Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-29
N[N A0[SB[RRY BILL
Another Measure introduced to
Take Place of the Vetoed
Merger Bill.
Constitutional Objections Raised
by Cummins Overcome in
the Proposed Law.
Senate Takes Action to Expedite
Work IS. More Talk OF
Adjournment.
Republican,.

Des Moines, March 20. Senator
Molsberry this morning introduced
new bill to permit railway companie:
to borrow money without limit for i'm
provements and construction, which
overcomes all the constitutional ques-
lions raised by the governor.
The new Molsberry bill was referred
to the committee on corporations ane
Immediately referred back with ia.
yorable recommendation. 1t is expected
it will be brought UP for passage a:
soon as the veto is disposed Of OF
Tuesday and will be passed.
The senate adopted resolutions Inn
iting debate to seven minutes to eacf
person and for night sessions mex
week. Conferees were named on the
interurban bill. The bill to give mouse
rent free to the adjutant general, quar-
termaster and surgeon at the Soldiers
Home was passed; also bills to provide
for fire escapes on public buildings, ane
TO guarantee the compensation o1
shorthand reporters. The house passee
bills correcting errors in the veterinary
surgeon law and revising the law or
yiaducts; also to legalize the acts o.
notaries public which have been lmper-
fectly acknowledged.
The bill to give the commandant o1
the Soldiers Home power to restore
pensions forfeited by the old soldiers
was passed in the senate.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. March 29.-There is
more talk of adjournment. The senate
has refused to set date final, but is
getting ready for the end. In the dis
cussion which followed motion to fia
the date for April there was some ex-
preston yesterday which indicated the
ceilings of members.
II am in favor of the senate remain
ing here until the business of the ses-
sion is finished and then to go home
So said Senator Ball, of Johnson
county. He declared that the most im-
portant work of the legislature is yet to
he done.
II feel that up to the present time
the Twenty-ninth general assembly mas
not made a very enviable reputation for
the passage of important bills de-
clared Senator Junkin. who opposed
fixing the date at this time.
In the discussion which followed 1t
was suggested that the appropriation
bills for all state institutions and for
the educational institutions have yet to
be acted on. Senator Moffitt, of Cedar
county, became indiscreet and in refer
ring to Senator Ball declared that he
could understand why the senator from
johnson desired to stay. He has piils
in here for some $860,000 for his own,
said Senator Moffitt, land 1t Is no Won
der he desires to stay until all are thru.
He would be willing to stay the longer
that he might get in the bigger graft"
But Senator Lewis called down the
senator from Cedar for using the word
graft" In connection with the actions
of the senate, and the chair ruled that
graft was out of order. What the
senate really desires is that the house
will send over a resolution to adjourn
and leave it with the senate to dispose
OF the real question of fixing the date.
The Molsberry bill has been laid over
until next Tuesday when the veto will
be acted on. The vote of % to 1S very
nearly expresses the division in the
senate on this bill at this time. 1t in
dicates that the bill can not be passed
over the veto of the governor-some-
thing which became apparent right at
the outset. The desire to uphold Gov
ernor Cummins has weight with his
friends, and a great many of those who
voted for the Molsberry bill count
themselves friends of the governor.
The purpose of seeking time Is to get
votes to pass it over the veto, If that is
possible, and for a discussion OF the
bill. Some of the able senators differ
radically from the governor in the mat
ter of the bill being unconstitutional.
AS a matter of fact the constitutional
question is due rather to an error than
otherwise. The bill, or the amendment
to the bill, was carelessly worded. 1t
was intended to apply to all Iowa rail-
road corporations. The wording of it
ic a little obscure and 1t in fact makes
the distinction Governor Cummins
pointed out. But there are number
of the senators who regard themselves
as pretty good at constitutional law and
they are aching for a chance to discuss
that phase of the bill. This is one rea-
son for the postponement. They want
time to look up the records and prepare
their speeches. But on the whole the
veto of the governor has generally met
with approval and commentator and
among his warm friends and
admirers they say that 1T is popular
move. It is also reported and currently
believed that another bill of similar i'm
port is being prepared and will be in
troduced and passed.
The highway bill as it finally went
from the legislature to the governor is
to it's authors. When it
came up in the house yesterday a mo-
ton was made to send 1T to the judi
ciary committee for further inyestiga-
ton. Both Mr.. Coburn and Mr.. Ander-
son had been made aware Of the fact
that an effort would be made to send
the bill to committee to kill 1t. 1t was
reported that the representatives OF
certain machine and road scraper In :
terests had appeared on the scene and
were at work to prevent the final pas
sage of the bill. So 1t was forced to
vote at once and the senate amend