Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-20

honor to the state, and the action of
the legislature of Iowa in taking the
lead in this matter, If not considered
as a criticism of its representatives in
the United States senate, will appear
as unsolicited intermeddling with the
affairs of our sister states, and Iowa,
under all existing circumstances,
should stand as guarding rather than
attacking the constitution
Railroad Legislation.
The much talked of two-cent fare
| bill on railroads in Iowa is likely to
| be enacted into law by the time this
letter is published. The bill has al
ready passed the house, where the
vote for it was unanimous, with only
two of the 10S members being absent
or not voting. The railroad companies
| made a strong effort to defeat the bill
| in committee, but their argument had
| no effect on the members. The effort
was repeated in the senate committee
with the same result. The law, when
it is finally adopted by both houses,
will go into effect on July 4. At first
it had a publication clause attached.
| which would put it into effect at once,
but this restriction was removed by
common consent, and it will take the
| same course as other laws.
The house practically by unanimous
vote also passed the Doran BILL which
will compel railroads in Iowa to run
| live stock trains at an average speed
of eighteen miles an hour. The rail
roads declare this bill will work an
| unwarranted hardship on them, and
are hopeful that their objections to it
may receive some favorable considera-
| ton in the senate when 1t comes be-
| fore that body.
Reforming City Government.
A large number of bills for the re-
formation of the government of cities
and towns, most of them products OF
the legal committee of the Iowa
League of Municipalities, are before
the legislature, and number of them
will be enacted into law before the
| session closes. The principal object
of most of the bills seems to be that
q
the governing of the cities and they
give the mayor absolute power as to
appointment and removal of officials.
They also make 1t compulsory on the
| part of the city treasurer to loan the
! funds of the city at interest. These
and other reforms added to the laws
adopted by the Thirty-first general as
sembly for uniform methods of keep
ing city accounts, it is believed, will
greatly strengthen the municipalities
of Iowa and give the state the best
governed cities in the country.
Old Soldiers Triumph.
! The old soldiers of the state are
conducting a vigorous campaign for
! the enactment of law which will for
bid the desecration of Memorial day.
/ Already the house, by vote of SO for
F., to 9 against, has adopted a measure
proposed by Representative McAllis-
! ter of Linn county, which makes it
punishable offense to engage in play
! ing of baseball, horse racing, or any
| sport or entertainment on Memorial
day In the discussion of the bill it
developed that practically every post
| of Grand Army veterans in the state
| had petitioned the members of the
| house to favor the bill. AS these pc.
titions have also gone to the members
of the senate, the bill is looked upon
favorably by that body.
Primary Bill Hats.
The proposed primary election law
which is being drafted by a sub-com-
mittee of the general elections com
mittee of the two houses is being rap
idly drafted into form and is likely to
make its appearance at any time. The
reason for the delay in presenting the
bill is stated by Chairman Wilson of
! the committee to be the fact that an
| law which will receive the endorse
ment of enough members before it is
called up on the floor of the chamber
of either house to assure its passage.
1t is said the Democrats have not yet
| given up their intention to present
bill of their own regulating primaries
| The committee preparing the measure
has for several days hesitated as to
the Incorporation Of party declara-
| ton clause, but since the visit of w.
j. Bryan at Des Moines last week, all
doubt in this regard has disappeared,
and when the bill comes out il will be
| for declaration of party affiliation as
one of the qualifications for voting at
the primary. Mr. Bryan is said to
have been very emphatic in his talks
with legislators on this proposition.
| AS result of Mr. Bryans advice there
is a question as to whether the Demo-
Gratis will bring in bill of their own
or content themselves with efforts to
amend the committee bill when it
| appears.
Few New Laws Are Enacted.
Not more than two dozen laws, out
side of legalizing acts, have so far
been enacted by the legislature,
though the body has been in session
more than a month. The acts so far
approved of are largely of corrective
nature, remodelling sections of the
code that have been found deficient in
small ways. No piece of legislation of
! general importance has so far found
1 s.. a