Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-02-04
Senate Repeal
Highway Levy
HAS HARD FIGHT-SAYS POLL
TICIANS FORGET PLEDGE TO
NORTH-SOUTH HIGHWAY

Boise, Feb. 1.-Senate bill No. &c.
repeating the two-mill highway tax
levy law enacted by the 18th assem-
bly, of the Legislature, passed the
senate this morning by vote of 3S
to 5. The long-expected fight on
the bill broke when 1t came up for
third reading. Seth Jones of Idaho
county, leader of the opposition fac
tion sought to stay action by moving
that the bill retain its place on the
calendar. This brought an ob;ec-
tion from Senator Seaver who an
nounced the bill had been before
the senate long enough for final ac-
ton
Senator Whitcomb. president pro
tenn. favored the measure but sought
to have the bill recommitted to the
committee for further consideration
stating that. without certain know
ledge. the senators could not vote
intelligently on it. He Informed the
senate that If the motion to send
the bill back to the committee pre-
vailed, he would at once introduce
resolution requiring the state high
way department to make report on
its work, what it had done. where
the money had been exspended, what
they had received from counties and
from the federal government.
The Twin Falls solon most siren
uously opposed the motion. He
stated that without fear of contra
diction he would submit to the SEN
ate that the measure was drawn
without any relation to any other
measure and that it had no rela-
tion to any other issue unless such
were injected into it. He declared it
carried out direct pledge made to
the people in the last campaign and
that the senators should be men
enough to stand up and carry out
those pledges. He urged that the is
sue be met now as the bill had been
under consideration long enough to
get any information desired
Senator Jones of Idaho county
sprang into the breach in an at
tempt to save the measure. He con
tended that in his county the poll
ticians who spoke from the stump
had pledged themselves for the North
and South highway and that the
highway could not be completed and
maintained unless the levy continu-
ed. Directing his remarks at Sen
ator Seaver he declared a report
had been read to the senate a few
days ago to show that the highway
department had vast sum on hand
whereas 1t did not have any money
and the report was wrong
Senator Seaver rose to a point of
personal privilege, declaring that
there was no investigation of any
senator as far as he knew. The
chair ruled that personal allusions
must be cut out
Senator Jones then continued his
plea for postponement Of the bill un-
til further facts on the finances OF
the state highway department could
be secured.
Though the house of representa-
tives defeated the county unit school
district bill, motion prevailed lat
er to reconsider its votes and the
bill may yet pass the house after
amendment Representative Irel
Gudmundsen of Cassfa county, who
Monday changed his vote for that
purpose. moved to reconsider. The
motion carried by vote of 90 to
%.
Chairman Hall of the education
committee then moved that the bill
be placed on general orders for
amendment
House bill No. rs, also by the
committee on education, which raises
the bonding limit of independent
schol districts to per cent Of their
valuation. was passed without de-
bate and without dissenting vote.
This is one of the brief measures
designed to enable districts which
have grown in school population be-
yond their means to supply school
rooms and facilities. to increase
their revenues.
Three state affairs eommitte bills
were passed in short order. being
the companion bills relating to court