Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-01-24

L1ONeDleHJ SOOu DtCdlH6 COuFluCou ohaO
the lobby was doing mc-e harm than
good. All the legislators who professed
friendship for the normal movement
were invited to meet in caucus. After
discussing the whole situation the eau
Gus adopted resolution, which al
though couched in the language of di-
plomacy and politeness, was simply
plain invitation to the lobbyists to leave
the city. Then the caucus appointed a
committee consisting of Representatives
Cowles, Byers, Blume, Buchanan,
Baker, Senators Gorrell and Bachman,
to draft bill. They will prepare a
measure, which after being accepted by
the caucus, will be introduced in both
houses. 1t will probably provide for the
establishment of three additional nor
NAL schools, but will not name
the towns in which they shall be
established. Instead it will provide
that subsequent to the bills passage he
location shall be determined by joint
ballot of the legislature. Some of the
leading newspapers of the state have
recently been declaring themselves OPP
posed to the establishment of more
schools at present and in the legislature
it proves there is a strong sentiment
against establishing more than one
school at this time. Indications now
are that very hard fight will be re-
quired to secure the passage of any bill.
Senator Macarthur of Des Moines
county has introduced a bill, which
seems to have good chance of passing,
to provide new system of sentencing
criminals and of pardoning and paroling
them. 1t is provided that one convicted
of crime shall not be sentenced to
fixed term of years, as now, but that in
passing sentence the court shall fix a
minimum and maximum sentence. The
minimum shall be the shortest term pro-
vided by the law for the particular Of
Tense, and the maximum shall be the
longest term provided for the same Of
Tense. The governor may at any time
parole the convict who is sentenced for
anything less than life. Under this pa
role the convict may go at large on his
good behavior, subject to arrest and re-
turn to the prison at any time at the
discretion of the governor. But so long
as he shall properly conduct himself
while at large he shall be considered as
serving out his term the same as if he
were still within the penitentiary.
Equal suffragists Active.
The Iowa Equal Suffrage association
has secured headquarters for the winter
and will keep strong lobby on the
ground in the effort to pass the resolu-
ton for a constitutional amendment
giving women the ballot. Mrs. Evelyn
H. Belden of Sioux City is in charge.
There are a number of members in each
branch willing to introduce her meas
ure. 1t has not yet been presented in
either branch. 1t is said that Mrs. Bel
den is waiting to see whether peace or
war is to prevail during the session.
Feeling has been strong between the
Cummins and Gear factions in the re-
cent senatorial fight. The prediction is
frequently made that many meritorious
measures are likely to be caught be-
tween the upper and the neither mill
stones of this fractional friction. It is
undoubtedly true that if one faction
proposes to oppose whatever the other
faction favors, legislative interests will
suffer. While there is no serious dam
ger from present indications of a con-
tinued warfare of this sort, yet the
woman suffrage managers are too wise
to put their measure in the position Of
being bone of contention between the
factions. They will not have it intro
duced until matters have developed
sufficiently to assure that the Gear men
will not oppose it as q Cummins meas
ure and the Cummins men will not op-
pose it as Gear measure. The ladies de-
clare they have an excellent chance of
passing the resolution at this session.
For Biennial Elections.
The Titus amendment looking to the
inauguration of the system of biennial
elections has been unanimously re-
ported for passage by the senate com.
mittee. If this amendment passes the
present session the question will be sub
mitted to the voters at the election next
November and they will determine
whether the constitution shall be
amended. In case the amendment car
ries at the polls the Legislative session
two years hence will be legislated out
of existence. and the legislature will be
able to meet at that time on call of
the governor. The special interest in
this feature Of the case arises from the
fact that that session will have to elect
one and possibly two United States SEN
ators. There is little doubt however
that the governor will agree to call
session.
The w. Q. T. U. of the state wants
the legislature to establish an industrial
reformatory for girls. Mrs. Anna Ed
worthy, state superintendent Of the w.
@. T. u, has had bill prepared and it
will be introduced in a few days. 1t
passed the house two years ago, but
failed to find it's way through the small
holes in the senatorial sitting commit.
tee sieve, 1t is not proposed to have
new buildings erected but to make use
of some already built in the female de-
partment of the Anamosa penitentiary.
The purpose is to uplift those needing
reform by teaching them trades and
domestic arts. Theeunion is also inter
ested in the woman suffrage cause.
The bill introduced by Senator Nc
Arthur, to provide a license for non-resi.
dent hunters. was an important feature