Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-04
Iowa
LEGISLATORS GET BUSY
Make an Earnest Effort to Clean VI
Pending Business.
BILL AIMED AT LUMBER COMBINE
House Puts a Quietus on the Rankin
state Marshal BiII--SIates Are
Being Made on Educa-
tiOnal Board,

DES April -(Spectal.)-The
two houses Of the legislature went to work
today to get rid Of a great deal of business.
The senate voted down a resolution by
Bruce intended to close debate and forbid
action on a bill by unanimous consent with
out following the calendar. The two houses
met in joint assembly and elected some
trustees and regents who will serve only
a short time. These were r. O.. Newcomb.
as regent of the university in place OF
Congressman Pickett. resigned; w. C.
Howell as trustee Of the teachers college,
I'm place of ]. b. Harsch. who was ap-
pointed by Cummlns and declined to act;
and w. H.. Harwood OF .Des Moines. re-
elected after appointment by Garst.
Refused to Raise n Salary.
The senate refused to increase the pay
Of the state superintendent who now gets
effort to amend and make it $500 was
lost and then the bill was lost. .
The senate agreed 10 the house plan for
changing the name OF the State Normal
school to the State Teachers college, then
also passed the house resolution authoriz-
ing the trustees to apply for the benefits
of the Carnegie pension fund. The senate
passed the bill to forbid the giving OF
immoral plays.
Firemen Pension Fund,
The house passed the bill to authorize
the cities to create a fund for the pension
Ing OF firemen: also a bill to authorize
boards Of supervisors to grant the use of
highways for electric line poles. and de-
feated a bill to appropriate for the care
OF the grave of William A. Scott. near the
state capital. The Historical department
appropriation was passed.
Aimed at lumber Combine.
The Kull bill, which prohibits combina-
lions of lumber concerns in Iowa and aims
a death blow at the Lumber trust now al
legged TO be operating in the state, passed
the house today by a three to one vote. IT
provides Imprisonment Of six months and
a penalty of from 500 to 5000 for viola
tions of the antitrust law.
state Marshal Bill Dead.
This afternoon the house once more laid
the Rankin state marshal bill in the grave.
The bill was taken up and amended in
many ways and discussed at length and
finally defeated. 90 tc 80. 1t provided for
dividing the state into two districts, with
a lead marshal in each for enforcement OF
liquor laws.
The senate defeated the house bill to
pehhllLS he IdiiTOduc " ANU " tVllply
with orders of the Railroad commission,
the effort being to put a stop TO the suits
brought solely for delay. The house also
passed the senate bill on reports from cor
porations with a small annual fee.
Tax Commission.
The house, at a date so late that little
can be expected therefrom, has passed the
Harding bill for a tax commission. appro-
p~riating $4,000 for its services, to advise
as to how to revise the taxing laws. The
house also passed the bill to create a
conservation commission and to appro-
pirate 1900 therefor. The house also de-
cided upon $4,000 a year for helping out
the dairy industry by carrying on an edu-
c~ational campaign. The senate has not
acted on any OF these.
The house disposed of the bill to trans
fer the banking department to the office
Of treasurer of state. The transfer OF
the insurance department was abandoned
long ago. and presumably there VIM be
neither readjustment or abolition nor I'm
provement nor increase of any department
of the state.
Board of Education.
All sorts Of States are being made VI
for the Board Of Education which must
be submitted to the senate within a few
days. As a matter of fact there is littls
of the gossip that is anything more thar
conjecture. The leading senator's ara not
being very literally consulted. There IL
general expectation that ex-senator Funk
will go upon the board and virtually be
the head. and there Is talk that ex-senator
Trewin will also have a place there. I'm.
doubtedly Hon. Ole Roe will have a place
either on the board or finance COMMITTEES
There is also pretty nearly a certainty tina
ex-senator Tom Lambert will be one OF
the democratic members. Beyond this there
is not much that is krGwn.
SafebIOwers at Waukee.
Robber last night broke open the safe
In the postoffice at Waukee, fifteen miles
south of Des Moines, and secured $3.50 In
cash and stamps. The robbefy occurred al
3 a. M. and at the first explosion the
whole town woke up and went for the rob
bers. The postal authorities are making
an investigation.