Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-21
NAMED
Herriott Prefaces His Annouce-
ment Of Senate Committees
With SUGGESTIONS.
"a Few Important Changes Rel.
alive to Rank and Import.
ance Considered.
New Committee Created to Con.
slider Telegraph and Tele.
phone--The List.
Special to Times-Re

Special to Times Republican.
Des MONIES, Jan. 21.-Lieutenant Gov
ernor Herriott created something of a
surprise in the legislature this afternoon
when he announced the committees for
the senate. He stated that the member
skip Of the committee on ways and
means and judiciary committee had been
selected by him with a view to reform
ing present railroad legislation in the
matter of taxation.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 21.-The house and
senate met separately this afternoon
after the joint convention had finished
it's work.
The principal business was an
nouncement OF the standing commit
tees. In the senate President Herriott
made the announcement of his COM
mittees and some suggestions in re-
lation thereto in the following words:
Pursuant to your direction and the
procedure of the senate heretofore l
have assigned the members to the
various committees for the transac-
tion of the necessary work of the ses-
sion. The list is now submitted. Re-
specting the assignments desire first
to submit suggestion regarding the
arrangement of the committees in the
matter of their rank, second to set
forth the reasons for certain changes
and additions made, and third to in
dicate the purpose in view in the make
up Of some of the cimmittees.
by custom the order of mention in
their first announcement has been
taken as significant of the rank Of inn
portance of committees. At each
Legislative session temporary and fluc-
tuating interests have induced presid-
ing officers to change their order more
or less. This has naturally resulted
in Some confusion and Ill assortment
OF rank Committees related to each
other are not grouped together, but
are scattered here and there In the
list Thus the committee on schools,
No. II, appears between the committee
on banks and insurance; that on edu-
cational institutions comes between
federal relations and elections. The
rank of the committees pertaining to
cur industry and commerce is not less
illogically assorted. the order being
agriculture, No. 4, labor Is mines and
mining 16, commerce 81, manufactures
80, horticulture and forestry 80. If
one were to judge solely from the or
der of mention, manufactures and
commerce are matters of little concern
to the people of Iowa.
"a better arrangement would pre-
sent the committees in groups COM
prising those related subjects, group
following group in the relative order
of Importance. After the committees
on ways and means, judiciary and
appropriations. it is suggested that
those relating to the industries and Ia
bor interests of the state follow, then
those on business corporations, then
those on city, county and state af-
fairs and institutions, and finally po-
litical and miscellaneous committees
While it is within the discretion of the
president under your granted author
ity to make such arrangement he has
not deemed it advisable, but submits
the matter as worthy of your consid-
Grafton.
"In harmony with the recommends
ton just made the committee on agri-
culture has been enlarged and adj
yanced The predominant interest of
our citizens and taxpayers is in the
farm and industries subsidiary there
to, and the advancement of the well
- Il
chief concern of this body. The great
wealth which they represent, the high
distinction Iowa has attained in the
raising of cereals. both on this conti
snent and abroad, the large number of
state and local institutions and So
cieties supported or assisted by the
state for the promotion of agricul
ture make appropriate the action here
taken.
"In the past few years there has de-
veloped marked popular interest in
our public libraries. The number and
influence of these educational institu
tions have greatly increased. The de-
STABILITY of promoting them, the de-
STABILITY of extending the usefulness
of our travelling libraries and the work
of the library commission, and the
need of our state and historical IL
braries at the capitol, have led me to
enlarge the committee on library. In
a Encouragement as uregd this COM
mittee should be advanced to the
group comprising the state institu-
tions. The committee on rules has
been increased from five to nine in
number; ~the committee on fish and
pa me from three to five,
"a new committee has been created
to consider matters connected with
telegraph and telephone companies.
The increased use of telephones In our
towns and cities and of late among
farmers, has produced host of prob
lens. The granting of franchises. the
rights of such companies in our streets
and highways, the location of poles
and wires, and the general regulation
of such service as are matters that re-
quire particular legislative considera-
ton.
mindful of the fact that you come
to this chamber as representatives of
the people who support our state gov
ernment by contribution of taxes lev
led on their property, the majority of
the membership of the two ranking
committees in particular have been
aalccte ed with a view to refOrmatiye