Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-02
A Do SOMETHING
LEGISLATIVE BODY
General Assembly Proposes to
Quit With a Record Of Ac-
complishment
No RUSH OF unrlMeLy BILLS
Nothing Being Presented Unless 1t Has
a Chance for Passase-"Adopt Gov
ernor's Recommendations and Ad-
journ" Seems to be the General SEN
timent-eood Presiding Officers.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 2.-There is dis
tinct air OF o-something about the
Iowa legislature. The plan is to have
accomplishment to the credit OF the
membership at the close of the season
The bill introducing business Is not
uppermost: but it is a sea son of bill
investigations The older members know
better than to prepare a food OF bills
| that have no show of being passed,
while the younger members are timid
| in the matter On all sides there Is In
quiry as to what is best to be done for
the good OF the state, not for the good
| Of a party or faction or a clique, but
for the state as whole. Even among
| the democrats there Is this spirit, tho
as matter of fact select group OF
self-appointed managers for the whole
state has been trying very hard to In
duce the democrats to lead off with I
program of making mischief. But nos
many of.the democrats will consent to
this. And so the legislature Is getting
down to business. somewhat slowly and
deliberately it Is true, and yet In a
spirit that indicates something will be
done.
THE legislature could do no better
than to lust adopt the suggestions
made, in the message Of the governor
and then adjourn said w e. Oddell,
a prominent lawyer OF Des Mofnes, who
is keen observer Of all state mat
tiers.
1.-THE recommendations in the mes
sage Of. Governor Cummins make up q
program quite sufficient for all the
work of the session. Now there Is the
primary bill. which is demanded by
practically all Of the people Of the
~ our politics Let 1t be passed just
as soon the legislators have had time.
to jconsider it in every detail. Then
follow with the 2-cent fare bill and
other needed railroad legislation. II
they are to change the anti-pass law
just adopt the federal law and make no
amendments. We ought to do some-
thing to encourage home manufactures
in Iowa, and to this end reduce the
freight rates so that we can compete
with those from the outside. The whole
program is one the legislature can
well afford to adopt"
The suggestions OF Mr.. Odell are
just in lire with the views of the real
leaders Of the Legislative assembly, and
it is certain that to avery large extent
the program Of Governor Cummins
will be that of the legislature. 1t will
be because the program is right and
because Governor Cummins Is able to
lead thru forceful presentation of liv-
ing truths.
The business OF house and senate
will be expedited this year as never
before It is true that Speaker, Nate
Kendall follows a line of. wonderfully
successful speakers. Clarke, Eaton
and Byerg' were most excellent presid-
ing officers. They pushed the, work
hard and made the house work. But
Speaker Kendall has quite as much
force and snap and energy as either Of
the others. And 1T is true that in the
house, farlImore than In the SENATE
the orderly progress Of, affairs depends
upon the vigor and watchfulness of the
presiding officer. II he should he lax
the house would, almost go to pieces.
He must make the house work, not
merely permit TO work. He must be
in fact a director general Of affairs in
the house. And this is Kendall. AS
for the senate with all due respect to
Hon. John Herriott,. it can. be said
fairly that the contrast afforded by
the work Of President Garst is such as
| to give the senate decided relief. Mr..
Herriott was physically weak and 1t
was almost impossible to understand
his statements before the senate. Mr..
Garst is forceful and clear. Mr.. Garst
| never was much Of a talker; hence he
: is just fitted for a presiding officer,
tho it is more than probable that when
| the senate gets into a warm contro-
versy he will wish himself again on the
| floor to engage in the fight. But as
president Of the senate Governor Garst
| is a decided success.
| Governor Cummins is taking things
easy just now. He has no great work
| mapped out. He is attending to the
| routine duties Of his office and spends
a large part Of his time receiving Wis
itors and those having business with
him Many of the members of the leg
islature consult him, and there is
nothing to indicate that those who
counsel with him are of one party or
another. The governor is avoiding
speech making a. much as possible
this year. He had quite enough of it
last year. His voice is, in fact, re-
covering it's former strength and
clearness and in due time he will be in
splendid condition for further speaking,
if that be his lot.
There are some signs that the lobby
has become unpopular. Not very many
lobbyists are to be seen or encountered
in the corridors. Everyone feels that
the lobby is in disrepute. Something
has happened to bring about this re-
suit.
The indeterminate sentence law and
bill to create board of pardons is be-
ing prepared and is nearly ready to be
introduced 1t may not be offered be-
fore next Monday. One of the ques-
tons being discussed in. connection
with the measure is a provision requir-