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Show UTAH LEGISLATURE. In the Council Feb. [February] 10, a message from the House said that body had adopted a concurrent resolution, for the appointment of a committee of five on the part of the House with councilors, to prepare and submit a bill dividing the Territory into council and representative districts, in pursuance of the act of Congress on the subject, which was on motion of Councilor Caine, amended by adding "and to apportion the legislative representation thereof," and then concurred in. The Council then appointed as the committee in accordance with the above, Councilors Snow, Wells, and Barton.---- In the House, Feb. [February] 10, Mr. Carrington reported back from the committee on municipal incorporations, a bill in response to the petition of the citizens of Nephi, asking for the incorporation of that town. The bill defines the limits of the boundaries of that city, and specifies the charter. The bill was read the first time; the second time by its title; the third time by its title, and so passed. ---- A message was received from the Governor announcing his approval of the act equalizing the taxes on the transitory herds of stock.. ---- The first of the bills was read as amended, providing that the party confined for contempt should be released upon the performance of the act, or sooner if the court sees fit; but in no case shall the confinement extend over thirty days. The amendment was adopted, the bill read a third time, was divided into two sections, and then passed. ---- In the Council, February 11, Councilor Merrill presented a petition from A.F. Stewart, mayor, and six others, citizens of Richmond, Cache County, asking for the grant of new city charter. The petition was accompanied by a bill for the purpose of answering the prayer of petitioners, and both were referred to the committee on municipal corporations and townsites [town sites], the latter without reading. ---- Councilor Smoot, chairman of the committee on municipal corporations and townsites [town sites], reported back the bill to incorporate Park City, with amendments. The bill was put on its second reading, with the amendments, and it passed to its third reading. The amendments make the bill conform to the prayer of the petitioners in the remonstrance mentioned above, with regard to the boundaries, require the mayor, councilors and justices of the peace to be freeholders; provide for holding elections biennially; authorize a tax of five mills on the dollar on all taxable property, made such by the statutes, one-half of which shall be for city purposes and the other half for common schools; fixing the license on saloons, etc. at not less than $30, instead of "not to exceed" that amount, as it previously read; the clause providing for impounding cattle and collecting fines and damages on same, was striken [stricken] out; the concurrence of two thirds of the city council is required for the removal of city officers. The charter is to go into effect on the first of April. ---- The third bill reported by the committee, was the Council bill prohibiting the smoking and chewing of opium, with amendments, which were read and adopted. The bill was read the second time by sections, third time by its title, and so passed ---- Mr. Parr, from the judiciary committee, reported back six bills unfavorably, as legislation on them was unnecessary at the present time. The report was accepted and the bills rejected. The bills are as follows: The bill regulating the creating of the office of public administrators; a bill regulating the practice of medicine; a bill amending section 1431 of the Compiled Laws; a bill for an act in relation to mortgages of personal property; a bill to regulate assignments by insolvent debtors, mortgagors, etc., a bill to protect the people of the Territory of Utah against incompetent practitioners of surgery, medicine and obstetrics.---- In the Council Feb. [Februrary] 12, Mr. Thurber presented a petition from P. Bagley and a number of citizens of Castle Valley and adjacent settlements, asking an appropriation of $1,000 to make a wagon ford from Salina across the Wasatch mountains as there is no good road now from Castle Valley. ---- On motion of Mr. Cluff, the committee on appropriations was instructed to incorporate the amount asked for in the general appropriation bills. ---- A communication from the Governor, notified the Council that he had approved the act prohibiting the smoking and chewing of opium, and a communication from the House notified the Council that the Governor had approved the act incorporating Emery County. ---- In the House, Feb. [February] 12, Mr. Hatch presented a report from the committee on counties, on the petition of the citizens of the eastern portion of Wasatch County, praying for the organization of a new county. The report was favorable to the petition, and was accompanied by a bill for the formation of a new county, to be known as Uintah County. The bill was read the first time, second time by sections, the third time by its title and passed. ---- A bill rewarding convicts for good conduct, after some discussion and amendments passed. ---- In the House, Feb. [February] 17th, the bill "To remove the political disabilities of the women of Utah," which has lain upon the table so long, was taken upon motion of Hon. [Honorable] W.B. Preston, and read the second time by sections; on motion of Hon. [Honorable] John R. Murdock it was read the third time by its title, and on motion of Hon. [Honorable] A. McKinnon, passed, 13 for and 8 against. |