Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-09
THE PRIMARY Bill
SUBMITTED TODAY
Crossley's Measure on Which
Much Time Has Been Spent
introduced In Senate
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS BILL
ELECTIONS
BIENNIAL
BILL.
MoIsberry's Bill Makes Terms Of Of
flee Conform to Biennial Elections,
But Does Not Increase Terms to
Four Years Where Two Years is
Now Provided For.
Special to Times-Republican.
[By Ora Williams.1

lBy Ora WilllamS.i
Des Moines, Jan. 9.-The most i'm.
! portant work of the legislature session
this morning was stating the move
ment for a state wide primary elec-
tion law by introduction in the senate
| of the Crossley bill on which much
labor has been expended. The bill pros
+, vides for selection of county and state
officials by primary and includes I'm
tied States senators.
bill to make the terms of office Of
state and county officials conform to
the biennial election idea, but not in
cluding four year term where two
is now provided. He offered resolu-
! ton providing that this and similar
bills relating to the biennial question
should go to a special committee Of
| five.
| Stookey offered bill to make teoch-
ers' certificates good in any county Of
| the state on payment of a nominal
fee. Newberry offered a bill to en-
courage use of wide tires on highways
and another to permit farmers working
out their tax on roads adjacent to their
| farms.
| A start was made for an insurance
!, investigation of outside companies by.
resolution of Molesber1y to appoint a
special legislative committee for this
| investigation. The report of the COM
mittee on state educational institutions
was filed in the house but no business
| Z
The Primary Bill.
Senator Crossley's primary bill pro-
vides for the selection of all officers
| by the primary method including Unit
ed States senator's and presidential
electors in the years when presidents
are elected. It provides that the pri-
mary election of all parties shall be
held at the same place and time and
fixes the time as the second Tuesday
j in August of 1906, and biennially
thereafter The vote on United States
senators shall be the year before they
are selected by the general assembly.
The expense Of the primary is to be
borne half by the party and half by
the state. The judges and clerks shall
be the same as at the election following
and the Australian ballot system shall
be used. 1t provides that in cities
where registration is required the pri-
mary shall be open from a. m. to
p. m., and in other precincts from l
to p. m. Party preference of the
voter is required at the election though
provision is made for first voters. At
the election the judges shall furnish
the voter blank on which to register
his party preference by making a
cross before the party of his choice
if he so chooses. If he doesn't desire
to register his party preference he re-
turns the blank. The slips in each ir-
stance are enclosed in a heavy envelope.
Provision is made for voters to give
oath of party affiliation in case there
is no record and persons changing their
residence can show party affiliation ~
certificate from the county auditor,
where they formerly resided. Provls-
ion is made for filing nomination pa
pers for the primaries by per cent OF
the voters for most officers and per
cent for senators provided that such
ner cent must come from not less than
fifteen counties of the state. For con-
gressmen, state senators and district
Judges per cent. There is provision
for a penalty for bribery and the pri-
mary is made to apply also to cities OF
5000 people.
Grocers Combine.
Dairy Commissioner Wright has laid
before the Legislators evidence of the
existence of a grocer combine in Des
Moines and movement will be start
ed for a legislative investigation.
Wright has copy of letter to Des
Moines grocers from Secretary Beaner
of local Retail Grocers Association.
fixing prices on butter in Des Moines
for a given period The Legislature
will make an inquiry and the facts
will be used to back up the pure food
legislation proposed.