Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-29
SPEAKERSHIP FIGHT IN AIR
jtandpstters Of Iowa Will Scatter
Support Among Progressives.
MATTER TO BE ENDED IN CAUCUS
Effort Being Made 20 Reduce LcEis-
lative Expenses by Reduction
fl CIerkships-Indeterminate
Sentence Law safe.
(From a staff correspondent.)

DIES MONIES Dec. &-(Special.)-To
some extent at least the air is being cleared
In regard to the organization of the legis-
lature within two weeks. For a time there
appeared to be some probability OF a dead
lock In the house because of the large num-
Der of candidates for speaker and the per-
sistent claims OF each one of having a large
and steadfast following. 1t would seem GER
tain that with a large field evenly divided
there would be some delay In organizing,
and this would delay Inauguration.
But interests that are especially DESTROYS
OF a change in state affairs as soon as pos
sible are at work and efforts are being
made TO fix It up so that there will be no
serious contest in organization.
Then it seemed for a time almost certain
that the matter of the organization Of the
house would be framed UP along lines OF
old factionalism. 1t was known, for in
stance, that Harding OF Woodbury. county
was counting certainly on having a solid
lineup Of those who have been classified as
standpatters. and around this nucleus 1t
was believed he would gather the strength
to land the speakership prize. On the other
hand, Hacker Of Webster county broke into
the game and took some of this strength to
himself, and then 1t was found thai the
other candidates were also gaining SOM of
the fractional support.
Finally It has come about. that there will
be no fractional lineup, but all will stand
on merits. The so-called standpatters will
scatter after the first ballot and try to
pick a winner from the large field of those
who have been classed as progressives.
Among these latter there are five or six
that will have strong following. They are
White, Feeley. Lee. Darrah, Marston, Still
man and Sullivan. 1t has been discovered
that Feeley. for instance, has pledges from
a number who might have been expected to
support either Hacker or Harding, and his
friends claim that he will easily lead at
the start. II is certain that White and
Darrah both have a strong following In
southern Iowa which 1t was expected would
make Harding the speaker. 1t is now be-
lieved certain that a short contest in the
caucus will settle the speakership, and or
ganization can be effected very quickly.
To Reduce the Expenses.
The fight again to reduce the expenses of
the legislative session will be reopened by
members of the house. At the last session
they made a good start In the matter of
cutting off the clerkships and saved a few
dollars for the state, but the arrangement
was not very satisfactory to the members
1t is planned now to commence early and
try to secure action in both houses looking
to the cutting off Of clerkships. Then will
follow a determined effort to reduce the
number of days the session holds by crowd
ing the work forward. There has been so
much political capital made in recent years
out of the alleged extravaganza of the re-
publican party in the handling of the af-
fairs of the state that all the members
want to take action reducing expenses.
Want Money for Dredging.
Despite these efforts at economy a strong
effort is being made to have the legisla.
ture appropriate money for dredging the
Des Moines river to make 1t navigable
This is the revival of an abandoned projec
OF many years ago. Originally the United
States government set out to make tn,
Des Moines river navigable, but gave VI
In disgust. Now there Is desire that som,
money be spent, especially here at De-
Moines, and engineers have been secured
who declare that it is going to be possibl,
to revive shipping on the Des Molnei
river. Money is asked for to begin thi
work.
Complaint of RefOrmRtOry Law.
There is complaint made of the new
Iowa law regarding use of the indeter
inmate sentence in connection with a mod
ern scheme for reform of prisoners rathe
than making them confirmed criminals
A great deal Of sentiment is being worke,
UP in the state over the notion that tn
ndeterminate sentence law is a device 70
emptying the prisons and showing favo
to criminals. 1t is known that some of tn
members will distinguish themselves b.
introduction of bills to amend the indeter
,.t-,N. -aANAAA 1a.. nh. -
Of the passage OF any such bills.
Establish n "City of Refuge"
Police officials In Iowa are keeping waite
OF what seems to be a disposition in a
least one judicial district of the state I
set aside the laws of the state. This is 1
northwest Iowa, where the judges refus
to obey the indeterminate sentence law an
issue commitments contrary to the stat
utes. In the same district there is also
readiness TO use the courts for the pre-
lection OF criminals not manifest else
where Recently acquisitions we're issued o
request OF the governor OF Nebraska 70
taking from Iowa three accused person
to stand trial in Nebraska for felonie,
In each case the courts in Sioux Cit
promptly came to the rescue and issue
habeas corpus papers to prevent the takin
Of the men into Nebraska. The police OF
ficers here are wondering II the court
have established Sioux City as a "City c
Refuge"
State Teachers Association.
Already large numbers Of the educator
OF the state are arriving in Des Moines fC
the annual state teachers association.
will bring to the city for the week abo,
1000 persons. The program is an extensiy
, one, and there are many interesting ma.
} tiers to come up. The state superintender
will deliver an address before the concll
sion Of the meeting, In which he will pr,
sent his views as to the great chang,
planned for the state laws on school ma
tiers. The report of the state educationi
commission will recommend a general n
vision OF the school laws.