Millenium Countdown: 1917

82 days to the millennium

82 years ago: Saturday, March 10, 1917

Paper: The Carson City Daily Appeal, published each evening except Sunday by the Nevada Printing Company

Editor and manager: T.D. Van Devort

Subscriptions: 1 year in advance by carrier $12. One year in advance by mail $9.

Offices: Corner of Carson and Second streets.

Telephone: 1101

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In 1917, the 28th session of the Nevada Legislature is in full swing, but the legislators seem to have caught a little spring fever.

In its local news columns about the session, the Carson City Daily Appeal on March 10 writes about a ruse to stop business for the day.

The headline reads "Came Near Being no Session Today."

A frameup that ended in a fluke was attempted by certain members of the assembly to prevent a quorum in the lower house this morning. Yesterday several attempts were made to adjourn until Monday morning, but all failed. A recess was taken until 7:30 o'clock last evening, when considerable business was transacted, and an adjournment at 10:20 last evening until 10:35 this morning was taken.

From what can be learned, the arrangement was made last night after the session ended for enough members to absent themselves this morning by going to Reno or hiding out. Apparently Assemblymen Fulmer and Golden had not been notified for they returned on the morning train from Reno, but joined the members at the depot who were waiting for the local to pull out. Assemblymen Heidtman of Reno was evidently master of ceremonies and was busily engaged in checking out the members ably seconded by Ambler of Goldfield.

However, when speaker Luce called the assembly to order this morning, and when roll call was announced only eighteen members responded. Gallagher suggested a call of the house when Assemblyman Kaeding came in, thus making a quorum. The assembly then proceeded to business.

It was noticeable that one member who was reported at the depot as being "staked out" was in his seat as chirp and as eager to do business as anyone.

The following is a list of the members that were present and blocked the game. Bell, Booher, Coryell, Duborg, Evans, Fairchild, Gallagher, Griffith, Hanley, Kaeding, Lindsay, McNamara, Renfro, Stodieck, Tannehill, Tidd, White, Williams, Winters, and Mr. Speaker.

On the general file in the assembly there were thirty-four bills ready to be acted upon, besides several in the committees to be reported out. In the senate there were forty-two bills on the general file this morning.

The assembly adjourned at 11:30 this morning until Monday, fearful of the fate of some important bills if they were brought up for final passage. It was stated that the reason for not wanting a session of the assembly today was that there was a picnic in Reno and quite a number of the assemblymen had been dated up for some time to attend.

The news of the 1917 Legislature was printed daily from the assembly and senate journals.

Under the headline "28th Legislative Session" the paper reported:

Assembly March 10

Morning Session

Assembly called at 10:35, Speaker Luce presiding.

Roll called. Nineteen present - just enough to make a quorum.

Prayer by Rev. Father Horgan, Reading of journal dispensed with.

A number of bills up for third reading and final passage were, because of the absence of their introducers, placed at the bottom of the file.

A.B. No. 266, by Washoe county delegation-Amending Reno's charger. Passed.

A.B. No. 277, by Williams-Allowing incorporated towns and cities to acquire utilities. Passed.

At this juncture a resolutions was introduced and passed permitting the speaker to fine all absent members when not sick or excused, $2.50, the money to be devoted to such purpose as the speaker might direct.

By unanimous consent, McNamara of Nye county presented a bill creating the Nevada State Bureau of Mines, its membership to consist of the governor, inspector of mines, and the director of the Mackay School of Mines. Their duties are to collect and publish information concerning mines, mining and mineral resources and publish the conditions under which mining is carried on. The measure carries an appropriation of $6,000 and is authorized to employ a secretary. The bill was referred to the committee on mines and mining.

The general file was then resumed and A.B. No. 178, by Griffith and Williams, providing for drainage districts was passed.

S.B. No. 112, by Hesson-Fixing salary of justice of the peace at Jarbidge. Passed.

S.B. No. 157, by Huskey-Distribution of property remaining after the P. P. I. E. to the state university. Passed.

During the morning session a report was received and read form the committee appointed to investigate affairs as the state prison. The report indicated that there were 187 inmates at the state institution and that many repairs were necessary for the various buildings. The sewage was bad, and to correct this and to place new roofs on some of the buildings an appropriation of $6,000 was suggested. A cellhouse and new cells at the prison farm at an expense of $50,000 was recommended as was an additional story to the hospital and other repairs to cost $13,000. The bathhouse is also in need of a new boiler and one should be procured at one. The report was referred to the committee on ways and means.

Adjournment was then taken to Monday at 10:30.

Assemblymen Jacob Harland Fulmer, of White Pine County and Frank Golden of Washoe County, nearly ended the ditch day when they arrived on the morning train from Reno. Their names are absent from the day's roster having been waylaid by Harry Heidtman, R- Washoe, and Merton Ambler, D - Esmeralda. After 1917, Ambler, Fulmer, Golden, and Heidtman are absent from the state's legislative rolls as if the voters in their counties prefer their legislators to attend to business, and not picnics and dates.

Fulmer served four terms in the legislature in 1911 and 1917 as an assemblyman and in the years 1913 and 1915 as a senator. Golden and Ambler served only in 1917, Heidtman in 1915 and 1917.

In his book "Persons in the Foreground," written in 1915, Boyd Moore speaks highly of Fulmer's record:

"In politics Senator Fulmer is a Republican and when the campaign of 1914 was approaching was frequently mentioned as a likely and logical candidate for his party's nomination for lieutenant governor. But he finally declined to make the race for the office and his efforts for party success were confined to endeavor in White Pine County. But time bids fair to spell greater attainments for Senator Jake Fulmore in politics in Nevada.

"And Thus we learn of the things that have been accomplished by a young Missourian whose heart is set in his adopted state - Nevada. Thrice has Senator Fulmer come from the county of White Pines to the state's legislative halls to participate in the deliberations of a Nevada legislature and his record stands as an excellent one. He is progressive, fair-minded and possessed of good judgment and his work at the important post of a lawmaker is conceded to have been well done."