Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-17
Our Des Moines Letter.
From Our Special Correspondent,

Things at the Capitol are running
along smoothly in spite of the fact
that political matters are getting de-
cidediy warm down iii the city. OF
course an echo of the excitement
can not fail to reach the ears of the
Legislators, especially Of those who
are staying at the hotels, but it does
not disturb the peace Of the Assem-
bly, for everything moves on just as
if tleil, LEsre no such thing as an
election Tor mayor ana mlct1 more
exciting contest for Congress back
Of all.
They do say that Capt. Hullis 60
ing to have a hard time to get the
nomination again if he does at all. but
is making strong fight. AS Judge
Prouty is speaking every night some
times in two or three different places
in the same evening, it can be seen
that he too is doing his best to win.
In fact the contest is sure to be a
bitter one and how it will end, no
one can tell.
But out at the State House, there
is no contest unless it be among the
members to see who can introduce
the most bills during the present
session. Up to this time, the Oldest
man in the Senate has the record,
Senator Crawford Of Dubuque hav-
ing already introduced twenty one
bills. Some one laughingly said
that the Democrats are to blame for
this, for those down his way had
made the assertion that he was a
dead man, and it was to exemplify
the falsity Of this statement that has
led the aged senator to propose SO
many bills. However that may be,
the fact remains that Senator Craw-
ford bears the palm. Fortunately,
the rest Of the senators are not like
him, some OF them not introducing
more than two or three bills during
the whole session, SO there need be
no fear that the list will pass the
one thousand mark which would be
the case did all follow Senator Craw-
ford's example.
Several important bills have come
up during the past week. Those af-
fecting the railroads caused not a
little CONSERVATION. The one franz
ed and introduced by De Lano Of
Cass in the House and Simultaneous
ly by Stirton Of Jones in the Senate,
is perhaps the most radical and far
reaching. 1t includes the chief
point of the Hughes Anti-Pass Bill
introduced earlier in the week by
Hughes Of Iowa and johnson and
also strikes a serious blow at the
railroads by lowering the passenger
rate. Naturally the railroads are
up in arms against it. The bill
provides that railroads within Iowa
may charge two cents mile for
passengers above twelve years Of age
and one cent for children between
the ages Of two and twelve. Section
two provides that at all stations and
usual stopping places where pas
sengers are received, it shall be the
duty Of the railroads to keep for sale
and sell tickets to all persons apply
ing therefor. At present there are
some places along the roads where
no agents are maintained and it is
supposed that this bill would COM
pei the maintenance at these stations
of operators and station agents to
sell tickets. Section three is the
anti-pass section, making it unlaw-
full for railroads hereafter to issue or
use any free passes or free trans
portation except to shippers of live
stock and bona ide employees Of the
roads; or to issue any half fare
transportation except to children be-
tween the ages Of two and twelve.
This is supposed to cut out the
clergy. Or to issue or use any re-
bate contracts or other privileges
contravening the provisions Of the
two cent fare act, except that tickets
may be sold for excursions at a low