Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-03
BACKS PRIMARY BILL
STATEWIDE LAW is FAVORED BY
GOVERNOR CuMMINS.
Provides That All Penalties for vio-
lation Of Regular Election Laws
Shall Apply to the Primary-Other
Bills Likely to Attract Attention.

is in a sense the regular session of
the legislative body, it is in a truer
sense a special session of the mem
bers of the Thirtieth general assem-
bly,, which adjourned it's final sessions
on the 18th day of April, 1904. This
is true because of the adoption of the
biennial election amendment to the
Iowa constitution by the voters of the
state at the general election held in
November, 1904.
The effect OF the adoption of the
amendment was to extend the terms
of office of all the state and county Of
ficials elected in 1904 for one year
beyond the time for which they were
originally chosen. and in this extern
sion of Office terms the state legisla-
tive members also came in for an ex-
ira year of service. Theirs will be
the last session of an assembly in
Iowa to be held in even numbered
years, for next fall a new membership
to the state senate and house will be
chosen and in 1907 the first assembly
in Iowa chosen under the biennial
election law will begin its labors.
State Wide Primary Law.
Probably the most important piece
of legislation to be considered and one
which will attract the widest attention
and interest of the state at large will
be that proposing the adoption OF a
statewide primary law for Iowa. This
law will be favored by Governor Cum
minis in his annual message to both
bodies of the assembly and will have
his backing in every way during it's
consideration by the house and SEN
ate. In fact, it will be a Cummins
movement throughout, and, if adopted,
will be Cummins law, and as such
will be heralded to his advantage in
whatever political move he may de-
eide to make in the future.
The bill will be introduced in the
senate by Senator J. j. Crossley OF
Winterset. 1t will be a remodeled
draft of the primary bill which was
introduced by Senator Crossley in
1904. That bill was defeated, as far
as it applied to the state at large, but
was made law in its application to
Des Moines and Polk county only.
The new bill which Senator Cross
ley will favor has been completed,
and is said to have been submitted to
Governor Cummins in its entirety and
has his hearty approval. AS drafted.
the bill will call for a vote of the
state on nominations for all state and
county officers by all parties. The
primary election will be held for all
parties at the same time. A registra-
tion of voters will be required for the
primary election and at that registra-
ton each voter must declare his party
affiliation. On primary day he will
not be allowed to vote for any candi-
date other than those on the party
ticket to which he has declared his
allegiance. To make this provision
effective, 1t is provided that all PEN
alties for violation of regular election
laws shall apply to the primary and
that parties guilty of making false af-
fidavits shall be declared guilty Of
perjury. Voters who may change
their minds as to the party with which
they desire to affiliate in the future
have recourse under the law, which
will provide that they can do so by
filing with the county auditor not less
than thirty days before the time set
for any primary their affidavit an
nouncing such change. Provisions are
also made for a convention to follow
the primary and to declare the nomi-
nations as made.
Single Board Of Control Bill.
The bill presented to the legislature
of 1904 for the creation of single
board of control for the state educa.
tional institutions of Iowa, but which
was referred to joint committee of
the senate and house, will be pre-
sented again early in the coming ses-
sion. Members of the joint commit
tee have given the matter much seri-
Gus consideration, and, it is declared,
have framed q measure which should
meet with the approval of the law
makers and which 1t is claimed will
rebound to the benefit OF the educa-
tional interests of the state to large
degree. The bill will apply to the
state university, the state normal
school and to the agricultural college
at Ames. Instead of the separate
boards of trustees for each of these
schools, as under the present law, the
new bill will provide for general
board Of fifteen members, to be named
by the governor, and to be confirmed
by the senate. In order to make the
board non-political as far as possible,
It is provided in the bill that not
more than nine of the members shall
be Of the same political faith. The
board itself Is to select an executive
committee of three members, to be
chosen from outside its own member
ship, which committee shall have full
control over all matters concerning
the schools. This committee of three
shall be made up of not more than
two from any political party, says the
bill, and 1t shall make its permanent
headquarters in Des Moines and give
Its full time to the work. The salaries
Of the members Of the general board
shall be made up of per diem and
mileage, and they shall hold not less
than four meetings each year. The
salaries of the three members of the