Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-27
Refuses to Hear Long-Winded
y Resolution Presented by
Congressman.Elect
4EARLY ADJOURNMENT SOUGHT
Democrat Attempts to Make Record
for Economy = Bill Presented Call
1 ing for Surveys of Iowa, Des Moines
\ and Cedar Rivers Miller After
\ Harvester Trust.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 27.-The senate
rather impatiently listened to part
only of a long resolution by Congress-
man Jameson, relating to early ad-
journment, by motion distinctly re-
fused to hear it all read, and then
without debate or permitting it to go
The resolution includes pay roll of
the legislature, and an estimate OF how
much it is costing the state. and
pleaded as a measure of economy that
the legislature agree now to adjourn
March 20.
The senate passed the appropriation
for maps and one to pay employees.
New bills were presented as follows:
BY Smith, of Mitchell, providing for
the regulation Of hotels, requiring fire
escapes and safety appliances, and
making the civil engineer of the state
board of health state inspector on a
stated salary.
BY Proudfoot. forbidding all Sunday
baseball and amusements for pay;
also one forbidding the smoking OF
cigarets by children.
BY Clarkson, changing the rules as
to assumption of risk by employees.
BY Moon, amending the primary law
as to nomination Of senators and re-
auiring report to the legislature OF
the vote on senator
BY Adams, to license opticians and
create board.
BY Hacker, extending the terms OF
county officers to four years.
BY Harding, abolishing the right OF
giving bonds to hold up eXtradition
oMses.
BY Sankey, for uniform fire insur-
ance policy and limiting insurance to
|three-fourths the value Of the prop
erty.
BY Moore, of Wapello, to create a
commission of five at IS per day to
survey the Des Moines, Iowa and Ce-
dar rivers to find water power.
BY Miller, of Bremen, to investigate
the international harvester company.
There is now little doubt that an
interesting contest will be preclpi-
tated over the plans which have BEEN
in the making for a number OF years
for general readjustment of official
duties at the state house in the inter-
lest of economy and better service.
While this only affects the offices
which are controlled by the members
of the state executive council, yet thera
is wide difference of opinion as to what
should be done. With regard to at
taching the banking and financial de-
partment to the state treasury there IS
not much disagreement but it is not
quite so unanimous that the depart
mont of public accounting should so
to the secretary of state and that GRIM
inal statistics should be taken from
his office. The first real fight of the
session is promised over the plan to
transfer the insurance department.
This does not involve any additional
expense and it would. probably mean
better service and more stability. But
1t is being opposed on the ground that
there is no room for it as a separate
department and that 1t would be ex-
pensive. The fire insurance companies
are already at work on the members
and fighting the measure. State Aud
itor Bleakley was largely responsible
for the agitation for the change two
years ago, for as head Of the insur-
ance commission he was very strongly
for the change in the interest of econo-
my. At that time the insurance peo-
pie all favored the change. State Aud
dtor Carroll, now governor, also rec
commended the change in two or three
of his reports, and this at a time when
he could not be accused of having any
selfish interest in the reform. 1t Is ex-
pected that the democrats wilp line up
almost sol.dly for the change for it was
Representative Clary, a member of the
insurance commission, who got the
democratic party committed in its
platform to this measure of economy
and reform. The democrats are as yet
divided, but they are aware OF the
pledge of their platform. 1t Is be-
lieved that the house committee on IN
surance has been fixed so that no re-
form legislation affecting insurance
matters can be got thru, but this re-
mains to be developed. All these meas
ures affecting the re-adjustment OF
positions and duties in the state Of
fees, are in line with the views Of
state officers as they have been devel-
oped in recent years. They will result
in less duplication of work, more sta
bility in the departments and better
service for the state all round. But
there are members who feel that re-
form has been carried all too far in
Iowa and it is time to apply the
brakes.
Contest committees in the house OF
the Thirty-tllird general assembly are
all at sea regarding the counting Of
contested ballots. After a joint con-
ference of the committees for an hour
and a half yesterday afternoon to reach
some general agreement an adjourn
ment was taken without any under
standing having been reached at all.
Unless the committees can get to-