Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-03-20


of the stuff outside of the state. Sen.
ator McManus made strong fight for
the measure and presented a declara
ton for its adoption by the state
manufacturers association and other
commercial bodies, but to no effect.
1t is thought the state marshal bill
which has been brought out for pas
sage in the senate, will suffer like
fatl The lawmakers seem to feel
that it is pretty good idea to let the
temperance question in. all of its
phases alone for the present. The
marshal bill has more friends. how
ever, in the present session than it
has ever had before, and there is a
possibility that it will go through
the senate, but if it does it will be
killed in the house.
Woman Suffrage Still Up.
The woman suffrage resolution has
been reported for passage by the con-
stitutional amendment committee of
the senate, and in the house it is on
the calendar, with majority report
lOT lUuSnuIlC anu u
nority report for passage. Mrs. Dame,
who has charge of the bill, does not
have much faith in its adoption this
winter, but says the women will keep
on struggling until success comes to
them. Mrs. Dame has presented pc
titions signed by 10000 voters of Iowa
asking for the adoption of the resolu-
ton.
Both senate and house have passed
law limiting the Indebtedness OF
state and savings banks.
Many Bills and Few Laws.
Many bills and few laws is the prob
able result of the action of the gen.
eral assembly regarding reforms in
railway legislation. In both houses
an even three score of bills, all relat-
ing to some corrective feature in re-
gard to railroads, have been pre-
scented. Forty-three of these bills
have made their appearance n the
honse and seventeen of them have
been presented in the senate. Two
only have been enacted into law so
far They are the 2-cent fare bill, civ.
ing Iowa a reduction of passenger
rates after July of this year, and a
little measure by Senator Gillilland,
giving the board of railroad commits
sioners authority to compel railroads
operating double tracks to provide
shelter for passengers at stations
over both tracks. The reciprocal de-
murrage bill and the stock train speed
limit bill, both of which have been
described in these letters, have passed
the senate. These may go through.
but many of the others are doomed to
die in committee. AS an evidence OF
the extent of the movement for anti
railway legislation, it may be worth
while to list a few of the measures
two houses. Among them are several
measures to regulate the charges Tor
excess baggage; to regulate damages
for injury to baggage; to compel all
railroads to report to the governor OF
the state at once whenever any seri-
GUS WTcCh OCCulo, W SiuCSZC NV
water out of all stocks; to compel
railroad agents to keep posted bull.
letin of arrival and departure of
trains and to keep telephone ex-
changes Informed as to when trains
will arrive or depart; to compel roads
to make reports of all transportation
issued free, giving names and address
es of parties to whom issued, and to
compute the amount the roads would
have received each year If this free
transportation had been paid for in
cash at the two cent rate; requiring
owners of terminal facilities to grant
use of same TO all other railways on
agreeable terms; to compel railroads
to build cattle guards at private cross
ings; TO compel railroads to build
bridges for public use on right of way
where grading has caused a change
of water course; anti-pass law, to
make law now in force comply with
national law; to regulate charges on
sleeping cars; to regulate express
companies and their charges; to give
interurban companies right to acquire
terminals over city street railways.
Primary Bill This Week.
The primary election bill was taken
up in both houses of the assembly last
Tuesday, but after a short discussion
in each house consideration of the
measure was postponed for week.
1t came up again in the senate yester-
day and in the house today. The Dem
ocrats and standpat Republicans are
apparently working together to Sc
cure the passage of a. bill that will
differ in many ways from that report
ed by the committee and the terms
of which appeared in this letter last
week. The standpatters want ma
jority provision for nomination of can
dates. Many Of the Democrats are
said to favor the majority idea. but
the Democrats are opposed to party
affiliation declaration. Before the close
OF the present week the question will
be settled until 1909, II not for .
longer time. Whether the settlement
will come through the adoption of
bin such as the election committee
has reported no one can tell. but the