Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-03
Our Des Moines Letter.
From Our Special Correspondent.

From Our Special Correspondent.
The Thirtieth General Assembly
of the Iowa Legislature reconvened
and was opened formally on Tues
day afternoon and everything be-
gins to appear in running order.
The ravages made by the late fire
in the house have been so far re-
paired that to the casual observer
everything is in good shape. The
change most noticeable to those who
have been here in previous years is
the absence Of the galleries for spec
tators, which were so badly married
that it was deemed wise merely to
cover them with canvas. The car
pet too is a motley pattern, being
made up Of pieces of the origin; /
carpet of the House finished out
with the presentable parts of the
gallery carpet. In other respects,
the House appears as of old.
So
To person who has never spent
much time in the House or Senate,
it is very interesting sight to see
these men Of mature years at school
again as it were in Legislative halls.
In looking over the assemblage, one
is struck with the fact that the men,
bers of both houses are all compare
lively young men, though sprink-
ling OF gray hairs and an occasional
bald head adds interest and dignity
to the body. The Nestor of the
Senate is Senator Crawford, of Du-
buque county; the baby (of the
Senate) is Senator Turner, of Adams
and Taylor counties, Senator Winnie,
of Buena Vista, Humboldt and Poca-
hontas counties being the one whose
nose has just been broken, so to
speak. In the House those who
have served the longest are Dashiell
of Warren county, Davie of Craw-
ford, Temple of Clarke, Republi-
cans, and Koontz of johnson, Dem
ocrat. Dasliell has rather I'M
usual record, having served in the
House in the Twelfth as emily, in
the Senate in the 18th, 18th, 18th,
10Th assemblies, and now after
more than twenty years has elapsed,
he is back again ready to serve his
state as Of yore.
a.,'a
Up to this time neither House has
done much except to introduce bills
OF these all sorts and conditions
have been deluging both Senate and
House, making it evident that the
Legislators will have plenty Of meas.
ures to discuss and pass opinion
upon. This routine business is Of
course not very interesting, but the
program on Thursday was varied
somewhat in the Senate when two Oh
three measures were brought ur
which provoked not a little discus.
sion, lively and at times rather sar-
castle.
The first bill that aroused discus
sion was one introduced by Senator
Hayward, Of Scott, appropriatina
$4,000 for the purchase of striI
Of land now separating the two sec
tons Of land already owned by tht
Iowa Soldiers Orphans Home a
Davenport. The land in question
is now leased by the institution, bu
as the lease expires very soon, i
was thought expedient to purchase
it at once. Senator lIolesbury, O
Louisa, strongly opposed the meas.
ure, because, as he said, he objected
to having the state Of Iowa 90 int,
the real estate business. He ais,
made some sarcastic illusions to tn,
credufity of Senator Smith, o
Mitchell, who, without knowing ex
actly what the committee Of way,
and means had done at its meeting
the day before, heartily endorsed it,
acClol, especially IN regard to TIT
purchase Of the land. In spite o
the opposition, however, the measur,
was carried almost unanimously.
~
Another bill that aroused som,
little discussion was one providing
for the printing of 10000 add
tional copies Of the Official Register
making in all an edition of 10000
copies. Senator Lambert, who hae
Opposed the measure when it wal
proposed to send the copies to St
Louis, for distribution made
short but forcible speech il
favor Of it. He said that a.
he had learned from the Secre
tary Of State that the plan now is te
distribute them among the school.
Of the State, he would heartily fayo]