Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-29
Measure Receives Support From
Various Interests But Will
Probably Not Be Passed
TO BE ISSUE IN THE FUTURE
Reformatory Bill Sent to Conference
to Correct Minor Defects - Pardon
Recommended for orman MoPher-
son, Louisa County Murderer-Dis-
appointment for State Schools.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moints. March 29-After amend
ing it so that it would not put power
into the hands of too small a minority
party TO carry legislative questions to
the people, the house committee on
elections voted favorably on the ref|
erendum bill introduced some days ago
by Pierce, a. democratic member from
Buena Vista county. The bill Will pass
the house in all probability, but be-
cause OF the lateness of the session,
and the fact that it is an innovation
in Iowa it will not pass the senate. II
will be brought up again at the next
session by its author, If he is re elected,
and a strenuous effort will be made TO
get it passed.
The bill as drafted by Pierce pro-
vides that thirty members OF the leg
Iislature by petitioning the secretary OF
stateycan have any proposition FOR the
enactment of a law or any bill or reso-
luton that was submitted to the last
preceding legislature that failed to
pass. submitted to the voters at a pri-
mary election. The committee on cleo
tons raised the number OF the mem
bers of the legislature who must sign
the petitioll to f1fty-f1ve. There being
l5S members of the legislature, this
means that more than one-third must
sign the petition. AS prepared py
Pierce, the number required was thirty,
or less than one fifth Of the members.
A bill similar in construction was
introduced by Lundt OF Tama county
last session., but did not attract a great
deal of attention. 1t is claimed that
in some states such bill has operated
to drive all lobbyists away and to as
sist in maintaining purity in a legisla-
ture, for ii, bill fails to pass at one
session, the signatures of a few of the
members e'f the legislature will operate
to bring the question to a direct vote of
the people at the next primary election.
In addition, the equal sufi,ragists of
the state zee in the bill something of
salvation 10 them. They have been
trying for years to get majority OF
the legislature for two sessions in sue
cession to submit the question of equal
suffrage to the voters on a constitu-
tional amendment resolution, but have
failed. Ullder this bill, if they can get
fifty five members favorable, they can
get the matter submitted. #
The submission of a question in
referendum does not, even If the vote
is favorable, carry weight of making
1t law 1t is only for the purpose Of
ascertainil1g the public sentiment, and
if subsequent legislatures were so
minded, they could still refuse to enact
the proposition into law.
The house yesterday passed the SEN
ate bill by Newberry providing for
state inspection to insure pure agri-
cultural seeds, which will now go to the
governor for his signature. 1t also
passed the bill fixing the compensation
Of assistant county attorney; bill in
tended to correct some of the evils OF
justice court procedure; and refused
to concur in the senate amendments to
the bill fixing the salaries of county
attorneys.
The house Judiciary committee has
recommended for passage the bill all
ready passed by the senate repeating
the Rule in Shelley's Case" princi-
| pie of law which is claimed to be about
900 years old. The rule in Shelley
case has: to do with the disposition OF
| property by will pertaining especially
to the right of the direct heirs to prop
erty and the inability of the ancestor to
| will it away from the direct heirs.
The committee of the senate on par
\ dons has Recommended the pardon o.
Ormana Mcpherson Of Louisa county
and rejected the applications of Otto
| Often, John Penny and John G. Steele
Mcpherson is an old soldier who hae
1 trouble with his wife and one day he
had gone to Morning Sun to visit hi:
son. Trouble arose and the towr
| marshal arrested Mcpherson. who be
came convinced he was in danger from
| the mob which gathered and in the me.
lee the marshal was shot.
] The reformatory bill is in confer.
| ence owing to the fact that some o.
the house amendments were badly pre-
I pared. When the bill is finished Il
| will provide that persons convicted
| of the most heinous offenses will be
sent to the penitentiary then there
| will be. another class of offenses where
different degrees of venality may be
\ implied. wherein there will be discre-
| ton lodged in the court as to whether
| the men shall go to the reformatory
or the penitentiary. There is no dan
ger of the bill failing because of the
| disagreement.
Thus far the legislature is doing very
we'll without a sitting committee an6
there is expectation that this will be
| put OF, until very late. So long as the
| houses work along smoothly no sift-
| ing committee will be needed.
The informal committee named b.
| Lieut. Gov Garst to consider the pro-
posal of a direct Inheritance tax law
| went to work last evening and is gath
ering rather hurriedly great deal o.
| information as to what other state:
are doing. It is certain a bill will bt
introduced very soon and that some
thing, will be done along this line.
IT