Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-02
Member of Legislature Finds
Them Busy at Almost
Every Turn
NO SHORTAGE IN POSTAGE
Each Member of Legislature Allowed
$50 Per Session for Mailing Fees -
Sentiment Appears to Be Changing
In Favor of Passage Of Amended,
School Measure.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des, Moines, March ITO what ex-
tent are the trusts going to be able to
control legislation in the Thirty third
general assembly? The question was
asked by one of the members the other
day. Then he related some experience.
He said that a certain bill Is pending
that the correct weight of the food
stuff /sold put up in packages shall
be marked upon each separate package
so there can be no Judging as to
weight. He was invited to dinner by
the editor Of Des Mones newspaper
and in the course of the conversation
this bill was brought up and the edi-
tor stated that if 1t was passed a cer-
tain well known trust product not
made in Iowa would be taken off the
market. The editor argued somewhat
earnestly for the defeat of the meas
ure without giving any special reason
for his interest A day later the same
legislator observed in another Des
Moines newspaper an editorial attack
ing the same bill and making use Of
some Of the same arguments with re-
Iation to certain trust product much
advertised. On Saturday the same leg
islatdr was shown a letter written to
a newspaper by a Philadelphia firm
attacking this same bill pending in the
Iowa legislature. Then he asked the
question about the ability Of the trusts
to handle the Iowa legislature. The
bill in question merely adds to the
present Iowa law making 1t compulsory
that the net weight of the product be
ulaced on the boxes or packages where
stuff is sold by the package. So far
as known no Iowa manufacturer is op-
posing the bill; on the contrary sew
eral Iowa manufacturers and nearly all
the Iowa jobbers have Endorsed the
bill and desire it's enactment. A COM
mittee representing the jobbers OF the
state drew UP the bill and have pro-
vided that it shall be very easy Of OPP
Grafton. But in committee the bill is
being opposed strongly.
r. c. Benedict chief clerk OF the
house, has complied and 1t will be
printed in the journal Of the house
which goes on the desks of the MEM
bers on Wednesday, a complete state-
ment of the status of every bill that
has been introduced in the house or
has come to the house from the sem
ate. 1t will show how the bills have
been acted on, or what committees
have these bills. 1t will be a sort OF
reckoning to date that will enable the
members the better to know how to
get down to work after the vacation
and clear the matter all up.
aa%
1t. is not generally known, but 1t is
fact that members of the legisla-
ture virtually have an allowance OF
$50 each to pay; ;for postage. In other
years the pay Of legislators was $500
for the session, then there were var
ious allowances and the postage bills
were paid put this was not satisfactory
because there was such wide discrep-
ancy in the postage bii:s. and finally
the rule was changed and the mem
bers were allowed $50 worth OF postage
each. When the code was revised at
one time this was all included in one
lump and the members get $3.50 per
session or actually a salary OF 5000 ana
$50 for postage. 1t is related that In
other years it became customary Tor
members to get their postage bills pald
by various subterfuges such as having
someone on the outside do it and then
making an appropriation. This became
almost a scandal and finally there was
put into the code a provision making
II clear and positive that no member
Of the legislature shall be, directly or
indirectly, furnished postage at state
expense. They get all the printed sta
tionery they need and have use OF
clerks for writing their letters, but
they are supposed to pay their own
postage out Of the $50 which was add
ed to their pay per session.
Chairman Allen Of the schools com
mittee has divided up the work OF the
senate committee on the school bill He
has appointed subcommittee as eol-
lows: on general provisions of the plli
-cosson. Bruce, Wilson, Taylor; on
examination and certification of teach
De Armand, Chapman.
Seeley and McManus; on the county
INIT features-Adams, DeWolf. Allen
of Van Buren,, Jameson and Allen Of
Pocahontas. It is hoped that in this
way the bill can be perfected at IN
early date. After the first furry when
many protests came in against the Oil
the sentiment seems to have turned
and members the past two weeks re-.
ceived little evidence of hostility to the
measure
Republicans from southwestern Iowa
state that it is che understanding that
should Senator Jameson resign at this
time a, special election would be called
in that district, and that Val Graft.
formerly member of the house, would
be nominated by the republicans and
be elected to the state senate for he
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