Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-02-08
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Elections Every Two Years
Terms Extended.
From the Iowa Capital.

| From the Iowa Capital.
Senator Titus joint resolution
amending the constitution Of Iowa pro.
yiding for elections every two years
and doing away with the election every
year has now passed two general as.
semblies and awaits the necessary legal
publication when it will be before the
people to be voted upon at the regular
election this Year. This constitutional
amendment is more important than any
act that will be passed by the present
general assembly. The amendment
being joint resolution does not re-
quire the signature of the governor.
1t is estimated that this constitu-
tional amendment will save the people
of Iowa $500, 900 each two years. Sen
ator Titus of Muscatine at the request
of the Capital gives the following in
formation in relation to the operation
of this constitutional amendment and
the effect of its adoption upon the var
ious departments of the state govern
ment. The interview is given in the
form Of questions and answers.
"What effect has the amendment up
on the state officers?" was asked OF
Senator Titus.
The amendment" said the senator,
provides that the first regular cleo
ton after its adoption shall be held in
the year 1902. This therefore, sus-
ponds or does away with the election
that would otherwise have been held in
1901, and the terms of office of the gov
ernor, lieutenant governor, one supreme
judge, superintendent of public i'll
struCtion and one railroad commission
er, will be extended for one year or I'M
til their successors are duly qualified
and elected.
"If the amendment is adopted what
effect will it have on the members OF
this general assembly,"
1T will extend the term of all sena-
tors and members of the house of this
general assembly for one year and
they would serve as members of the
Twenty-ninth general assembly, which
will be called in January 1902. The
successors of senators elected in the
fall of 1897, would be chosen at the
general election in 1902 The success
sors of the senators elected in 1899,
will be chosen in the general election
in 1904. All senator's, therefore, serv-
ing in the Twenty-eighth general as
sembly would serve five years and
would participate in three regular SEES
sions."
"What effect would it have upon the
county and township oflicers?"
''By the terms of the amendment, all
county and township officers whose sue
cessors would otherwise be chosen at
the election in 1901, would be extended
one year. This would therefore, ex-
tend the term of Office of all sheriffs,
treasurers and school superintendent
and such members of the board OF
supervisors whose term of office would
expire December, 81, 1901. 1t would
also extend the terms of office of one
township trustee in each township"
"Will any changes be necessary in
the statutes of the state to make the
terms of Office and election of other
state and county offices not specially
mentioned in the amendment, conform
to the amment?"
Yes. Several changes will be
necessary, but all these can be made
at the regular session of the general
assembly in January, 1902, so that
they would be in effect before the first
election after the adoption of the
amendment, which will be in the fall
of 1902.
"The officers of the state and
counties and townships need not be
disturbed in the least as the necessary
changes in the laws can be made before
their extended term expires and before
it is necessary to elect their successors. "
"Will the general assembly meet as
heretofore in even numbered years?''
"No, it will not. The amendment
provides that the general assembly
shall hold session in 1908 which will
be one year after its regular session in
1902, This becomes necessary for the
reason that the governor and lieuten-
ant governor are elected in the fall OF
1902, and the general assembly must
meet in joint convention to canvass the
! vote cast for these two offices. This