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Show LAST SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE. When the twelfth session of the Utah legislature adjourned at 12 40 o'clock, Saturday night, after over 60 days of strenuous work, the people found a record of accomplishment un-oqualed un-oqualed by all the legislative bodies since this state was organized. For the firm time in the history of the commonwealth, an earnest effort was made to keep platform pledges The achievement may not have met the fondest hopes of tho most exacting, exact-ing, but, in spirit at least, the prom ises of the last campaign were adhered ad-hered to and more constructive laws written into the statutes than had been thought possible by those who had grown skeptic after witnessing twenty years of political jugglery. Of the more important measures passed, the following were in response to platform obligations: State-wide prohibition bill, effective August 1, 1917. Public utilities commission bill Workmen's compensation bill. Corrupt practices act. Limits campaign cam-paign expenditures. Initiative and referendum law. Bond issue of $2,000,000 for building of good roads in outlying counties. Irrigation district bill to got federal aid in the development of arid lands Clayton anti trust law and bills affecting af-fecting labor. Creation of a budget system for the state, starting in 1919. Occupation tax on mines, collecting $1 for every employe, excepting laborers, la-borers, and imposing a net production tax at three times the net proceeds of mines for 1917 and thrice the net proceeds thereafter. In addition to the foregoing, the lawmakers law-makers submitted constitutional amendments, one for statewide prohibition, pro-hibition, and the other taxing mines j on their net proceeds. The supreme court was increased from three to five members, which may be classed as a party measure, inspired by political advantage. Power Pow-er was given the corrections board to oust the state prison warden without cause. That, too, was a partisan action, ac-tion, said to have been brought about by the warden agreeing to resign and then, at tho last moment, with the legislature about to adjourn, defying the governor. Those two acts can be classed as a play at politics, and ex cused partly on the ground of ncces eity. But the foibles of the legislatur were few. Constantly harassed by lot bles laboring to thwart progresslv legislation, the members of the lav making body did surprisingly well. I the early stages of legislative WOli there were discouraging signs an some felt as though the session woul be frittered away, with nothing wort! while brought about, but a rcvi.-w o the proceedings prove the solons t1 have been worthy of greater conf dence. It is really refreshing to be able ti truthfully commend a legislative body so few are entitled to anything bu censure. Of course, this does no mean the legislators have pleasec everybody, as there are reactionary minded men in Utah as well as in th nation, who are opposed to al measures which stand between avaric and the common people. |