Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-19
STATE LEGISLATURE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PRO
VlOlNG FOR BIENNIAL ELECTIONS.
Prospects of the Proposed Change
Are Bright-Talk of a 3-Mill-Levy
Dark Outlook for Woman Suf-
fragists-Anti-Pass Bill.

Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 1S.-The joint
resolution by Senator Harper for an
amendment to the constitution provid-
ing for biennial elections will, In all
probability, pass both houses. The
sentiment in favor of doing away
with the expense and turmoil OF an
nual elections in Iowa seems strong
er than it was two years ago. The
joint resolution came up in the senate
as a special order recently. Senator
MOlsberry, who is opposed to the
measure, succeeded i'm getting it re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
This has delayed disposition of the
resolution, but will not affect it's fate.
Ex-senator Titus, the author Of the
Titus amendment as it was voted on
and carried In 1900, though later
knocked out by the supreme court, is
OH the ground and is endeavOring to
secure the passage of the joint reso-
luton. He is confident the senate will
pass it and that the house will follow
suit. The senate judiciary commit
tee, to which the resolution has been
referred, is friendly to the measure
and will report it for passage this
Wtch, lcSOiuliOu 10 hot
the same as the Titus resolution en-
bodying the amendment. A few
changes and amendments have been
made to meet objections that have
been raised in various quarters. These
objections were heard much of in the
legislature two years ago and in the
campaign preceding the election in
which the amendment was carried
In that election the majority i'm favor
of the. amendment was slight. Elk
Senator Titus, who has been, travel
ing over the state a good deal and
has kept his finger on the public pulse
says he is confident if the measure
is submitted to the people again il
will be favored by a large majority
Strong testimonials as to the advan-
tages of biennial elections have been
secured from many quarters, includ'
ing one from Governor Van SAINT OF
Minnesota, who has written a letter
in which he unhesitatingly indorses
the biennial election idea, basing his
Endorsement on the workings of the
law for a number of years in Mime.
Sofa
Frightens State Officers.
Senator Trewin has given the state
officers and heads of departments a
serious scare by introducing a resOlu-
ton that is intended to make these
functionaries come up to the letter of
the law in respect to reports of their
expenses. The twenty-eighth gener-
al assembly enacted a law requiring
all heads of departments to make a
biennial report to the executive coun-
Gil, showing in detail the receipts and
expenditures of their offices. The re-
ports came in to Secretary A. II. Dav-
ison of the executive council last fall
but they were not satisfactory. In
some cases the reports were made 50
long and prolix as to interfere with
their publication. The Trewin resolu-
senate on retrenchment and reform
shall inquire into the cause Of the neg
lect to comply with the law and re-
port on this subject to the senate.
Two important bills looking to re-
forms in the labor laws of the state
have been introduced by Senator May
tag Of Jasper county. One Of these
makes ample provisions for the pro
lection with safety appliances Of per-
sons who work in factories and work
shops and prevents the employment
Of child labor. The other bill en-
larges the scope Of the powers Of the
state labor commissioner and gives
him authority to visit all establish
ments where persons are employed
and enforce the laws requiring sani-
tary conveniences and safety appli-
ances.
Three-Mill Levy Likely To BE Made.
Indications are the legislature will
make a 3-mill levy There is strong
opposition to this and if the increased
levy is made it will be only after a
fight. Not in years has an Iowa gener-
al assembly been confronted with so
perplexing a financial situation The
extraordinary demands are much in
excess of anything asked in many a
day. They exceed a million and q half
dollars and further favOrs are likely
to be asked that will bring the total
to approximately S2000,000 On the
other hand, the auditor and treasurer
have made combined report to the
appropriations committee i'm which
they show there is less than 100000
available for extraordinary appropri-
atoms in the biennial period The
cbairmen of the ways and means COM
mittees are not satisfied with this
statement and are having an expert
prepare another one. They believe
there is more than this sum available
for extraordinary uses. However,
State Treasurer Gilbertson says he
does not see how it will be possible
for them to legitimately figure out
any considerable sum more that can
be had under a levy of the present
rate. He believes, and there has come
to be quite n general belief, that the
levy will have to be raised to 3 mills.
In addition 1t is expected the assem-
bly, will allow an increased levy for
building purposes to the state univer-
s!ty and also to the Iowa state col
lege at Ames. Both institutions are
seeking two-tenths of mill instead OF
one-tenth, as fixed by the Twenty
eighth general assembly. Moreover,
they want these increased levies to
extend over a period Of five years
The estimates of revenue by the