Show 2 lOWER i H HOUSE U E ElON SoLs lON MAY MAi Wn O RA AW Representatives Welling and ONeil O'Neil Declared red Ineligible as Members In order to forestall what is believed to be almost certain action by the house of representatives today Arthur Welling Velling representative from Murray in Salt Lake county was expected to withdraw from the further deliberations deliberations deliberations delibera delibera- of that body on the ground of disqualification As state probation officer Mr Welling Velling automatically be becomes becomes be- be comes ineligible as a representative itI it itis itis is claimed and is understood to have I declared his intention to withdraw be before before before be- be fore putting further embarrassment the credentials committee IN SAME BOAT I Representative William ONeil O'Neil of Roosevelt Duchesne county is in the I same position as Mr Welling Velling because he holds the position of game warden in his county He has not declared himself as to his intentions in the matter matter matter mat mat- matI I ter of withdrawal but may leave the I matter up to the vote of the credentials committee and the house I The Tha credentials committee consists of Alma Greenwood Utah county chairman Grace Stratton Airey Salt Lake and Wilford Day Iron county having been appointed on the first day of the special session of the legislature to pass upon the qualifications of Welling Velling and ONeil O'Neil It lt is understood that this committee is in receipt of a communication from Attorney General Dan B B. Shields submitted submitted submitted sub sub- on special request which holds that the two representatives in question question question ques ques- tion are absolutely disqualified to sit in the special session QUESTIONS RAISED v vIn In view of this opinion there is little doubt but that the comm committee e will recommend recommend recommend rec rec- today today- the disqualification of Welling and ONeil There has been some ques question ion raised as to the legality of acts already taken by the house upon which the two disqualified disqualified disqualified dis dis- qualified representatives have voted However this matter is not taken se seriously seriously seriously se- se since there is a constitutional provision which constitutes the house of representatives the judge of the qualifications of its own members and therefore the acts of Welling and ONeil O'Neil will win be considered valid until the house expressly disqualifies them ACTION URGED The apparent need of taking some legislative action with respect to the investigation and approval of the affairs affairs affairs af af- af- af fairs of irrigation districts by a governmental governmental governmental gov gov- body of this state with a aview aview aview view view of making district bonds more salable has been called to the at attention attention attention at- at of a joint agricultural committee committee committee com com- of this session After thorough discussion of the matter in joint session the committee commit commit- tee feels warranted in askin asking you to kindly call this matter to the attention attention attention atten atten- tion of the legislature that action may maybe maybe maybe be had on the subject AUTHORITY LACKING As stated by D D. D D. D McKay there is no constituted authority in Utah to pass upon the water rights of any irrigation district or to a limit on bonded indebtedness as th the result of which irrigation district bonds are not easily salable in any bond market It is proposed to constitute the at attorney attorney attorney at- at torney general the state engineer and th the state bank hank commissioner an irrigation irrigation irrigation gation bond commission to determine these matters upon any proposed bond issue to the tho end that the complete legality and value of the bonds can be fixed by such commission and their status in the market be determined at once Just what action the house will I tal take e upon this proposal cannot be forecast forecast forecast fore fore- cast at this time proposal |