Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-11-21
LEGISLATURE WILL BE BUSY.
Important Measures to be Presented for
Consideration-Primary Election
Bill Coming Up.

There will be plenty OF business
to keep tine Thirty second general
assembly busy for several weeks in
spite of the fact that it meets but
year later than the Thirty first session.
Already those familiar with the
duties of the legislature and with
public affairs are predicting that the
session of the Thirty second general
assembly will be longer than the GUS
tomary twelve weeks and will run
past the first Of April and probably
into May. The length of the session
probably depends entirely upon the
way the legislature takes hold of the
business before it. All the business
could probably be done in two months
if the Legislators were so disposed,
but at the same time there is no deny
ing that there are more questions de-
manding legislation at this time than
for some sessions.
Foremost in the minds of people
generally is the primary election bill.
which both parties have declared
themselves in favor of in their plat
forms.
There is a two.cent fare bill which
the democrats have declared for in
their platform and which the republi-
cans generally favor. There is every
reason to believe that such a bill will
be passed.
Undoubtedly there will be an at
tempt made to repeal the wage ex-
emption law.
There will be a renewal of the
movement to get bill creating
single board of regents for the state
educational institutions.
There will be a renewal of the at
tempt to get through the indeter-
inmate sentence law and the bill max.
ing the penitentiary at Anamosa
reformatory.
The question of abolishing the
Fort Madison penitentiarv or fixing
it over so that it will be fit place
in which to confine human beings
will again be up for decision.
The bills offered by the legislative
insurance commission will be among
the most important and will demand
a considerable of the time of the
Legislature, including the proposition
to create a department of insurance.
There will be renewal of the at.
tempt to change the tenure of Office
of county officials to four year terms
and probably also to make the terms
of state officials four years so that
there can be rotation and not all be
elected the same year.
A. G. Rankin of state marshal club
fame will be ON hand to attempt to
get through his state marshal law.
Representative Offil will renew his
anti-fir cracker bill.
The Anti saloon league and other
forces will renew their attempt to
get the Sunday observance bill passed
killing Sunday baseball.
There will be bill to provide for
a uniform system of accounts for
counties and regular inspection
of county accounts by an examiner
from the state auditors Office Just as
has been done with the cities.
Des Moines will again ask for bill
permitting it to adopt the Galveston
plan of government by a commission.
There will be more legislation for
the tuberculosis hospital to permit.
the erection of buildings.
The long and short haul bill omit
ting the freight question will be up.
The reciprocal demurrage bill
will again be offered.
The usual number of bills to reme-
dy the divorce evil and probable
bill to prevent criminals and de-
formed people from marrying.
The problem of redistricting the
state both senatorially and congress
sionally will be up.
The matter of re-electing Senator
Dolliver will, it is expected not take
great deal of time.
The woman's equal suffrage bill
for submitting to the people the ques-
tion of amending the constitution
will be presented.
The shot firers' bill will again be
offered.
There will be bills offered to permit
cities to own their own street car sys-
TENS or to hold and lease the right to
use the streets, presented by those
persons trying to solve the street car
question in Des Moines.
There will also likely be offered
some new laws governing the corpora
tions. There is a feeling among
lawyers that all the corporation laws
of Iowa should be rewritten and the
county attorneys association has
taken the stand that there should be
new laws making it easier to go after
the trusts.
Aside from these there will be a
large number of pardons apple for
and the matter of appropriations will
OF course take considerable time.