Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-08
Railroad Measure Through House
at High Speed.
THE SENATE saw IT DIFFERENTLY
Buchanan, of WapeiIo. Sees Deficit, in
Bill and the Author Acknowledges
That 1t Would Be Fatal-Cities Can
not Repudate Gifts for Libraries.
Des Moines. April

LES NnUlllSS, apiAi
The coup of Tuesday as to railroad
assessments has recoiled. The simple
proposition contained in the bill intro
duced by Representative Larrabee
went through the lower body with
speed which took away the breath OF
the members and left them no time to
analyze the same. AS has been pre-
viously stated it provided for publicity
of proceedings before the executive
council, requiring roll call in each
case where assessment was fixed. In
the light of subsequent events | can
understand remark made TO me on
Monday, but which | took to be merely
casual: THE only section of the rail
road bill which I regretted to see de-
feated, said one who is very promi
nent in the councils of those who are
advocating a measure of this kind,
was that which makes publicity man
datory. Governor Cummins, | know,
is in favor of this provision, and has
expressed his willingness to go on rec
ord before the people of the state in
any manner which will secure the best
results" | am now positive that at
that time the plan had been worked
out and it was very shreWdly and sue
cessfully worked out by the energetic
representative from Fayette. The pas
sage of this bill gave the senate its OPP
portunity, the only trouble being that
it was too eager to begin. AS Senator
Junkin expressed it: The house sent
over one bone and we have started in
to reconstruct the whole animal" 1t
was clearly the intention to add every
section of the defeated assessment
measure to this one clause bill and
Senator Lewis worked with great Wig
or to get them in as soon as possible.
He had the whole thing ready for yes
terday morning
But under the rules governing the
relations of the two bodies it is at the
option of either to recall for reconsid,
GRAFTON any measure if not more than
two days have elapsed. The house had
fallen into the trap but saw the way
out, and yesterday morning by vote
which was practically unanimous re
considered its action of Tuesday and
recalled the bill from the senate. That
body was rather doubtful as to its &C
quiescenca II this deman dupon them
and it was understood that Lieutenant
Governor Herriott was seeking some
parliamentary law by means of which
it could be retained. | heard one per
son inform the speaker that the pre-
siding officer of the sister body was
in doubt on this point well, he neet
not be long in doubt was Mr.. Eaton;
reply, "for / can show him book ant
page for the position of the house.
And more than that he hunted up hi
authorities and read the same to
knot of interested listeners. But u
to this time the bill has not been re
turned, though the senate dropped cor
sideration until such time as the mat
ter shall be settled.
Another Case.
Another case of reconsderatio
came up in the house which is unique
1t is the only case this session where
bill has passed both houses and then
defect being discovered and recopsit
cred. This was the Hayward bi
amending the present law in regard t
the registration Of voters. This pro
posed to amend the statute by ado
ing thereto to the clause: 'Or to pei
son who, having properly registered
has since the last preceding day 70
the registration of voters for that elet
ton moved to another voting precinc
within the same county"
Buchanan Wide Awake.
The intention of the author of tn
bill was to arrange the law that n
elector should be deprived of his vott
But Buchanan of Wapello saw some
thing that which had not occurred
the senator from Scott. This allcs
ing men to change their voting pr
cincts on the very eve of electio
would give an opportunity to coloniz
wherever needed AS Mr. Buchana
expressed it in talking over the ma