The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-01-17
Reporting the State Business
BY MARK A. SHIELDS


shortly be introduced in the legisla.
ture setting aside an appropriation
for the first unit Of series OF build
ings which are to be built at the
state insane asylum in Blackfoot.
Plans are being prepared for q
group of buildings, which are to be
constructed on a site not far from
the present building. The grounds
are to be carefully selected, graded,
plotted and planted to trees and
shrubs.
The governor, the head of the
state department of public welfare,
Senator Thomas of Bingham county,
and Peter G. Johnston, speaker OF
the house, are agreed upon the plan
of spreading building program at
the insane asylum out over a period
OF years and the other members OF
the legislature will endorse the
movement.
1t has not been definitely determ-
ined how much money will be asked
of the legislature this winter for the
first building, but proba bly, 500, 900
will be called for. This money will
be used in putting up modern fire.
proof hospital, which will be the
equal of anything in the whole west.
in 1928 another appropriation will
be requested for second building
on the new site and this will be con-
tined until the group of buildings
wanted have been constructed II
present plans are carried thru, and
there appears to be every belief they
will.
1t is estimated that a total Of
100000 will be needed to put the
building program thru. This money
would be raised thru the sale of
bonds over a period of six or eight
or ten years.
A Boise newspaper announced
some days ago that Senator Thomas
of Bingham county expected to ask
for an appropriation of $4,000 with
which to repair the present hospital
building at the asylum. Senator
Thomas this week denied that he
had any such intentions.
Il am heartily in favor of putting
up new hopital building which can
be incorporated in the general
scheme for the group of buildings"
he declared, land l will do nothing
which might interfere with the plans
formulated by the state administra-
ton"
Peter G. Johnston, of Bingham,
said he heartily concurred in the
scheme for the group of buildings
and would work to that end.
The entire legislature appears to
want to do something for the insane
asylum with view to relieving the
crowded conditions at the institu-
ton, but houses are prepared to al
low the representatives from Bing-
ham to take the lead.
The two members of the legisla-
ture from Bingham county have got
settled here for the winter and both
have been successful in getting
pleasant living quarters for their
stay in Boise.
Speaker Johnston of the house and
Mrs. Johnston are occupying the
same rooms at the Idanha hotel,
which they have had during sessions
of Their legislatures for years past.
Senator Thomas has taken house
on Eighth street. He was joined
here Wednesday by Mrs. Thomas,
who has been spending the winter
at >cean Park in California, where
their two children are in school.
The legislature got down to brass |
tacks early this week and it is now |
prepared to commence in earnest the !
work which has BEEN assigned to it.
A number of important pieces of
legislation are being shaped for early
before the lawmakers
and before another week passes the
legislative hopper will be filled with
bills, memorials and resolutions.
The fight on the Japanese has
been opened and the problem of find
ing relief for the rural school dis
tricts has been brought forcibly to
the attention Of the legislature. BY
next week a bill seeking to re-estab-
lish the primary system will find it's
wac into the legislature and il is
proha BILE that within ten days the
legislature will determine whether
or not it wishes to make the public
commission and the indus
trial accident board part of the
cabinet form of government with a
commissioner at the head of each.
The committee on roads, bridges
and ferries in the lower house is
making ready to introduce a bill
the powers of the state high
way department and the administra-
ton is rapidly whipping it's appro-
priat'on bills into shape.
The legislature is endeavoring to
work in accord with the wishes of
the governor on a budget system,
which will enable the state to know
just how much money it is spending
for a given purpose. Each depart
rent of the state government and
the state educational, charitable and
penal institutions have filed their
budgets with the governors office,
but until he can pass upon them the
legislature cannot take up its work
on the appropriation bills. 1t has
been waiting for these bills, but the
COVE nor has been holding hearings
on the budgets and endeavoring to
cut down appropriations asked for.
The committees on state affairs in
the two houses have held a number
of meetings this week and they are
mating ready to introduce several
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