Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-27


is in Des Moines. When seen at the Saw
cry House he stated that he was in Des
sMoines to confer with the attorney gem
eral regarding the alleged flaw In the
biennial elections amendment, but that
he had nothing to give out as to HE
plan Of procedure until after he had
consulted with him. In speaking Of the
amendment muddle, Senator Titus said:
am here to consult with Attorney
General Remley as to the best plan to
secure prompt decision from the SUI
preme court asst the supposed error in
the biennial election amendment
Have you formulated any plan OF
your OWN
Yes. but I do not care to say any
thing about my ideas in that elation
until I have conferred with Gen. REM
ley.''
What do you expect the supreme
court will decide 2,
As the author Of the measure I know
what j intended The committees and
members of both the twenty-seventh
and twenty-eighth general assemblies
know what was intended. The people
knew what was intended when they vot-
ed upon it, and I have full confidence
that the supreme court will see 10 1t that
the plain intent is not defeated.
The language used in the original
measure by you, on the matter of extern
Ijsion of terms, seems to have been all
fright. does it not ~
Well, in regard to that I wish to say
that the reference made to that, in
the first and only press commantsI have
made since the supposed error has been
discovered, wac for the purpose of indi-s
eating the intent and not in any manner
| to reflect upon the COMMITTEES. In my
| opinion stronger committee could not
have been chosen from the senate which
made up the senate committee of the
twenty-seventh general assembly con-
lstitutional amendments and by their
careful consideration they improved the
original. was invited to be present at
nearly all their meetings and all chan
ges We're approved by me. The COM
mittee was more deliberate than was
satisfactory to me. I feared the meas
| lure would be defeated for lack of time
to get 1t thru the house. Whenever
urged the committee to more prompt ac-
ton the response came, This is very
important measure and must be very
1
ceass to be thankful that 80 Important
q measure, that I as new member, had
1.-THE temerity to father waa considered
4 by 30 competent a committee The title
OF the amendment, a resolution propos-
ing to provide for biennial elections in
|dicates its purpose All else after the
i first clause are incidental to that pur-s
Il pose.
The resolution submitted reads as
follows:
Be it further resolved, that this RESI-
1olution and the foregoing amendments
4 to thefconstitution of the state of lows
having been adopted by the twenty
seventh general assembly In manner and
form. and by the majority required by
the constitution of the state of Iowa and
the statutes thereof, shall be submitted
for ratification or rejection by the cleo
tors of the state Of Iowa at the general
i election for state officers to be held in
4 November, 19O0.'
"Paraphraslng it, 1t would read voters
4 Of Iowa While you are elecling your
state, county and township officers in
$500, the legislature would have you in
Incidentally express, yourselves on this
5I5resolution.' Now shall construction be
4 placed upon this amendment which
4 would. in effect, indicate to the people
4 that the legislature played trick upon
4 them and extended the terms Of officers
8 that was not necessary to extend? Not
withstanding you held conventions, had
Iall the expense incidental to nonina-
4 tons and campaigns, this amendment is
lreally retrospective and all this is for
4 naught? Thisis an absurd consequence
that in my opinion the supreme court
4 will not tolerate. But I have now said
more than / intended to. I will cite you
an abundance Of authorities that will
sustain a liberal construction but can
4 not see the necessity of a newspaper ar
4 gument at this time. It is up to the
Il supreme court and I am only concerned
4 now in their having the proper view Of
4 lit and that as promptly as possible.
In the meantime | am prepared to
4 bear such criticism as 1 am justly en-
Titled to and never have tried to shift the
responsibility from myself to a commit
i tee, the most of whom are much more
j able lawyers than myself. hope Will
not be asked to say more until the de-
a cislon is made, altho I am sincerely
4 thankful to the press of Iowa that have
u spoken kindly Of me-
CONVENTION ORDERED.
constitutional Revision Carries by