Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-26
REPRESENTATIVE BUcHAf
INTRODUCE HIS MEAsUs
/ LEGISLATURE THIS vi
TO CONVENE TOMORROW
General Assembly Will Meet at Des
Moines Tuesday Afternoon and Be
gin Work Delayed by Fire at State
Capitol.
TBY LEON BRoWN.l
Des Moines Bureau Of the Courier.

TBY LEON BROWN
Des Moines Bureau of the Courier.
Des Moines, Jan. 25.
Among the first bills that will be in
reduced in the house this session will
,e one by Representative Buchanan,
of Ottumwa, regulating automobiles
When this bill was proposed in the
last session of the legislature the au-
somobiles in Iowa did not number one
tenth as many as now. 1t is reasona-
bly, certain that the measure will be
enacted by this legislature.
Representative Buchanan said re-
Gently that he did not know that any
material changes will be necessary in
the measure as presented two years
ago.
Requirements of the Bill.
1t required automo obile owners to
register their make and number with
the secretary of state, and to receive
a license to run the machines. The
measure was designed as an aid to the
farmers of the state. The city fellow
with his machine now goes scooting
across the country without much re-
gard to the rights or conveniences of
the farmer, whose horses scare at the
glarine, rushing engines. 1t has been
found necessary to pass laws regulat-
ing the manner in which the traction
engines shall be run across country.
The Buchanan automobile bill is along
the same line and for the same pur-
pose to protect the general traveller
ON the common highways.
OF course the influence of most of
\ the citiesAwill be brought Ito bear
against the measure Especially Des
Moines will be inclined to resist 1t.
But Des Moines will be after so many
shings for the committees on cities and
towns--of which in the house, Mr..
Buchanan is chairman--that the city
officials may be successful in keeping
the automobilist drivers and sellers
from opposing the auto bill.
Is Good Measure.
AS an indication of the fact that the
idea of the Buchanan bill is good
one, and practical, it may be mentioned
that many cities in this state, even,
have enacted it's provisions into an
ordinance affecting their city streets.
These ordinances, of course, do not af-
drivers. The Buchanan law will mere
ly extend to the country the same pro-
lection that cities have found it neces-
sary to give themselves. In Des Moines
the speed of the machines is regu-
lated and the machines have to be
numbered and licensed by city author
ity.
Legislature convenes Tomorrow.
The legislature reconvenes tomor-
row afternoon. The sessions of the
two bodies will then be held in their
The house hall has been revamped by
the capitol improvement commission
and pathetic effort made to conceal
the evidences OF the ravages of the
flames from the sight Of the legislat-
ors. White canvass and blue draper
les have been used to this end.
Members gathered in large numbers
today for the session tomorrow after
noon. 1t was fixed for 1:30 on the
theory that it would take all of Mon
dey for the members to get here. Prac-
tically everybody was here this after
noon.
Bills viii Be Many.
Interviews with members indicated
THAT the effect of the address of
Speaker Clarke when he took the gavel
of the presiding officer of the house
on January IL. has worn away. So far
as can be judged from the crammed
yalises and bulging pockets of the leg
islators, the flood of bills is going to
be unprecedented.
There is no doubt about the discour-
aging effect of the speakers introduc-
tory remarks, at the beginning of the
session Some of the members said
: that they had no doubt what it would
reduce the number of measures intro
duced, at least at first. But the two
weeks time that has intervened in
the way of a recess has served to al
low that encouragement to wear
away and the evidences now indicate
more bills than ever.
'.And why not?" asked sixth dis
trict member who did not want his
name used-for obvious reasons-and
who has several measures he expects
to put sin ''What is the legislature
for?" TIE talk about the state being
better&off if he would go home with
ut pssanagiynal : tard wyuuni
out passing any laws is ridiculous.
Every law we pass, almost, is in the
way of amendments. actually if not in
that form. Conditions change and
with them must come changes in the
laws. At least SO it seems to me.
am. in favor of the, legislature doing
the business it has to do-the more
the better. and trying to SO adjust the
law conditions that the most people
will be benefited. Talk about Iegisla-
tive sessions every ten years is all
nonsense.
Supervision of Private Banks,
There is no doubt now, of the intro
lContinued on Page 5, Col. ~