Omaha daily bee., 1906-02-27
DEBATE ON PRIMARY BILL
Vote on Amendment Indicates Measure
Will Pass the Senate.
SAUNDERS OFFERS HIS SUBSTITUTE
Legislature Takes Action ON Death OF
Former Speaker Henderson and
viii Send Committee
to Funeral.
From a STAFF Correspondent

tFrom a staff Correspondent
DES MONIES. Feb. 26-(Special Tele-
gram.)-By a vote of % to 1e the senate
adopted the committee amendment to the
Crossley primary bill. II was a vote of
the democrats and Cummins people for the
bill and every standpatter but two. Bleakly
and Jackson voted against it. Every
democrat and Cummins man voted for it.
It is believed by some that the vote fore
casts the passage of the bill by the senate.
Five were absent or not voting and of
these two are Cummns men. Senator
Saunders did not vote on the amendment.
At $3.50 this afternoon, on special order,
Senator Crossey called up the primary
election bill, senate file No. p He moved
the adoption of the committee substitutes
which simplify the matter of registration
of voters and party afiiation requirements.
The substitute bill by the committee was
adopted and Senator Lyons moved to
amend by providing that where there is
failure under the primary to select or nomi-
nate a candidate the convention shall have
authority to name a candidate. Senator
Lyons is democrat ana the amendment
is for the benefit Of the minority party
After the Offering of the amendment Sena-
tor Crossley got the floor and consumed
the rest OF the afternoon with his address
favoring the passage of the bill, of which
he Is the author.
At the conclusion OF Crossleys speech
Saunders offered substitute providing
for primaries in counties, cities of 5000 or
over and districts when district and county
are co-existent. 1t has an optional pro-
vision. The senate adjourned with Saunders
on the floor and he will be the first to
speak tomorrow.
Anti-Pass Bill Formulated.
The subcommittee of the senate railroad
committee which has in hand the matter
of reporting to the committee an anti-pass
bill reported today, and while the COM
mittee a whole has not yet acted on
| the matter, and hence the bill is not made
public, it is understood that the Hughes
| bill is used as the basis for the bill recon-
mended to the committee. The bill as re-
| ported by the subcommittee prohibits Civ
| ing passes TO state officers and all other
public officials, including state and federal
jurors and city and county officials. The
| bill, however, excerpts railroad commission
| ers. The whole committee will report on
| the measure, recommending IL for passage
before adjournment Wednesday.
| Resolutions for Henderson.
Resolutions were introduced in the sem
| ate today by Senator Crawford of Dubuque
and in the house by Representative Frudden
of Dubuque respecting the death Of ex-
| Speaker David b. Henderson. The resolu-
| tions call for the appointment of commit
| tees to attend the funeral services, which
| will be held Thursday. and for the appoint
ment OF committee to draft suitable reso-
lutions expressing the high appreciation of
the people of the state for his distinguished
| services.
| Manufacturers Oppose Bureaus.
Circular letters, signed by A. c. Hutchns,
| as secretary of the Iowa State Manufac-
! turers' association. by order of it's legisla-
| tive committee, and on the letterhead of the
! association, have been sent out to the menu
bers of the association opposing the state
employment agency bill which was drafted
| and introduced by Senator Hayward. The
| circular letter states that the superintend-
| ents of these proposed state employment Of
fees will all be appointed by the state labor
; commissioner. who is union labor man,
and hence all the superintendent will be
union labor men. The letter asserts that
the offices will thus become recruiting Of
fees for the labor unions. While the labor
unions have been favorable to the bill, they
have not taken any active interest in the
measure.
Report ON OHiciaI Terms.
The special committee OF the house to
whom has been referred all matters pertain
ing to changes in the laws because of the
change to the biennial elections system re-
! ported this afternoon. The committee is
| agreed on leaving all state Offices as at
present-two-year terms. Railroad commits
sioners and township trustees are changed
! to six-year terms. and change is recon-
mended In the fiscal year so to bring all
reports on the odd number years because
| Of the change in the meetings of the legis-
| lature. On the rest the committee is di-
| vided. The majority recommends that
| county officers terms remain two years, but
the minority recommends that clerks audi
tors and recorders be made for four-year
| terms.
Council BIuns Man Elected.
In the house today Assistant Chief Clerk
w. c. Ramsey of Bellemond. who has
lately been appointed postmaster there. re-
signed, and the house elected p. n. OLeary
/ of Council Bluffs to fill the position.
Commission Changes Rate.
| The railroad commission today issued an
nouncement of changes i'm rates in eight
cen items, the changes being based on the
recent hearings. The most important
change is in crushed stone, which will
hereafter go as soft lump coal, meaning a
reduction of 10 or II per cent