Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-13
STATEWIDE PR1MARY

STAYEWlDEPRlMARY
ELECTION MEASURE UP FOR PAS.
SAGE THIS WEEK.
General Assembly May Adopt Bill In.
creaslno Salaries Of Members-Wom.
an Suffrage Bill observation-disclosures
anee Committee Kills Jamison Bill.
Des Moines, Feb. 12.-It is be-
lieved before the present legislature
is another week older it will have the
primary election bill. prepared by a
subcommittee Of the house and sen.
ate, up for passage. and with this
measure out Of the way the great
work Of the assembly will be disposed
of. The committee bill is made up
from points in both the Crossley and
the Peterson bills, tho two extended
measures which were before it. It 10
for statewide primary, as promised
by the Republican party platform, and
for the nomination of all candidates
from presidential electors down to
township officers, including United
States senators. The Democrats have
a bill somewhat similar in effect, pre-
pared by subcommittee of their
membership in the house and senate.
The great difference is that the Demo-
Gratis fight shy of the provision for a
declaration Of party afiliation as a
qualification for voting at the primary.
They favor the Wisconsin method,
where the ballots are all printed on
different slips, attached by staples
and perforated SO as to be easily sep
arated. The voter is given all Of the
ballots when he enters the polling
place. He selects from the lot the
ticket he desires to vote, marks 1t
and returns with it to the Judges the
unused ballots.
A substitute measure is said to be
in preparation, to be introduced on
the floor of the assembly when the
committee bill is called up, which will
provide only for legalizing Of eau
cuses, but will permit declaration by
precincts and counties on candidates
for United States senator.
Raise Of Salaries.
Taking heart from the late action OF
congress and from the records of sur.
rounding states, it is possible the
present session of the general assem-.
bly, will adopt a bill increasing the
salaries Of the legislative members in
Iowa from $3.50 per session, the pres
ent figure, to $1,000. 1t is said several
of the members have held meetings
to talk the matter over and there is
a well defined report that some time
during the present week bill for
this purpose will be introduced. II
the bill makes its appearance 1t will
be in the senate, and the chances are
that Senator Hughes of the Iowa-J ohm
son district will be its author.
The argument for the measure IL
the fact that scarcely one of the 15s
members of the legislature who come
to Des Moines to spend the winter Of
legislative sessions does so without 8
personal sacrifice to private business
and a loss as far as finances are con
csrned. The expenses which must be
necessarily borne by the legislator
outside Of his actual cost of living
become heavier each session, and very
few if any Of the members can nov
return to their homes at the close Of
the session with anything like rol
to deposit In local banks. Attention
is also called by those who are favor
ing the bill to the fact that Illinois
lawmakers are now receiving $1,00'
for sessions work, and a bill ha
lately been introduced in that bod,
by Representative McKinlay to in
crease the pay to $4,000. A bill to in
crease the salary in Iowa was intro
duced in the lower house during tn,
closing days of the Thirty-first gen
eral assembly, last winter. It's autho
was Representative Wright of For
Dodge. Mr.. Wright had served bu
one term and had made up his mint
not to be candidate for reelection
He had become convinced of the fac
that members of the legislature wer
entitled to better pay for their ser
vices, and felt that as long as h,
would not profit by the law, II I
should be adopted, he could introduc
the bill with good grace. The meas
ure met with anything but a heart,
reception by the house members, how
ever. there being but a corporal
guard in favor of 1t on final action
1t did not get to the senate. Thi
year the measure will originate in tn
senate. and the chances are that
will pass that body.
J Employees All Want Raise.
} But the legislators are not alone Ii
wanting increases in salaries. Their
are now before the assembly bills t
increase the pay of the deputies an
employees of nearly all the offices II
the state house. Adjutant Genera
Thrift of the department of Iowa Ma
tional Guard has had a bill presente
which increases his pay from $4,000 t
$4,000 year. Each of the three min
inspectors are asking for raise Il
pay from $1,000 to $1,000. The secre
tary to the governor wants his annua
stipend increased from $500 to 81
600, and the same raise is asked TO
the deputy state auditor, deputy stat
treasurer and deputy secretary O
state. Besides these the deputy dair
commissioner and his assistant ar
calling for raise. They want jun
from $1,000 to $1,000 a year. The Ia
Dor commissioner is said to be wait
ing the result on these measures, an
If it is favorable raise will be aske
for him from $500 to $4,000 a yea
. and for each of his factory inspector
from $1,000 to $1,000 a year. TIL
legislature last winter, in its bill O
salaries adopted at the close of tn
; session, raised in varying degrees tn
salaries of nearly all of the employee
; Of the several departments, and If tn
increases which are now asked for ar
granted 1t will put the state forwar,
as very liberal in the treatment of It
servants. 1t is probable some of thes
raises in pay might have been granite
had they come to the legislature ser