Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-07
COMMITTEES ARE BUSY.
LEGISLATURE SETTLING DOWN TO
BUSINESS.
Many Bills Being Prepared For Pre-
sentation. Col. Rood's Appointment
Not Confirmed. Other Matters
of Interest.
Des Moines, Feb. 8, 1900.

Of Interest.
Des Moines, Feb. 8, 1900
Special to PUBLIC OPINION:
The writer has received number of
letters from readers of the PUBLIC
OPINION. stating that they hoped that
he would continue to send letters each
week. This is indeed very encouraging
to me, knowing full well my inability
to perform the work of correspondent.
These kind letters and the many courte-
sizes extended to me Dy people around
the state capitol. make me willingly
promise that 1 will continue to write q
little every week during the legislative
term.
This week has been busy one for
committees. Rep. Roome tells me that
he attended as many as four meetings
In one day and tonight he is tired out.
Not hearing Of much floor work beiult
done 1t would seem te some that lots of
valuable time is being wasted. This is
not the case. Committees are very
busy on bills thnt will later come be-
fore the Senate and House to be adopt
ed or defeated. In the near future I
will try and explain the process Of .
bill from the time it Is submitted until
it becomes law.
The topic of the week about the state
house has been the appointment of q
member Of the Board of Control. Col.
II. H. Rood, of Mount Vernon, being
selected by Gov. Shaw, who sent his
name to the Senate for confirmation on
Feb. lst, that body failed to confirm
Mr.. Rood by q vote of twenty-eight
(2S) for to twenty-one (2l against. 1t
taking two thirds vote to confirm, his
appointment was rejected. There were
nine republicans voting with the four
teen democrats for rejection. The re-
publicans voting against confirmation
were Cheshire of Polk, Craig of Bremen
and Butler, Crosby of Madison and
Adair. Finch of Humboldt, Garst of
Carroll, Healy of Webster, Hopkins Of
Guthrie, Anderson and Dallas, Hub
bard of Woodberry, and Smith OF
Mitchell. It is not necessary for me
to write what think of their actions.
There are thousands of good republicans
in Iowa that can and will show these
Senators up to the people, also theil
object in voting as they did. Nearly
every newspaper in the state supported
Col. Rood. The question is now asked
what will Gov. Shaw do, but no ont
can answer it but Gov. Shaw himself
In one thing Shaw reminds me of Car
Bates. Silence is his long suit, and un
til Gov. Shaw is ready to act, no one
will know what he will do.
In my last / said the state printer
and binder were liable to be knocked
OUT. Ihave not changed my opinion
yet. On Friday motion was made IN
the House to strike out the words
printer and binder with the election o
trustees of educational institutions, anG
it was carried. This motion was sur
prise for nearly every one present
Temple of Osceola, Eaton of Mitchell
and Byers of Shelby, who have beel
the monarchs of the House floor, met
little more than their equals IN Clark,
of Dallas, and Blake of Webster, new
members, in floor debate on this mo
tion. Had Prentiss not been SO promp
with his motion, think that those tw,
kids from Bremen and Cerro Cord,
counties, Burt Sweet and Davey Hurn
would have walked the sleepers up for
short time.
| Blake of Webster introduced bill
for new arsenal and to approrriat
seventy-tive thousand dollars for tn
same.
Geo. w. Hinkle Of Wsyne presente,