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Show Hinder Ikem 'Qll ed in the upper -house. It was pointed out during debate over whether or not to make the Ogden junket, that 173 measures, including includ-ing 149 bills and 24 memorials and resolutions, had been introduced in the first three weeks, one-third of the session, and that only 17 measures had received action on the floor. Between 40 and 50 bills were on the second reading list. "Legislation to pass tooth houses during the third week was headed by a bill by Senate Pres. Alonzo F. Hopkins (D-Rich) to appropriate appropri-ate $861,500 to the Utah Centennial Centen-nial Commission. Only dissenting vote in the Senate was cast by Sen. Mitchell Felioh (R-Grand) who was turned down in an attempt at-tempt to amend the bill so that the return on a $500,000 revolving fund, included in the appropriation, appropria-tion, would go to a State Water Board fund. Dissenting votes cast in the House came from Reps. Keith Browne (RSalt Lake), Mer-ril Mer-ril K. Davis (R-Salt Lake) and S. Wayne Clark (R-Tooele.) Of considerable interest was the House vote on two senate bills to repeal the governor's emergency powers in regard to state finances and the emergency relief fund. The in the way of legislation. The attitude of the legislators was expressed during the past week when they recessed both houses from Thursday afternoon until Monday afternoon, spending all day Friday visiting state institutions insti-tutions in Ogden. This was the first junket in four years. Two years ago the Senators and representatives toured the Geneva Steel plant and during the special : session last August they inspected Bushnell General hospital at Brig-ham Brig-ham City. Other than these trips, visits to state institutions since 1943 have been limited to the membership of committees only. Meanwhile, both houses have moved rather slowly and cautious ly, with some senators expressing concern' over the slow pace adopt- (Note to Editors) Final House action to date on bills sponsored by the Utah State Press Association Associa-tion follow: HB-49 (Browne) To require county clerks to publish at least once a sample ballot prior to each election. Passed by a vote of 51 yes, 5 no, 4 absent. HB-65 (Browne) To require city recorders or town clerks to publish samble ballots. Passed then recalled and killed by vote of 18 yes, 46 no, 2 absent. HB-52 (Browne) To require county commissioners to have pub- lished for three (amended from four) consecutive weeks notices of public building construction or repair. Passed 58 yes, 2 absent. HB-54 (Browne) To require county commissioners to have all ordinances published at least once. Passed 58 yes, 2 absent. A legislative policy dormant during the war years is expected to be revived by this session of the Utah Legislature. This policy is that of junkets to the various state institutions where the lawmakers can see for themselves what is needed and what should be done J 21 Democrats demonstrated their power as a minority group by voting vot-ing as a unit against one of the measures, consequently eliminating an emergency clause to make the act effective upon approval, which requires a two-thirds majority, indicating in-dicating that the House may not override the governor's veto should he so act on the bills. Also passed by the two houses during the week was the "Boden Bill" to clarify filling of vacancies on county commissions and memorials me-morials urging Congress to extend the present Commodity Credit Corporation purchase program to cover the entire 1947 wool clip and I to sell the town of Dragerton house by house rather than as an entire town. Senate action also included the passage of a bill providing for "headless ballot," despite heavy opposition from Sen. Dexter Farr ( D-Heber) and bills to allow banks to remain closed on Saturdays, measures strongly opposed by Sen. J. Francis Fowles (D-Weber). In addition, the upper house passed and sent to the lower house measures meas-ures to extend the retirement system sys-tem for municipal employes to second sec-ond and third class cities and towns, and a bill permitting the state fish and game department to acquire additional game bird refuge lands in Box Elder county. |