Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-23
Des Moines Correspondence.

sufficiently satisfactory to be left
alone so that the deliberations can
pass on to the unconsidered pages of
the code. Nearly all of the impor-
tant amendments, even though pass
ed by both branches, are constantly
brought up for reconsideration and
changes, and when the final effort
comes to adopt the work as whole.
in all probability there will be so
many conflicting interests demand
ing this and that change that it may
be almost impossible to finish and
quit, and IN the hurry changes may
be made such as will make the laws
entirely different from what is now
intended. But when will the end
come? That is the question that is
now agitating the minds of the aver
age taxpayer. OF course the work
can be closed up at any time by
agreeing to let the balance go un-
changed, in fact this might have and
should have been done before this ex-
ira session was called, but as it was
called in the first place primarily to
give the members, and attaches a
chance to get their hands into the
state treasury to tune of 81, 400 a day,
and to fix laws more satisfactory to
corporation monopolies, the proba-
bilities are there will be no hurry
about quitting and they can easily
find something to jangle and bubble
over all summer if they want to.
Another one the numerous investi-
eating committees made report,
and contrary to expectations it got
after some of the treasury hooters in
good shape. The members were j.
H. Funk, Geo. T. Baker, G. A. Voel-
ker, j. w. Souder, and NJ. J. Davis.
1t censured the executive council,
which is headed by Gov. Drake, and
the supply department, for extrav-
agance and carelessness in not guard
ing the interests of the state accord
ing to duty, and especially did it
pitch into Ex-Secretary of State Nc
Farland. 1t shows that he schemed
the state out of not less than $25, 900.
that while the census report cost
about $4,000, it should have cost
not to exceed 100000. Twice as
many clerks as were necessary were
kept at a salary of sos a month, mere
ly to give Mcfarland chance to get
a rakeoff from each of them of from
$40 to $50 month. The report was
filled with sensational features and
is complete Knockout to the Nc
Farland faction of the repu blican
party. Mcfarland was SO worked up
over it that he fell in nervous pros
tration and is dangerously sick.
The manufacturing amendment
finally got through the senate by a
vote of 26 to "a. In addition to the
fifteen republican and seven demo-
Gratis who voted for it last session,
Byers, Druet, Penrose, and Riggen,
all republicans, came to its assis-
tance.
The senate made some changes
from the house bill and it will be
necessary for the house to concur.
which will no. doubt be done, and
then comes the governors signature
and the deed is done.
The Sunday base ball matter re-
ceived con siderable attention last
week, and it may be made a law
that such recreation and enjoyment
will not be permitted. This legis-
lature is ''lu lu." 1t is after every
thing but monopolies. One member
wants it to be unlawful for anybody
to sell or even give away skinned
milk. Next thing we know we will
be allowed to put only one lump of
sugar in our coffee.
Yes, and Senator Merriam has ir-
troduced an withholding bill; just
as though there are now no laws
against theft, bribery, or malfeasence
IN office. On the theory that a new
broom sweeps clean he probably
thinks a new law would be more
effective than are the old.
And the kaleidoscope is to be abol-
ished. Too bad that Iowa people
are not to be allowed to enjoy the
wonders and beauties of Edison's
greatest invention lest the children
be shown the pictures Of prize fight
or something. Perhaps the legisla-
ture fears some of it's secret acts will
be reproduced before the public.
The blue days don't seem to be at an
end yet.
The members have been roasted SO
hard about accepting railroad passes
that one of them concluded that
something had better be done about
it, so he introduced bill to prohibit
public officials from accepting such
favors from the railroads, and it wor-
ries the assembly more than every
thing else, the airship included. If
they vote against it their farmer con-
stituents will give them their walk
ing papers" and if they vote for it
the railroads will do the same. Eth
or horn of the dilemma is serious and
the measure will probably be pigeon
holed.
A conference Of the republican
leaders, in Des Moines one day last
week, virtually decided upon August
], as the date for their convention, |
Int - the c;v1,o. .z--L,