Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-31

blanks and static. cry 20 put the same
in force.
There are on record in the Office OF
the secretary of state today lists OF
more than 10000 enterprises which
have been incorporated to do business
in Iowa. Probably $4,000 of that list
are alive and doing business today
and should they pay an average OF
$40 the law would add $150,000 an
nually to the income of the state.
Woman Suffrage Resolution.
The attempt to secure the passage
of a woman suffrage resolution by the
present legislature will be pushed
with more energy than usual this year
Mrs. Dame of Hull, Ia, has charge OF
the resolution this winter and she has
been actively at work since the legis-
lature convened in an effort to make
friends for the measure. She has con.
fided the handling of the matter on
the floor of the senate to Senator Gale
OF Mason City. Unless the measure
should find favor in the senate under
Mr.. Gales leadership, it will not be
pressed In the house. The indications
are that the suffrage question will go
through the regular program of many
past sessions of the legislature, that
is, that the matter of submitting the
question of amending the constitution
to the voters Of the state will find ia
vor with the committee to which 1t is
referred and will be sent to the floor
of the senate. There it will be de-
bated as long as any member feels
called upon to display his oratorical
abilities, and then finally it will be
put to sleep with only a narrow mar
gin of one or two votes against its pas
sage.
Anti-Pass Bill.
The anti-pass bill is another one Of
the problems which the legislature
bids fair to have with it always. At
the commencement Of the present ses-
sion, with the fervor of a recommends
ton by Governor Cummins, and with
the railroads themselves declaring
that they would be glad to be relieved
from the more or less bothersome sys-
tenn which prevails In Iowa regarding
the distribution of transportation ia
vors, it looked as though the bill
which Senator Hughes of Iowa has
tathered for so many years would
finally be enacted into law. But be-
sides the introduction of the Hughes
bill, there have appeared two other
measures in the legislative body bear.
Ing on the subject, and varying in
force and power fully as much as the
difference between a free pass and
tull fare. Senator Turner did not
think the Hughes measure stringent
enough and has presented a bill cut
ting of the pass privilege from every.
body In the state, excepting editors,
who are supposed to pay for the trans
portation in advertising, and minis
ters, who will still be permitted to
ride on half fare tickets. The Hughes
bill was based on the law now in force
h Wisconsin and the author believes
It would be good for Iowa. Then
there Is the bill which is before the
house committee on railroads which
compels them to give free passes to
Ill state officers, members of the legis-
lature. judges and others who hold Of
fees Of public nature connected with
the state government. It is the in
lection Of this three-cornered effort
TO solve the evil Of free transporta-
ton which will likely result in leaving
1t unsolved.
State Marshal Bill.
A thiSd measure, which Is an old
friend to the legislators. and which is
almost sure to make it's appearance
In both houses in the shape of a bill
tor passage, but which will almost as
surely be put quietly at rest and with
put much ceremony, is the state mar
shall bill. backed by George c. Rankin,
the moulder orator, who has been la,
boring throughout the state for years
In an effort to create sentiment on the
subject. The bill as proposed is a
measure which would divide the state
into five districts, with q marshal for
each one at salary Of $4,000 a year.
Each marshal would be permitted to
appoint seven deputies. to be paid not
less than $1,000 q year and expenses,
and the whole operation of the bill
would cost in the neighborhood of
100000 year.
Perkins Enters Race for Cummins' Seat
The two factions Of the Republican
party In Iowa have apparently deter
mined to fight out their differences in
the convention to be held in the
spring. and it is generally understood
that the leaders of the opposing fac
tions will be Governor Cummins,
whose progressive friends insist he
must run for a third term as chief
and George d. Perkins, ed
itor Of the Sioux City Journal,
classed as the ensign bearer for the
so-called stand-patters. Mr.. Perkins
has been talked Of for sew
eral months, but 1t was not until a
mass meeting OF his friends and neigh
bors was held at his home town and
resolutions were adopted praising him
highly as a patriot and citizen and
pledging him earnest support. that he
finally consented to become an active
aspirant for the office. While other
have been named and 9TH
er names may yet appear before the