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Show Kinder &Jlh ! BY HARRY MARLOWE The one big mystery that remained re-mained - - and likely never will come to light this session - - at the end of the first week in the Twenty-ninth Utah Legislature was the identity of two Democrats actually responsible for Republican Republi-can victory in the House speakership speaker-ship battle. For four days the 30 Democrats and 30 Republicants wrangled over their candidates, Rep. Clifton G. M. Kerr (R-Tremanton) and Rep. W. G. (Bill) Larson (D-Magna). Democrats wanted to toss a coin and were against a secret ballot because two of their members ad- mitted in a caucus secret ballot that they would "have to" vote for Representative Kerr if the secret sec-ret ballot were 'forced. Knowing of this advantage, the Republicans stuck to their guns and eventually came out with the speakership for Rep. Kerr in a "horse trade'. Chairmanship and control of four major committees, including appropriations, went to the Democrats in the deal. Rep. Clarence J. Albrecht (D-Fre-mon) became the "man of the hour" in breaking the deadlock. Risking criticism of some Democrats, Demo-crats, which has come out in the undercurrent flowing largely from Metropolitan area delegations, the Wayne county lawmaker recommended re-commended the deal from the floor near the close of the fourth day. After the issue had been settled, Rep. Albrecht explained that the setup being what is was, the only chance his party had to gain an "even break" was to "hbrse trade". He claimed it was obvious Rep. Larson could not be elected and that the best proposition was to get as much committee strength as possible in the deal. As a result re-sult the Democrats got four committees com-mittees and an even break in the remainnig committees to be named. nam-ed. In reference to his position on Larson, Rep. Albrecht pointed out that the Republicans twice had honored forced Demoratic absences by holding back a single vote in order to retain the tie. Rep. Barlo T. Luke (D-Junction) was away for a day because dt the death of a niece, while Rep. Wayne Hinton (D-Hurricane) vacated his seat for an emergency appendectomy on Thursday morning. Rep. Albrecht said he feared that growing animosity ani-mosity in the House would reach a point where the Republicans would take advantage of the 30-29 situation and not only seat the speaker but take the committees. Earlier the two parties had agreed ag-reed the patronage, appointing committees to name the employees, employ-ees, and it was this spirit that seemed to carry into the final negotiation and on into the session ses-sion on Friday. Rep. Larson was given the power to name all Demo crats on Committees, while speaker speak-er Kerr will name the Republicans. Meanwhile, the Senate organ'iz-, ed, with Sen. J. Francis Fowles (DrOgden) replacing dean of the upper house, Sen Alonzo F. Hop-kin Hop-kin (D-Woodruff) as president, but action of the body was held up until the House organized. Also held up rour days was Gov. J. Bracken Lee, who was forced to postpone his opening message from Tuesday morning to Friday morning. Legislators heard from the chief executive a plea to cut taxes and balance the budget. This was a typical Lee "economy" message. In addition to his natural opposition oppos-ition to public spending, the governor gov-ernor this time had war and a national emergency to fall back on pointing out that so much is needed need-ed nationally that we must economize econ-omize in the state. Prior to the session, incidentally, he told reporters that he intended to make a strong point of the national nat-ional emergency in his message and that "if necessary" he would send a reminder to the lawmakers every day dl the session. Commentary on the message was quite generaly favorable on both sides. Rep. Larson, the House Democrat Dem-ocrat leader, went so far as to say it was a "fine address" and that he was in favor of a program which would reduce governmental expenditures. Like others, however, he doubted ' that expenditures could be cut very far without endangering en-dangering necessary services. Senator Hopkin, Senate majority leader, commented that the governor gov-ernor is a "courageous defender of his own honest convictions." Sen. Elias L. Day (R-Salt Lake), the Senate minority leader, said the message was soundly based in fact and that the governor puts the "general welfare" first. Rep. Kerr's reaction was that it was a "typical Governor Lee message, representing a sound approach to the economy of government." Most critical was Sen. Lorenzo E. Elggren (D-Salt Lake) who said there "just too much self exoneration." exoner-ation." He sad "it was a message of defeat" and "obsessed with ec-' ec-' onomy that tends to create a stand stil in our state functions and services?'' ser-vices?'' With the break in the House deadlock, a 'flood of 33 bills hit the Senate, some of them certain to cause a good deal of debate if they reach the floor. Increases from four to six cents per gallon in gas and use fuel taxes and a jump in truck license fees on a graduated scale came in from the Utah Legislative council in connection con-nection with a proposed highway construction program. Talk is that the gas tax increase in-crease may go through at one cent instead of two and that the truck registration fees will be raised, rai-sed, but not as much as the council coun-cil bill provides. Also introduced was a measure to repeal the welfare lien law, but little chance was seen of its passing. Another question which may get no action is that of reapportion re-apportion of the legislature. As yet there doesn't appear to be enough steam behind either of I two propositions advanced. Iural lawmakers have claimed, however, they have a good chance o'l! getting get-ting over a prosposition to provide two senators from each senatorial district and reapportion the House on a population basis. |