Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-01-24
IOWA SOLONS ARE BUSY.
Our Special Correspondent at the State
Capitol Tells of All Matters of In
terest to the General Public.
Des Moines, Jan. p, 1900.

The Iowa Legislature re-convened
on Tuesday, the 10th, each house pro-
ceding almost Immediately to the elee-
ton of u. s. Senator. Hons. John HI.
Gear and Fred White were nominated
by members of their respective parties.
Every Republican present in the Senate
and House voted for Gear, the Demo-
Gratis supporting White, and it looked
to me as Though those members who
had fought so hard to defeat Senator
Gear but a few days ego now felt glad
to have an opportunity to show their
loyalty once more for Iowa's Grand
Old Man. Both Houses met in joint
convention at high noon on the 18th to
confirm the election.
Quite little breeze was started by
an amendment to elect state printer
and binder at the same time being
tackled onto the resolution to meet in
joint convention, and when it reached
the house it was handled without
gloves. The amendment was defeated
in the House by vote of so to 40, and
it is hard to guess what will be the
outcome of the offices of printer and
binder. 1t is realized fact that there
are some of the state contracts that
should have been looked after years
ago, and especially within the last few
years.
Speaker Bowen announced the House
committees on the 18th. There were
some surprises to those who were not
familiar with Speaker Bowen or his
manly method of doing business, both
as public officer and private citizen.
He allowed no personals or political
animosity to bias his mind in selecting
members whom he thought were the
best qualified to fill places on the seve-
raj committees. His selections are
considered good and the placing of
Eaton, Temple and Dows at the heads
of the three most important committees
shows excellent judgment. Hon. ]. S.
Roome modestly declined the chair
manship ofthe Pharmacy Commission,
inasmuch as he is new member and
does not wish to asume the responsible
ty of Craftsmanship of such an import
ant committee. This is the only de-
partment in the state that after paying
all the fees and expenses of the office
turns in any money to the state. The
last biennial report of the state Treas
urer shows that the Pharmacy Com
mission paid into the state over fifteen
thousand dollars during the biennial
period just ended, after paying all ex-
penses of running the office.
The printing and binding matter
was called up in the House Thursday,
and committee of three was appointed
to investigate each of those offices. 1t
is the general opinion that they will be
abolished and all work in that line will
be by contract.
1t looks now as though the Board of
Control might get shaking up before
corn planting time.
A House Bill has been introduced,
providing for an appropriation of $751;
600 each for three normal schools. A
bill will be presented soon, creating
series of these schools throughout the
state. 1t will be hard to foretell the
fate of this bill. 1 believe that before
it passes it will have as many amend
ments as there were colors in Joseph's
coat, and more than likely become a
part of the boiler house fuel. Several
delegations have been here already lob
bying for a normal school in their re-
spective towns. But the members told
them to go home and wait until what
they wanted was in shape to apply for,
and they quietly skipped out.
Quite q number of bills have been
presented in the Senate and House.
Two joint bills have passed and been
signed by Gov. Shaw.
The special order of the Senate Fri
day morning was the adoption of reso-
lutians of respect to the memory of
Hon. f. II. Malloy, late senator from
Dubuque county in the 26th and 9th
General Assembly. A number of beauti-
full tributes were paid to hismemory by
his brother members. Malloy was O
strong man mentally, good counselor
debater that had no superior on the
floor of the Iowa senate; honest in his
convictions, true to his principles, in all
a grand man. All respected this man,
and had he lived, Winnesheik county
would have had the honor of claiming
one of the ablest men of the state as
having been born and raised within her
borders.
Next week the committee will begin
to oil the old machines and see how
they are going to work. The Board OF
Control, Mitchellville school, and one
or two other committees will report
next week. Some of those reports are
likely to warm things up somewhat,
and until that time will say goodby.
| THos. GRAHAM.