Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-20
SESSION TO END SOON
LAWMAKERS TALK OF EARLY AD
JoURNMENT OF LEGISLATURE.
Opposition to Two.cen. Fare Bill of
No AvaiI-Not Dissenting Vote in
Lower House-Radicai Temperance
Measures Introduced.

Des Moines, Feb. 19.-As the first of
March approaches the members of the
state legislature turn their thoughts to
their homes and to spring business
affairs. Already the talk OF adjourning
is in the air, and there are those who
declare the session will have complet-
ed its work and be ready to adjourn
sine die the first of April. If this
should prove to be the fact the pres
ent assembly would go down as short
er in duration than any Of its predeces-
sors for many years. The assembly of
1904 adjourned ON the 18th day of
April, but the session began on the
9th of January. Las year the ad-
journment was made on the Sth of
April, but the beginning of the ses-
sion was on Jan. 7th. The present
session did not convene until week
later than either the Thirty-first or
Thirty-second assembly. on Jan. IA.
While there is possibility that the
prediction of those who are anxious to
get home as to early adjourning this
year may come true, the probability is
that the final session viii be held
nearer the 18th than the 1st of April,
and that the assembly may take up
the full three months generally al
loted to the lawmakers.
The senate passed concurrent res
olution providing for an adjournment
of the legislature from Feb. % to
March 5, at p. NJ, in order to give
Legislators an opportunity to arrange
their private spring business affairs.
Radical Temperance Measures.
While the promised state marshal
bill has not yet made its appearance
in the assembly. other measures just
as radical have been forthcoming and
there are now before the two houses
measures which, If they become laws,
will greatly strengthen the Temper
ance forces. The most important OF
these bills are two introduced by Sen.
ator Shirley Gillilland of Mills county,
and relate to control Of the c. o. D.
liquor traffic in the state. They
strike, and strike hard, at both the
agent for the outside manufacturer or
wholesaler, and at the common carrier
or express company that handles the
shipments. In fact, these bills, enact
ed into law, would at once sound the
death knell of c. o. D. liquor business
in the state. The first of the measures
provides that "any person acting as
agent or representative OF any corpor-
alton or company, who takes or OBJ
tains, subject to the approval of HIS
principal, orders for Intoxicating
liquors, to be delivered In the future,
shall pay an annual mulct tax of 5000,
in quarterly installments, on the first
day of January, April. July and Octo-
Der, in each county where such orders
are TAKEN" Violation of the act is
made punishable by fine of not less
than $500. or by Imprisonment in the
county Jail not less than three nor
more than six months. Under the pro.
visions of this bill any company doing
q general business In the counties OF
the state would be compelled to pay
| annually into the treasures of the
counties total sum OF $4,000. But
the second bill makes the prohibition
of the business more certain by pro
viding that express companies or com.
mon carriers handling these G. o. D.
packages shall pay mulct tax of $500
a year for each Office or place where
liquors are thus received, collected for
and delivered. This would mean that
practically every express Office in the
state would be subject to the mulct
levy. and of course Would mean that
the companies would refuse all such
shipments.
To Relieve Local Manufacturers.
The bill promised by the Democrats
of the state in their last platform, pro
viding that Iowa manufacturers ant
dealers in intoxicating liquors shall
have the same right to sell and shir
their products in the state that outside
manufacturers and dealers enjoy, has
made Its appearance in the Legislature
and is now before the committee of the
two houses on suppression of intem
perance. The object of the bill is tc
give relief to several brewing compan
les in the state who are Handicapped
by the provisions of the mulct law
The shipment Of liquor by outside par
ties comes under the head of inter
state commerce and cannot be inter
fered with, while the regulations O
4 the law forbid IowaSmakers and whole
salers from shipping their product in
to any county in the state where sa
looms are not operated under the law
The Democrats are standing for tn,
bill, which has been brought out b.
Senator sfcManus of Fort Madison
but there is little hope that it will ge
favorable action from the committee
| CONSTITUTIONAL Amendment,
i The Smith resolution asking con
gress to call convention of the state
for the purpose of amending the Unit
ed States constitution has been passe,