Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-13
WOULD DICTATE.
Railroad Lobby the Only Indi-
cation Of Struggle Between
Political Factions
THE ATTACK UPON ENGLISH
It Has Caused But Little Interest in
the Experimentation of the Pris-
ons and the Penal Laws of Iowa to
be Given Considerate Attention =
Fort Madison Prison Condemned.
THE ATTACK UPON ENGLISH
to Times Republican.

| Special TO
Des Moines, Jan. 13.-There is as yet
very little to indicate the promised
fierceness of the legislative session I'M
less it is the activity of Blythe in di-
recting what shall, and what shall
not be done and inviting u test of
factional strength In the legisla-
ture. On the official record
all is serene. The past few days the
printer and binder proposition has been
discussed more than legislation. 1t is
admitted that unless there is a faction
al line-up to force change the posi-
tons will be given English and C'has-
sell. The bitter attack upon English
on the ground that he is not in fact a
member of the legislature, made at the
behest of the general of the lobby, has
attracted not the slightest attention
among the legislators and, like the at
tack upon the state administration and
last general assembly made in the
same way, 1t has not even caused pass
ing interest. But it is also admitted
that the past week the Blythe forces
have played their cards we'll and have
taken the strongest position possible.
That the candidates for governor We're
much discussed while Mr.. Blythe was
here is also certain; but no person in
the confidence Of conferees is will
ing to tell just what happened. The
lobby gossip is that Perkins is still the
favorte, with Young second choice;
but the friends of each We're notified
that they must show what local
strength they can command before any
decision is reached Just now the lob
by is concerned with playing politics N
the legislature.
A fairly good start was made in the
matter of getting bills before the COM
mittees The primary bills, the pure
food bill the anti-pass bill and some
others were started, and all will be
much discussed. The committees can
do nothing until the printer gets the
bills to the members. which Will be
the coming week. Then the committee
work will commence in earnest There
has been good deal of complaint
about the printing. The house journal
for the first day was so bad that the
corrections could not all be got on the
margins and a special committee had
to take charge. This committee report
ed that the printer should furnish new
copies for the usual correction. In
other respects. however, 1t is believed
the state printing will be handled with
promptness. The trouble is largely due
to the employment Of non-union men
following strike.
Reform of the prisons and the penal
laws Of Iowa is to be one Of the most i'm
portant matters to be given attention
by the general assembly. The state of
Iowa has been disgracefuly negligent
of this subject. 1t will be recalled that
in the session of four years ago a bill
for an indeterminate sentence law and
the reformatory idea was debated long
in the senate, and it was finally buried
by the arguments and sarcasm of a lot
of old fogies who might have done
credit to a delibe1ative body of two
centuries ago. But a different spirit
prevails now. Representative Cum
mings has prepared a bill to provide
for pardon board. the indeterminate
sentence and for reformatory. and
it will form the basis of important leg
islation. This will not disturb the eX
listing laws fixing the maximum and
minimum terms for which a convict
may be sentenced, but will provide that