Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-13
hit FEW CLASHES
IN LEGISLATURE
Session of General Assembly
Just Closed Remarkably
Free From Factionalism
rue nEMncpATs piAvED FAIR
THE DEMOCRATS PLAYED FAIR
Early in the Session an Effort Was
Made to Tempt Democrats in the
House, But 1t Was Turned Down
Demand for Railroad Legislation
Was Genuine One.
to mes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, April 13.-The session
of the general assembly which has just
closed in this city has been remarkably
free from political or factional feeling.
Not once during the entire session We're
the lines drawn as between democrats
and republicans or between the plat
form supporters and the opponents OF
the party platforms among republicans.
Not one person could have told from
anything that was said or done IN
either house during the entire session
that there was anything known in this
state OF any disagreement in politics.
It is true that early In the session an
effort was made to induce the demo-
Gratis of the house to Introduce reso-
luton and to father 1t as a democratic
measure advocating certain specific re-
auctions on the tariff on goods coming
from Canada, or free trade With can
ana, and TO have this advocated as a
democratic measure In reality to cause
factional alignment In the Legislature.
The democrats were wise enough 10
keep out OF such scheme and to play
f:nsr and square at all times. 1t was
announced that the efforts to force the
railroad companies to some new rule OF
operation In regard to tine management
of stock trains was a partisan measure
or at least that 1t was done for the
purpose OF causing partisan feeling
This proved not to be the case. There
was a genuine demand for some legisla-
tIon of this sort 1t was a demand Whlcn
did not proceed from any factional
source. Ii was met In nc. fsrctional or
partisan spirit. Partial success attend-
ed the efforts OF those who urged the
legislation. 1t is promised that another
session the demand will be renewed
with greater force. OF that nobody
can determine. But at any rate the
questions raised by the stock shippers
bills are such that no partisan III Will
was engendered. 1t would have been
quite possible for a partisan conf1ict
on the question Of the adoption or rne
primary election system, but this was
not. the result Democrats are as rule,
opposed to any general interference IN
party affairs. and nearly all Of them are
dead opposed to primary election sys-
tens. But they made no fight on 1t be-
cause of this fact. 1t would have been
quite easy for factional troubles to have
been precipitated by consideration OF
sonle of the appropriation bills. as for
instance, the bill relating to the capitol
repairs and Improvement, because OF
the fact that the men who have dis
bursed this money are appoirltees of the
present governor; or on the state his
torical building because the present ex-
ecutive council will thus have the ex-
penditure of quarter million dollars
without any restraint whatever. But
to the credit of all the session con-
tanned not one reference to the faction
al troubles which are believed in some
parts of the state to be afflicting the
republican party, nor anything TO In
dictate there was an aggressive DEM
ocratic minority in the legislature.
The final work of the legislature was
on the capitol To have failed to pass
that appropriation would have been
the greatest mistake possible at this
time. Any material change In the bin
would have meant that the Legislature
would convene two years hence to
meet under substantially the same
canvass temporary covering. There
could have been sufficient money used
to have stopped the leaks in the roof
and that is about ALL In all probability,
however. if the legislature had made
no provision for the going on of re-
inc
have called a special session at some
future time that the appropriation
might be made. Great credit is due Nj.
L. Temple for his part in securing the
passage of this bill. On the last two
days he exercised all his powers of ora
tory on behalf of the bill, he gave
facts and figures. he pleaded, he
threatened, he argued, he did
everything he knew how to
get the bill thru. Even after
the conferees had unanimously recom-
mended the passage of the appropria-
ton there was doubt as to what would
happen. The report had only narrow
for passage, and when the vote
was taken in the house it lacked
enough for passage, and men had to
hurry and scurry about the house to
get votes changed sufficient to make IL
a law. There seemed to be a general
misunderstanding of the whole matter
and not until the last day was 1t made
clear that unless there was an appro-
priation made work would practically
stop. There were some taunts and
twits at the capitol commission, but In
every case it appeared to be shown
that this was due to lack Of knowledge
i egarding the work. There was not
any question raised as to the honesty
of the work nor desire to secure the
best possible for the state.
The most feeling of the entire ses-
sion was aroused in the senate over the
bill to create a state board of regents
and clotte 1t with power to establish
business methods in the management
of the state educational institutions.
There was much sharp talk on this