Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-16
Iowa
SPIRIT Of INQUIRY RIFE
Proposal in Iowa Legislature Il
Investigate Courts.
MAY REDIsrRICT THE STATE
House Passes Joint Resolution for
Committee to Distribute work
on an Equitable
Basis.
tFrom a staff Correspondent

DES March o.-NSpccleh)-
While the session of the legislature is near
an end, apparently, the spirit Of investisa-
tion is still rife in the house and each
week some new line of attack upon some
body or something is devised. The latest
Is ar investigation Of the courts Of the
state with a view to redistricting the state.
The house had before it a resolution which
declared, in effect, that the courts are not
busy more than half the time. and there
fore a redlstricting should take place. The
resolution read:
Whereas. The judicial districts Of Iowa
as now constituted are unequal In size. and
inadequate and unfair in the work required
of the judges and reporters In the different
Whereas, There is a demand for an in
crease In the salaries OF some of the judges,
and an allowance for the travelling ex-
Whereas. The court reporters are max
ing strenuous demands of the general as
sembly for an increase In per diem al
Whereas, Under existing conditions said
judges and court reporters are working on
an average of less than six months in the
year; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, BY the house OF representa-
lives the senate concurring, that a com
speaker Of the house on the part of the
house, and two by the president of the SEN
ate on the part OF the senate, 20 re-appor-
ton tne state OF Iowa into judicial as
tricts, on a basis that in their judgment
will best serve the people of the state and
place our judicial districts on a reasonable
working basis that will be fair and equit-
port their recommendations back to this
1909.
After some discussion all the whereases
were stricken out and the resolution was
passed. II was stated plainly on the floor
of the house that the assertions of fact in
the resolution were not warranted, and 1t
would be an injustice to have the house go
on record as giving currency TO such ru-
mors. The senate will kill the scheme.
Prohibition Not Yet Dead.
1t is by no means certain that prohibition
for the constitution is disposed Of for the
present session of the Iowa legislature.
The vote in support of the regularity of
having the resolution go to the committee
on constitutional amendments was ~surpris-
ingly largest to S, This is taken to indi-
cate that the senate expects the committee
to be in no haste about putting it up to the
senate to vote on the question. Those who
know say that the committee is conserva-
tive and cautious. The fact that Senator
Proudfoot, who represents the Women's
Christian Temperance union forces Of the
state on the floor of the senate. made a
hard fight to keep 1t away from the proper
committee, would indicate tina he believes
the committee is opposed to injecting pro-
hibition into the politics OF the state. He
insisted upon the right to nave the resolu-
ton referred to the committee on suppress
sion OF ~intemperance and this regardless OF
what the chair might deem proper and
against the opposition of the senate itself,
| pEA0i1AnH CIarL1 xvos ~aoI,, 81 ..,-.1 Sol
responsibility for sending the resolution &c
the on constitutional amend.
ments and would have done so but for the
objection of Proudfoot. The various re-
quests and motions raised a direct issue and
the lieutenant governor took the view that
under the rules it then became necessary
for the senate itself TO decide and that
neither the chair nor any senator whd
might assume to take charge of a house
bill had the right TO dictate to the senate
He further made 1t plain that reference tc
a committee never takes any bill out Of
control of the senate, as the senate can re.
call 1t or direct a report at any time. How
ever, senator Proudfoot felt very much hurr
over the fact that he was not permitted
to say what should be done with the resolu
ton and he raised the point afterwards
that the resolution had been sent to on,
committee, while many of the petitions FOL
the amendment had been sent to another
As a matter of fact, President Clarke, OF
the opening of the session, in anticipation
OF just such a situation, had commenced t
send the amendment petitions TO the com
mlttee or constitutional amendments, anC
continued to do so until senators had asked
that some Of them go to the other com
mittee. Senator Proudfoot Is the only sena
tor who is really pressing the prohibition
amendment very hard, Governor Carol
made an effort to induce him to let up II
his zeal for the amendment. but to NJ
avail; but the vote of yesterday indicate
that when the matter comes up for fina
decision the senate will defeat prohibition
Utilities Control.