Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-11
MOVEMENT TO REFER REsUBMIs-
SION RESOLUTION TO JUDIC-
larry COMMITTEE DoWNjED IN
HOUSE.
SENATE PASSES
NEW ROAD BILL
PERMITS TOWNSHIPS TO RETURN
TO OLD SYSTEM OF DISTRICTS
UPON PETITION OF THE PROP
ERT OWNERS.
Des Moines Bureau of
The UttumWa courier.
DeS MOineS March IL

The Ottumwa Courier.
Des Moines, March 10.
The house put in the morning
debating the resolution on the re-
submission Of the prohibitory
amendment Meredith took charge
Of 1t and from the first had a ma
jority with him in defeating all
the proposed amendments intend
ed to make the measure obnox-
ious. Sullivan and Harding led in
the fight against it and precipi-
tated hot debate. A motion to re-
fer to the judiciary committee was
defeated by vote of Al to S.
Then the house at l o'clock adj
journed until today by vote of
So to 43. The prohibition question
will come up on the floor of the
house today.
The senate passed the road bill
to permit townships to return to
the old system of road districts,
upon petition Of property owners
The senate discussed at length
the Van Law bill to authorize
cities to make investigation Of
public service corporations with a
view Of getting information on
which to act in fixing rates. A vote
was not reached.
Des Moines, March 9. - In an or.
sanized effort to prevent a Republican
house from going on record for prohi-
bition, leaders in the lower house Of
the Iowa legislature today are prepar-
al To Wi ho
luton for resubmission and dispose of
It by referring it to the judiciary COM
mittee, where it would be promptly
slaughtered.
Two legalizing acts and three unim
portant bills that will be disposed of in
short order precede the one measure
now before the legislature in which
the entire state is vitality interested
1t may be reached before the noon
adjournment, and is sure to be consid-
cred some time today unless Repres-
entative Meredith asks that it be set
as special order for consideration
later in the week.
Disagreement. if not actual discord,
between prohibition leaders in the
house makes it uncertain whether the
resolution will be allowed to remain
on the house calendar and come up
for consideration today, Or whether it
will be set for special order at some
time later in the week.
Chairman Elliott of the committee
ION the suppression of intemperance,
said last night that conditions are
now right for sending the resolution
Through today with flying colors For
this reason Dr. Elliott said he did not
believe that request would be made
Ror special order.
A Flood of Amendments.
A flood of amendments materially
AFFECTING the purport of the resolution
Twill precede motion to refer it to the
Judiciary committee One of these,
(which probably will be proposed by
Representative Davidson Of Palo Alto,
would put the legislature on record
Nor reimbursing the brewers and dis
Itillers for the value of property now
( in use for the manufacture Of liquor.
i Another will make it include the
sale and manufacture of cigarettes,
and still others will do things to the
resolution that probably would cause
Representative Meredith and his
friends to repudiate it's origin.
Following the amendments will
come charges that the document
tbears numerous pen marks and revis.
ions, that it has never been read in
lany committee. and that two Of the
-four amendments of the Iowa constitu.
Etion have been knocked out by the
supreme court because of faulty pro-
cedure.
Topping all this. motion to refer
the resolution to the judiciary com
mittee will be seconded and urged by
the heaviest battery Of debaters that
the house affords. Among those who
are expected to speak are Representa-
tives Harding and Moore of Linn.
The Agricultural Bill.
The Iowa senate, at least, has seer
fit to serve notice on the educators
and the school patrons of Iowa, thai
in due time Iowa is going to deliber
ately enter upon the policy of provid
ing for teaching elementary agric,ll
ture and domestic science in the rura
schools of the state This means tha
the persons who expect to be teachers
in the country schools after three
years must get ready for this work
The bill also provides for beginninE
in the teaching of teachers for thi;
work. The commencement is to b,
In the three state colleges, but at tn,
same time some work is to be taket
up in the county normal institutes
! Senator Seeley has been deeply inter
ested in this matter. He desired tina
even more should be done looking II
/ . commencement, but is well pleased
| that at least something is to be done