Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-15
READY FOR BUSINESS
The Plan of Visiting Institu-
tions Early Will Aid the
Legislature
MANS EARLY APPROPRIATION
Believed That the Assembly Will Have
One of the Big Questions Out of the
Way Early in the Session-lnebriate
Asylum to Be Opened In February.
Legislative Gossip.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 15.-MemberS of the
legislature will be back at their desks
tomorrow to resume business. The
visited early in the session is one which
makes it certain that business matters
will receive first consideration. The
needs OF these institutions will be con-
sidered. The board of control and the
boards of regents have made their rec
concentrations and the visiting COM
mittees have checked up. There is no
doubt that the requests of the insti-
tutions are moderate enough The
things asked for are things that are
necessary In the past few years Iowa
has been undoing much of that which
was done before, and building for per-
manency where temporiZing had been
the rule, and as a result the eXpendi-
lures for the dependents of the state
have been enormous, and all proper
This legislature is better prepared than
any other to deal with the needs Of
these institutions, having considered
them once. And then the governor is
also better prepared than any governor
ever was to give good advice. Recently
the governor made a tour of the insti-
tutions. He saw every inmate of every
home, school, hospital, asylum and
prisoner everyone who desired to see
him.
THE most narrowing part of this
task" said the governor in discussing
the matter, was at the insane hos
pitfalls. l listened patiently to their
complaints and requests. A great many
of these unfortunates feel that the SUI
perintendent is solely responsible for
their being kept there. They have APP
pealed to their superintendent and to
the board of control for relief in vain;
and then when they meet the governor
they believe he can do anything and
that he surely will let them out To
deal with these people is a great trial"
Senator Warren, of the committee
which visited the Mt. Pleasant hospital
was first of these to return to the city.
He was greatly pleased with what he
saw and was highly complimentary to
Superintendent Applegate. 1T is
great institution the state has at Mt.
Pleasant" he said. "Over a thousand
inmates there makes quite a city. The
order and discipline is perfect and
there is harmony in the direction of af-
fairs. We attended a concert given for
the inmates and it was fine. The things
asked for at the hospital appear to be
all needed
1t is stated that the new institution
at Knoxville for the inebriates will be
opened early next month and the ineb-
riate patients from the four state hos
pitfalls will be transported thither The
situation will be different at Knoxville.
1t will be a good deal more like a pris-
on for the wretches who have to be
reformed by the state. 1t is possible
some additional legislation may be
needed to provide safeguards for the
institution, but when started it will be
in fine condition for the purpose in
tended.
1t has been pointed out already that
the legislature cannot change the term
of office of the county attorneys, for
years. In regard to nearly all other
office changes to be made, and it is
expected that at least a few of the
county offices will be given terms of
four years each. There is a growing
disposition, also, in this connection, to
limit the number of terms for which
an officer is eligible.
I/1o3, .f INo,t noaoo
ing the Iowa retail liquor dealers asso
citation, has been in the city the past
week laying plans to secure some mod
ification of the liquor laws as regards
saloons One thing desired is that
where saloon keepers are warned not
to sell to a minor or inebriate there
must be placed in the hands Of the
dealer photograph of the person for
Identification. 1t is impossible for
bartender to identify all persons who
come before him and ask for drinks
The saloon men believe that the laws
might be made more effective in sever
al regards and the dealers be less likely
to fall victim to blackmailers.
Senator Saunders, who is engaged in
preparing the report of the special
committee on penal institutions and
the parole law, held a long conference
with Governor Cummins on Saturday.
The senator is enthusiastically in favor
of this legislature taking some action
looking to betterment of the laws.
sss
The agricultural committees Of the
two houses were first to get together
and consider measures before the leg
islature. Before the departure of mem
bers last week joint meeting of the
two committees was held. The road
laws were taken up. informally and dis
cussed. The perennial effort to compel
Iowa farmers to buy wagons with
broad tires was taken up. The con-
census of opinion was that such law
is impracticable. Representative Nc
Allister, who takes great interest in the
subject, says that 1t would be all right
if all the wagons had broad tires, but
to have some with broad tires and the
others with narrow ones is impossible,
for under such conditions the wagon
with the broad tires will be stalled.
The governor has appointed H.
Rhynsburger, prominent merchant of
Pella, and Judge E. +. Test the veter
an newspaper man of Council Bluffs. as
delegates to represent Iowa at the
Trans Mississippi Business Mems con-
gress soon to be held in Salt Lake
City,