Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06

lengthy and complicated and the com
mittee has referred the whole matter
to a subcommittee composed of Sen.
ators Wilson of Fayette, Smith of
Mitchell and Turner and Stirton from
the senate and Representatives Oar
rah, Lee of Emmett, Teter and Melon
aid, from the house. The committee
will not report for several days, but is
sure to bring in plurality primary
bill, as a majority of it's members are
known to be favorable to that method
of nominations.
The Democrats of the legislature
forty-seven in number are giving the
primary question considerable atten
ton, and it is understood that within
a week they will present to the assem-.
bly, a caucus measure which they will
stand for. What the provisions OF
this bill are to be is not known. II
will be drafted by steering commit
tee recently chosen by the Democrats
in caucus. This committee consists
of Senators Lambert and Moon and
Representatives Miller, DeMar and
Schultz. On the report of this com
mittee is likely to hinge the question
as to whether the present assembly
will pass a primary election law or
not. 1t is a fact that the Democrats,
as between the two factions of the
Republican party in the assembly, one
standing for plurality nominations and
the other for majority nominations,
fhn AI In1 8
power. The leaders recognize this ad-
vantage and declare that no bill can
be passed by the assembly without
their approval.
Educational Board of Control.
The educational board of control bill
has made it's appearance in the legis-
lature again. 1t is reported this time
under the names of Senators Whip
pie, Lambert and Turner, three mem.
bers of the commission instructed by
the Thirtieth general assembly to
conduct an investigation and report
advisability of such law. The bill
passed the senate by decisive vote,
but was killed In the house. It pro-
vides for the government of the state
university, state normal school and
agricultural college by a single board,
troll the three institutions. 1t is claimed
the bill will prove economical for
the state and will tend to the better
ment of all the institutions. 1t will
without doubt pass the senate this ses-
sion, but its fate in the house is prob
lematical
Abolish Printer and Binder.
Senator Lambert of Jackson coun-
ty, who is himself a printer and edi-
tor, has introduced a bill which aboi-
ishes the Offices of state printer and
binder in Iowa. If the bill becomes
law these Offices will go out of exist
ence on Jan. /, 1909, and after that
date all printing for the state will be
let by contract, under the direction of
the state executive council, composed
of the governor, the secretary of
state, the auditor and the treasurer.
The council is to separate the printing
TO be ordered by the state in different
classes, and with the present maxi
mum prices as basis, is to secure
bids for the work by classes. Each
bid for the work is to be accompanied
by bond for $4,000 for the faithful
performance of the work. and the sue
cessful bidder for any large class O,
the work is to be required to place
with the executive council bond for
$4,000 for the performance OF his
contract. All bids are to be made on
a percentage of the maximum figures
now governing the state printing.
Senator Lambert has given the
state printing much attention and is
convinced that Iowa can save thou
sands of dollars every year by let
ting its work out on contract. He has
secured letters from more than half
the states in the union detailing the
methods variously employed and finds
that with the exception of one or two
states Iowa is the only commonwealth
still sticking to the state printer and
binder as officials elected by the legis-
lature or appointed for that purpose.
In 1897 Senator Lambert had a sim
liar proposition before the assembly,
but it was defeated. He feels that the
matter of printing and binding in
Iowa is today largely political, and
that the minority party has no chance
for representation in the work Under
his method politics would cut no fig |
ure, the quality of the work and the |
prices alone counting. 1t is stated the |
Democrats are united on tho PROPOSE |
ton, and that they will receive much |
aid from Republican sources for the |
adoption of the Lambert bill.
Those who defend the present sys-
tenn declare that it is more satisfac-
tory and more economical than the
contract method, and say they will |
have facts and figures to suppo~t the |
statement when the matter is brought |
out for discussion.
Appropriation Bill Out.
The first appropriation bill to come |
before the legislature for the state in |
situations has been brought out by the |
appropriations committee in the sen
ate. 1t covers support appropriations |
for the state normal, the state univer- |
sity and the agricultural college, and |
names the exact annual sums i'm each |