Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-26
The SESSION BEGUN
The Legislature Meets Today
and Begins Its Regular
Session
OBTAINS SOME
WEATHER OBTAINS
Little Business Done-NcarIy Every
Member Has Road Law Petitions to
Present and All Seem Determined to
Have Some Kind of Primary Elec-
itIon Law Passed.
Il to Times-R Republican

Special TO Times Republican
Dcs Moines. Jan. ga good many
seats were vacant when the general
assembly was called to order this NOR
ming Cold weather has kept num-
ber OF the Iowa statesmen at home
The weather is about as severe as any
thing experienced for years. and legis-
latora are not too hardy when exposed
to chilly blasts. 1t was with some
difficulty that the house was kept
warm. for the fire knocked on. the
heating system and prevented the
proper completion OF the fan yentilat-
| Ing apparatus. But in other respects
the statesmen were made comfortable
at their desks. a. least the worst OF
the evil effects of the late capitol fire
| had been wired out of existence. The
members of the capitol commission
! have yet much to do in the way OF
completing the temporary repairs. but
have accomplished wonders in two
weeks. and they were the recipients OF
many compliments from the state OFF,
cials and members OF the house for
what they have already done.
The general assembly met promptly
at 1880 p. M. prayer was offered IN
the house by II. o. Breedcn and In the
| senate by II. G. Plttnger, OF Mapleton.
Both houses spent sonre time In correct
| ing the journals OF previous sessions
and In drawing seats. The petitions on
several matters were presented and
! bills presented but no business OF I'M.
| portance was done.
| The committee assignments have
been made and rooms made ready for
| the committees and committee work
will begin in earnest this week. Ow-
| ing to the destruction of a number OF
the committee rooms at the north end
the committee will be little crowded
| together for tho present. The asvlgn-
rent OF rooms was. so far as possible.
1.-The eanle as two years ago. The two
!, big committees OF the general assem-
bly,. the committees that are supposed
| to kill off about two-thirds OF thu bills
| that como before the legislature, will
have the same rooms as In other years.
for the big judiciary committee room
i at the northeast corner OF the building
was little harmed.
| Governor Cumn,ins goes tomorrow TO
Topeka. Kas.. to be gone day or
two, to All his engagement to speak
before the Kansas State Bar Aesocia-
ton. He has only one other engage
ment for speaking. that at M.nneap-
oils. and purposes to remain very close
at his desk during the session.
| Copies OF the report of the state
board OF control have been sent direct
TO all members OF the lcsi1!ature. Cop
| ies of other reports will reach them
from time TO time.
Members OF the legislature. fresh
from their homes, have returned to
their work OF making over the laws and
considering the appropriations for the
state. They are generally deeply abb
sorbed in their legislative work. They
made start today with their bills and
resolutions and petitions ana remon-
strames. Nearly every member has
petition OF some kind in regard to
the road law. 1t appears to be almost
the only thing about which the people
have been exercising their right OF PEE
tition. Members who arrived last
night were slow to DISCUSS politics and
many OF them declared that they found
| no great interests in .neir respective
! communities in the coming presidential
| contest. They all say that II IL little
too early to get excited over political
matters. The questions raised by
Governor Cummins in his official paper
relating to state affairs have not yet
been much considered by the members.
Republican members appear to be di-
y,ded as 10 the time for holding the
! republican state convention or eonven-
tons.
az should think there was no occasion
/, for rushing matters said one senator
last night The republicans In the
state at large are not ready for busi-
ness yet. The cold weather Is dcpress-
ling on politics. And ! find there Is
]! disposition TO let the convention have
its own way without any management
or direction or the forstallinE OF Its
deliberations. When the representa-
gtives OF the party get together they may
i be depended on to do what Is best for
/ the interests OF the party. or course
We always have nght on hand. Re-
l publicans believe in lighting It out in
their conventions and then joining In
perfect harmony in the result That is
a good republican way we have long
/ followed. 1 guess II Will go this time
Chairmen of the leading committees
j OF the legislature say they do not be-
lieve the legislative session will de-
velop anything OF political nature
There are no Indications OF 1t at the
outset. There Is the utmost harmony
in the houses and no disposition is vis-
ible anywhere to re,ard ,ezirlation or
Ito arouse fActional differences. The
two houses were organized much alike.
a.,th Sii4tier purposes on the part OF the
presiding oflcers in selection OF COM
m!ttee chatrlnen, and 1t Ia regarded as
oar,sin tie two houses will cooperate
i FOR the good OF the state and eapediting
business ct all tinies But at least for
the yreaen, there is little on the surface
TO Indicate that m-rnhers are interested
lin political questions.
| A primary election law will be one
lof the earliest things brought to de-