Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-01
.|O RAISE ALLOWANCE
Iowa House Passes Bill Increas.
ing Allowance to Eldora
Reform School.
Number Of Measures Of Minor
Importance Passed by
Both Houses.
Some Interesting Discussion on
the Wesley Elkins Pardon
Case Anticipated.


Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. April 1.-At O'Clock the
senate took up the special order, con-
sideration of the veto of the Molsberry
bill, and without any debate or discus
|sion the vote was taken. It was unani-
NOUS against the bill, thirty-six SEN
|ators voting.
While the veto was being considered
lin the senate Larrabee introduced into
the house bill which is in effect the
epuhlicity clause of the railway assess
Ement bill and provides for publication
I'm two Des Moines newspapers of q
complete report of the doings of the ex-
ecutive council each year. He said 1T
Iwas asked for by Governor Cummins,
and secured suspension Of the rules for
its passage and it was passed by an
Overwhelming majority. The bill came
as complete surprise.
u :
Special to Times Republican.
h Des Moines, April 1.-The house this
morning passed the Boylen bill to
raise the per capita allowance at the
Eldora reform school from 50 to S11 a
month. Hawk, of Jasper, attempted to
amend it by making the allowance $40
Ia month as it was originally, but on a
showing that the state board OF con-
troll desired the larger amount 1T was
beaten and the bill passed.
Other bills passed were: To permit
the registration of voters where they
have moved just before election; to
give railroads the right to condemn for
gravel pits and tracks; to require COM
ranies selling stock certificates in Iowa
to comply with the Iowa laws; to per-
nit cities Of over 10000 to have police
matrons, and to restrict telephone and
telegraph companies to one side OF a
The womans reforma-
tory bill at Anamosa was reconsidered
and made a special order for Thursday
morning.
The senate today passed bills to re-
ouire telephone lines to file plats with
the executive council; to require notice
Of levy of the mulct tax, and defeated
bill to give mechanics lien on ada
cent property. The bill on osteopathy,
being the compromise bill, was dis
cussed at length and finally passed.
Before the legislature adjourns, If
there is opportunity given for fair dis
cussion, some interesting speeches are
ready for delivery on pardon matters,
especially the pardons case of Wesley
Elkins. It is not possible for this case
to be decided fairly, because the prejue
dices and feelings of those who recall
sthe crime have crept into the legisia-
,ture. The members from Clayton
county are against the pardon. 1t Is
stated and generally believed that any
Clayton county man who permits a
pardon to be granted the young man
need look for no other political posi-
tions. The case is in politics in that
corner of the state, and II pardon is
granted 1t will be despite political in
fuences. A peculiar situation has de-
veloped in the senate. Bishop has been
preparing long speech on the case
when it should come up, and now the
senate has adopted a rule limiting
speeches to seven minutes each, and 1t
will prevent him from stating his OBJ
iections. Over in the house DR.. Town
send is prepared to talk at length
against the pardon. Mr.. Sweet, who
has given the case great deal OF
study, may speak for the pardon of Ell
kins, as also several others who have
become interested. The theory of those
who want Ellkins to remain to the end
in the penitentiary is that he is a de
generate" and that he was predisposed
to crime at his birth and is therefore a
dangerous man to be at large. They
believe that the crime was so horrible
that 1t can never be expiated and there
should be punishment as long as he
lives. On the other hand, those who fa-
vor the pardon or parole look at the en-
tire crime and all the surroundings, and
scout the idea of "degenera9y." They
say there is no evidence to suggest any
state of mind on the part of Elkins that
would prevent him being a useful citi-
zen. He was mere child and his rea-
soning was faulty, but he did not real
ize then his moral responsibility and
there was absolutely nothing to re-
strain him. The circumstances of his
life embittered the boy and he had
vainly tried to escape in the natural
way, and at least reached the conclu-
sion that the only way to free himself
from conditions which were intolerable
was to put his parents out of the way.
But he has been confined twelve years
and the irresponsible boy is now man,
with an intellect the equal of any mans
in the legislature, a student and
scholar, one fully realizing now the
mistake he made. If he is to be par
doned at all now is the time. If he re-
mains in the prison may years more 1T
would be wrong to turr him loose. Such
IS the line of reasoning, and 1T can be
seer that if there is opportunity for de-
bate the speeches will be very interest
ing. The house has fixed on tomorrow
afternoon for consideration of the par
don matter, with the Elkins case at the
end of the list.
At the afternoon session of the senate
yesterday quorum was secured for
part of the time. A curious question
arose. When Arthaud asked for con-
currence in the house amendments to
the bill legalizing conveyances where
the acknowledgements have been Inn
perfect nineteen voted for and three