Omaha daily bee., 1896-01-14
IOWA LEGISLATURE OPENS
Twe~nty-sixth General Assembly 0%onvenes
on Schedule Time.
BOTH BRANCHES PROMPTLY ORGANIZE
Caucus Nominees Elected without a
Struggle and Adjournment Taken
out of Respect to the Late
Judge wright.

DIES MONIES, Jan. 13.-(Special)-When
the hour fixed by law for the opening Of
the Twenty-sixth General Assembly arrived
nearly all of the members OF the lower
house were in the hall and ready for bust
ness. According to a long established Gus
tom, Hon. 0. e. Doubleday, the senior mem
Der from Polk, called the house to order.
Hon. John Harrison Of Keokuk was elected
temporary speaker and l. X. Wilson clerk.
Mr.. Allen Of Van Buren, nominated II. w.
Byers Of Shelby for permanent speaker.
This motion was seconded by Mr.. Monahan,
democrat of Plymouth, who arose and said:
"a still, small voice from the democratic
corner seconds that nomination" Great
laughter.)
Mr.. Byers was escorted to the chair by
Messrs. Allen, Griswold and Monahan, and
on being sworn, said: ~ thank you most
sincerely for the high honor conferred upon
me, and as this is to be a business session
l will set the example by not consuming
the time with any extended remarks" ZAP
plause.) j. ID. Rowen of Polk was then
elected chief clerk, the democrats voting
for N. B. Holbrook of Iowa county for this
position. The election of the republican eau
Gus nominations then followed.
The senate met promptly at 1890 with
Lieutenant Governor DUNCAN in the chair.
All Of the senators e to their names
except Senators Hobart and Blanchard. The
sessions was largely consumed in prelim-
mary proceedings. The entire list of officers
nominated by the republican caucus was
elected, the democrats making no nomina-
lions.
Both houses adjourned and attended the
funeral Of ex-United States Senator George
G. Wright.
The woes of Lieutenant Governor PARROT
and Speaker Byers have now begun in earn
est and it will be a great relief to each
of them when the lists Of standing COM
mittees are finally announced. Some pre-
siding officers in the past have sent cards
to the members with a request that the
committees on which they wish to serve be
designated, but owing to the fact that all,
or nearly all, named the on ways
and means, judiciary, railways or appro-
priations, this course did not tighten the
task of these officials. Formerly, the most
unpopular committee has been that on fish
and game, but since the creation of the
office of fish commissioner, this mi
has risen to considerable prominence. Strange
as 1t may seem, the committee on woman
suffrage Is now the least sought after of
any, and, as 1t does not carry with 1t the
selection of a clerk, but few members can
be prevailed upon to accept the chairman
ship. Mr.. Chapman of Woodbury., who is
the most enthusiastic suffragist in the house,
will probably be slated for this position,
though he would be equally at home as
chairman Of the committee on horticulture.
OUTLOOK FOR INSURANCE LAWS.
The insurance combine known as the Iowa
Alliance will receive considerable attention.
Representative Finch of Humboldt will prob
ably be the leader In insurance legislation.
Early in the session, Mr.. Finch will INTRODUCES
bills providing severe penalties for all COM
bines or understandings between rival insur-
ance companies of every name ana
nature. For several sessions past
from one to a dozen valued policy bills In
either house have been introduced only to be
| pigeonholed in the senate in the closing
hours of the session. A similar measure will
receive consideration during the present ses-
sion. The "old line" life companies will en-
deavor to have some rigid restrictions i'm
posed upon the mutual, f~raternal and benevo-
lent associations, which they claim have All
unfair advantage over those companies that
are required to put up a bond or other Sc
curlty in order to secure authority to transact
business. A proposition to establish a
separate insurance department and provide
for the election or appointment Of an in
surance commissioner will also receive con-
sideration.
There are any number Of strong men amons
the newly elected senators who will make
their impress on legislation. Senators Trewin
Of Allamakee, Mitchell Of Adams, Ellison of
Jones, Blanchard Of Mahaska. Hartman of
Franklin and Young Of Delaware were all
recognized leaders of the lower house two
years ago.
There is considerable speculation in regard
to the makeup OF the standing committees
of the senate. Lieutenant Governor PARROT
is exceedingly c!ose-mouthsd and nothing
definite has yet been learned in regard TO
the important chairmanships. 1t Is rumored,
however, that the craftsmanship Of the
judiciary, which will be by far the most
important committee this session, will 90
either to Cheshire Of Polk or Ellis of Gin
ton. 1t is also probable that Senator Car
penter will get the special committee on re-
vision of the code. SENATOR Funk, who
successfully engineered the mulct bill through
the senate two years, begs to be excused from
further work on this line and he will likely
be relieved from the craftsmanship of the
committee on suppression of intemperance.
Small Blaze mt stnnvvood.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia, Jan. 13.-(Special
Telegram.)-Fire at Stanwood last night de-
stroyed the stores Of James McKerron, j. w.
Seifert and f. Johnson, causing a loss of
about 10000, with little insurance.
T.. A.. Kelly, wholesale liquor dealer and
wholesale and retail fruit dealer, today made
an assignment for the benefit of his credit
ors. Liabilities and assets about SIS 900. In
ability to make collections is the cause of
the failure.
Senator Allison ON Matters of State.
OTTUMWA, Ia, Jan. Ex-senator Allison
in an interview today stated that he believed
the bond bill would pass the senate with a
free coinage amendment, but die in the house.
The revenue bill, he thought, would pass both
houses, but would be vetoed by the pTesid emit.
He feared Germany and Great Britain would
fight. He was on his way to Des Moines to
attend the funeral of Judge Wright, and will
return to Washing ton In two weeks.
Ten Million Company Incorporated.
SIOUX CITY, Jan. 13.-(Special Telegram.)
Articles of Incorporation Of the Holman
Locomotive Speeding Truck company, a $780,
600, 900 corporation formed to develop and
IS IT CURABLEe