The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-03-12
HAGAN TELLS OF
WORK AT BOISE
FIGHT OUR COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION-FEEL UNIVERSITY
HAS GENERAL SUPPORT.

Consideration of legislation relative
to election laws and ways and means
of reducing the tax burdens of the
people, together with matters pertain
ing to the educational work of the
state, were outstanding features of
the seventeenth session of the Idaho
legislature, according to Representa-
tive G. A. Hagan, who returned home
yesterday.
In discussing the work of the legis
lature, Mr.. Hagan stated that the
seventeenth session was one of the
most interesting sessions since Idaho
was organized as state. BY coali-
tion of a part of the republicans, the
democrats, and the progressive mem
bers in both houses, the primary was
made large issue. A primary law
was passed by large majority in
the house, and by a small majority
in the senate. This bill was finally
vetoed by the governor. Governor
Moore and the administration insisted
upon a program of economy and re-
trenchment in the expenditure of pub
lie funds. The governor fixed mark
above which the state levy should not
go, and insisted that the state appro-
priation should not require levy of
no more than five mills.
Fight Our Educational Matters.
Early in the session there was some
complaint relative to the educational
work of the state. 1t was thought
that no attempt to interfere Herewith
would be made, but as time went on
discussion grew and opinion crystall
lied to some extent The first evil
dence of bringing the matter of edu-
cational work before the legislature
was a bill introduced by three mem
bers of the progressive party, which
called for the combining of the offices
of the commissioner of education and
the state superintendent. Shortly
thereafter a second bill was intro
duced abolishing the office of COM
missioner and making a radical
change in the method of appointment
of the board. This latter bill, which
was known as 211, was extremely vicl-
Gus in that it made the board of edu-
cation a political one. This bill was
introduced by seventeen members OF
the house, made up of republicans,
democrats, and progressives. A hard
fight was made against the bill led
by the Latah delegation and entered
into by university alumni and friends
of education all over the state. The
bill was finally disposed of by amend
ing it in such a manner that no one
could vote for it, and it died in the
hands of a committee. By this time
the feeling had become strong that
some change should be made in the
handling of the affairs of the state
board of education. Many reasons
therefor were given. Ninety per cent
of these, however, were based on a
lack of real understanding of what
the state board of education and its
officers had accomplished and were
to do. Those in opposi-
ton to the present system insisted
that the office of commissioner of
education be done away with at least
and worked out a pro-
position Of making no appropriation
for the salary of the commissioner af-
ter July 1st. This plan was put
through the finance and appropria-
ton committees, and carried by a
large majority in both the house and |
senate. A gallant fight was put up |
by those who are Informed relative to |
the educational work of the state, and
it was pointed out that the propon-
ents of this action were making en-
ployees in the educational work sub