Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14
LEGISLATURE VOTES TO KEEP
DOWN NUMBER OF CLERKS,
NAMES DooRkEEPERs.
SEVERAL CONTESTS UP
Method of Counting Ballots Where
Mark Was Made Opposite Name
of President, Figures in Two
Strenuous Contests.

The house of representatives of the
Thirty-third Iowa general assembly in
its opening session made feeble
stagger toward retrenchment.
With commendable motives Repre-
sentative Arney of Marshall county
led the movement for keeping down
the number of committee clerks and
succeeded in getting established the
same rule as two years ago-that all
clerks must pass an examination and
be subject to the demand of any |
member of the house. The number
was fixed at thirty-eight, thirty for
the Republicans and eight for the
Democrats. But while this step was
taken toward keeping down the eX
penses of the state, the house elected
thirteen assistant doorkeepers for the
three doors opening into that legis-
lative chamber Then they consumed
three-quarters of an hour in a dis
cussion whether the old members
should be given the privilege of re-
tanning their former seats, the out
come Of which was that it was de-
cided all names should go into the
hat for a drawing.
Political Harmony Promised.
There was strong evidence at the
opening session however that the bust
ness of the session will not be impair
ed by political factionalism and strife.
Upon motion of Representative Mere
dith of Cass county. formerly a strong
progressive" Representative Hard
ing Of Woodbury. county, known as a
"standpatter" was made temporary
chairman. The compliment was re-
turned when Representative Hacker
of Webster (standpatter) offered the
names of Guy Feely of Waterloo (pro-
gressive) as the caucus nominee for
permanent speaker The Democrats
nominated for speaker Charles Miller
OF Waverly, who after the vote was
cast make motion to make it unani-
nous for Feely. He was then appoint
ed to assist. in escorting the new
speaker to the chair. Then Mr.. Feely
in his address promised that all men
regardless of party would receive
recognition and treatment on the floor
!: Of the, house from his hands. Then
Nels j. Lee Of Emmett county (pro,
gressive) was made speaker protein.
| Truly there is appearance of mo 3
political harmony in the Iowa house Of
representatives than for many, many
years. The lower house is well or
ganized to do good and rapid work if it
is SO inclined. In the senate the Demo
Gratis will have no candidates for per-
manent organization whatever.
! The contest over organization in
| the two branches of the Iowa legisla
ture the interest in contests now cen
tiers about the contests Of members
from several districts for seats in
| the legislature There are five con-
tests in the house and one in the SEN
| ate.
| The Legislative Contests.
Speaker Feely is expected to ap-
point the committee on contests i'm
mediately that they may get to work
hearing the testimony. He will ap-
point this committee preceding the
other committees. In the senate this
committee cannot be named until the
senate is permanently organized with
Lieutenant Governor Clarke in the
chair next Thursday. In the senate
the one contest is brought by A. f. N.
Hamilton against John Roam Demo
craD of Mahaska county Mr. Hamil-
ton is here ready to urge his claims
before the contest committee.
One of the most interesting fights
| before the house contest committee
will be the one from Clinton county,
wherein Sid D. Robb (Republican)
will try to unseat Albert w. Kendall
of Delmar. Mr.. Robb is here and says
he expects to stay right on the field
| until the battle is fought out and de-
cided. Mr.. Kendall is in his seat Mr..
.Robb's claim is that he was illegally
counted out by twenty votes. He
claims that in four precincts in Clin-
ton over 100 ballots were thrown out
by judges and not counted because the
voter had placed a mark in front Of
the name of VIM. Taft. The tickets
were regularly voted every other way.
He contends this mark should not de-
stroy the ballot or disfranchise the
man who made it. If the contest com
mittee and the house of representa-
I, tives takes his view he will be given
the seat In the House This same
claim is made by Mr. Hamilton in the
senate in his contest against Mr..
Ream.
The other contests in the house are
by w. T. Davidson Of Hamberg against
| A. V. Penn Of Fremont county (Dem-
ocrat) declared elected by five votes
l.. d. Teter of Marion county against
George w. Grozier S. NJ Corrie
against Robert Baxter (Democrat)
elected by eleven majority, and l.. F.
Springer (Democrat) of Buchanan
county against B. F. Stoddard, de.
clared elected by two votes.
The Senate Organizes.
Upon motion of Senator Stucklager
the senate proceeded to perfect the or
ganization Of the senate by the cleo
ton of officers and employees. The
vote was taken first upon secretary
S. W. Neal Of Washington county
being elected. The other officers and
employees were voted upon in a reso
luton embodying the entire list, as
follows:
i, First assistant secretary-George A
4 Wilson of Adair county.
Il Second assistant secretary-Joe
Meyer OF Polk county,