The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-01-24
DES MONIES GOSSIP.
Side Lights On the Legislature and
Capitol City People.

Des Moines, Jan. 21.-The culmina-
ton of the first week of the Thirty
second General Assembly to the eye
Of the public was the inauguration on
Thursday of Gov. Albert B. Cummins
and Lieutenant-Gove Warren A.
Garst, but, to the members of the up
per and lower houses, the halfhour
Immediately following in which the
Standing Committees were simultane-
ously announced, was of far greater
interest. In the appointment OF the
Standing Committees, the president
of the senate and the speaker OF the
house exercise their greatest power
These committees have absolute au-
thority over the bills referred to them,
and a bill reported by them for in
definite postponement rarely again
sees the light of day in that assem-
bly,. The entire faith placed by the
assembly in the ability and integrity
of these committees is pleasant TO
contemplate in these days of suspicion
and distrust.
Monday is usually dull day in leg
islative halls, but on Monday the 14th
the day for converting most OF
the members of the assembly were
present and ready to dispatch the
preliminaries of organization, and the
ARRANGEMENTS for the inauguration.
The senate was necessarily quiet until
the new presiding officer should be
inaugurated, but in the house no sucn
delay was necessary and Monday saw
the permanent officers sworn in.
The election of Hon. N. e. KenGail
of Monroe, as speaker, was unani'
mously conceded, despite the newspa'
per talk that the minority would pre-
sent ticket, the democrats unani
mously seconded the presentation OF
Mr.. Kendall's name. Mr.. Kendall will
make an able and brilliant presiding
officer. But he will be missed from
the floor where his speeches were
marked features of the 30th and 31st
assemblies. His wonderfully clear
mind penetrates with remarkable
rapidity the real inwardness of a
question, and he possesses to an IN
usual degree the power to make 9th
ers see a measure as he sees 1t
When he arose to speak he always
commanded attention and there was
no marked exodus to the cloak rooms
and his speech often had a deciding
influence upon the vote.
Mahaska was signally honored in
the election, unanimously, of Hon. A
F. n. Hambleton to the position OF
speaker pro TEN, for the session. He
was also honored by being made tenn
porary speaker for the temporary or
gaaization, a position he filled will
ability until after the election and tn'
swearing in of the permanent officers
No member is held in higher regart
for solid worth and hard working
faithfulness than the member from
Mahaska. The house served we'll it,
best interests in electi1g him TO thi:
position.
The third Inauguration of Albert
B. Cummins was extremely simple
1t being his express wish that il
should De so. 1t was held in the
beautiful chamber of the House o.
Representatives, of which, since it
re-decoration after me fire, the State
of Iowa may well be proud. No mort
fitting place could have been selected
the only objection being It's limitet
seating capacity. Reports have al
ready given the details. The com
mentS in the Hobbies were that ths
governors inaugural was the aDlest
and most forceful uttera1ce he has
yet given. He is a fine figure of 6
man, officially and privately, what
ever may be the attitude of friend OIL
foe.
The Thirty-Seco1d Assembly swings
out upon its set course with apparent
harmony, which promises well for tbs
measures presented.
Spectator,