based upon their az
sessed valuations. IN conference,
senate amendment which would max
the apportionment recognize highwa.
districts within counties was draftei
and this amendment was adopted b.
the house as one Of its last acts.
HAase bill No. 157, carrying the an
. preparations for the charitable an
penal institutions was in fact the las
appropriation bin passed by bot
houses.
Among thirteen senate bills t
which the house gave approval wer
senate bin No. pos. By which the A
bion Normal school VIII be moved t
Burnley, and senate bin No. rs. whie
Is considered as . revolutionar
change IN the system Of state hfgf
way building
The university appropriation bill
making an appropriation Of s746, 10
for maintenance and support of til
) University of Idaho. pnre seed deve
. opment and geology, passed after som
debate and heing amended to the q
tent Of cutting down the university q
. tension department from $4,000 /
$50. 600.