The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-03-17
idaho LEGISLATURE
COMPLETES WORK
CLOSING SCENES WITNESSED ~
HUNDREDS OF SPECTATORS
IN BOTH HOUSES.
Last Hours Of Sixteenth Session
More Of 4 Social Relaxation and
sonofest Than a Deliber.
alive Assembly. A

Boise.-The sixteenth Idaho legis-
lature adjourned sine die Sunday
morning, March 6, after the confer
ence committees had cleared the decks
OH the various appropriation bills over
which there had been disagreement
and near deadlock over direct pri-
mary referendum was broken. The
closing scenes were 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 a social relaxation and song
fest than delberative assembly, ex-
cept for the necessary finishing
touches to the appropriations meas
ures. A quartet spontaneously sang
several impromptu 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 $780,
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. It 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 $5,2OO0O0 through a
levy of 3k mills, which is Y 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 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 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 a 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
lslature House bill No. POI and house
bill No. POI, carrying appropriations
for the general state expenses and the
maintenance. of the University of
Idaho, respectively, were in confer
ence as late as IL 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
S1,65O,OOO.
The university appropriation bill
finally passed as recommended by the
house with a total of $853,627. The
senate cut down the provision for the
university extension division from
$12S,627 to $4,000, but at the last &C.
cepted the report Of the conference
committee to restore the former sum,
which was recommended by the gov
ernOr.
House bill No. 314 received an
amendment In the last hour at the
hands Of the senate. This is the meas
ure which apportions the receipts an
ticipated from the $2,OOO,O00 highway
bond issue. As drawn and passed by
the house, the apportionment was to
be made to the counties of the state
on schedule based upon their as
sessed valuations. In conference, a
senate amendment which would make
the apportionment recognize highway
districts within counties was drafted
and this amendment was adopted by
the house as one Of its last acts.
House bill No. 157, carrying the ap-
propriations for the charitable and
penal institutions was in fact the last
appropriation bill passed by both
houses.
Among thirteen senate bills to
which the house gave approval were
senate bill No. 298, by which the AL
bion Normal school will be moved to
Burley, and senate bill No. 235, which
is considered as a revolutionary
change in the system Of state high
way building.
The university appropriation bill.
making an appropriation of STAG, 100
for maintenance and support Of the
University of Idaho, pure seed devel-
opment and geology, passed after some
debate and being amended to the ex-
tent of cutting down the university ex-
tension department from $127,00 to
| 10000,