Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-19
REPORT FAV)RS
SEATING Of Y0UDE
Committee on the Contest From
O'Brien County Reports to
the Legislature
THE DEMOCRATS ASK FOR TIME
Republican Majority Wanted the Re-
port Made Special Order for This
Afternoon, But Objection Was Made
and the Matter Went Over to jan
uary 3o-other Legislative News.
IBy Ora Williams.

Special to Times Republican,
Des Moines, Jan. 19.--The report of
the committee on the OBrien county
contest was presented to the house
today in favor of seating Youde, re-
publican. The democrats asked time
to prepare a minority report in favor
of Whitmer. The republican major
ity of the committee desired to have
this afternoon. but after discussion ii
was made special order for January
| 30.s
Speaker Clarke was called away or,
account of his brothers sudden death
at Red Oak and Speaker Protein Cum
mings occupied the chair during the
/ day in the house.
| Lundt introduced resolution re-
/ questing the governor to give notice
to all lobbyists that they must report
| to him on arriving in the city, state
their business and appear at once be-
| fore the committee and leave the city
within thirty hours afterwards, and
| that lobbyists living in Des Moines
shall not loiter about the state house.
| Objections was made to it's immediate
consideration.
The report of the committee on nor
nal school was filed and ordered print
ed. Courtright introduced in the SEN
! ate bill that would revolutionize di-
vorce proceedings and the base divor-
ces on scriptural theory, and in the
/ house Dashiel offered a bill requiring
board of health.
| The movement to abolish the circle
at the head of the official ballots in
Iowa, under the leadership of Senator
Smith, of Mitchell, is likely to prevail
Senator Smith has consistent record
on this subject and he is in earnest.
OF course it will be said of the meas
ure that it is a democratic one and the
effort will be made to draw party lines
in favor of maintaining the circle. The
democrats will vote for the bill, for
they have always contended that the
y
party. For instance the second dis
trict members declare that two years
ago Judge Wade would have been de-
clared elected again if it had not been
for the ballot circle, and that sew
eral hundred votes were not counted
as they were intended, owing to the
inability of the voters to understand
the circle and square mixture. 1t is
pointed out in behalf Of this bill, also,
that the voters of the state have prog
ressed and that the time has come for
a change so that every voter will have
to vote for every candidate he favors.
The primary purpose Of the circle was
to facilitate voting by ignorant or lazy
persons. This excuse no longer holds.
There are few of either in Iowa.
The proposal for an amendment to
the constitution permitting the making
of laws by the initiative and referen-
dunn idea, is distinctively a democratic
one. 1t was presented by Mr.. Lundt,
the member from Tama. 1t provides,
however, that the present system of
legislation by general assemblies shall
continue, but the direct method will be
grated upon it SO that a certain num-
ber of voters may demand vote di-
rect on bill desired enacted into law.
This is something but little discussed
or advocated in Iowa. and the resolu-
ton will receive consideration.
Mr.. Powers, of Floyd county, has a
bill before the legislature to change
~ ole of hN
state department of agriculture, so
that instead of having the district di-
rectors elected by vote of the entire
state farmers institute at the Decen-
Der meetings, they shall be elected by
balloting confined to each district
alone 1t has been charged, probably
with some foundation, that under the
present system of election at large
men represent stricts who are not in
fact the choice of the districts. 1t is
not represented, however, that because
of this system there has come to the
department any great harm; on the
contrary, good results have been
achieved in all recent years and the
board has been kept free from weak
or Objectionable members. But Mr..
Powers says there has been complaint
about the method and he was asked to
introduce the bill named.
The judiciary committee made some
slight changes in the bill which is IN
tended to punish men for desertion of
their families, and recommended it for
passage 1t is a measure which has
long been advocated by persons who
have been students of sociological ques-
tions. They are pointing to the fact
that Iowa is behind other states in this
matter.
The plan of enlarging the powers of
the state board of health so as to cover
school houses. as provided in the
Courtright bill, has been urged by some
school men of the state. 1t contem-