Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-02-01
on SENATOR
Legislature Still Unable to Make a
Choice and Primary Seems
Certain.
MANY BILLS ARE INTRODUCED

Iowa Solons Will Have Much to DO
Outside of Disposing of Sen.
atorial Matter Before
AdjOurning.
The senatorial deadlock in the
Iowa legislature remains unbroken
as we write. There is little change
In the vote from day to day. Since
our last issue Byers, Garst and
FRANKIE have been eliminated from
the race, and the contest is now be-
tween Porter, democrat. Senator
Young. regular republican, Kenyon
and Funk, insurgent republicans.
Porter's vote ranges about fifty,
while Young, Kenyon and Funk re-
ceive 33 to 81, the votes varying
slightly with changes and absentees
from day to day. A ballot is taken
In joint session each day at noon.
An attempt has been made during
the week to secure enough sigma
lures, eighty, to hold caucus, with
the understanding that the republi-
can receiving the most votes in the
caucus should receive the vote Of
every signer in the joint session the
next day. The date of the caucus
was set for yesterday, but as we
write some twenty or more sigma
lures are lacking to make the re-
quired 80, which is a majority Of
the legislature, and there seems to
be no prospect of securing them. 1t
looks more like state primary each
day, as it becomes more apparent
that the legislature cannot break
the deadlock. The position of the
insurgents in opposing the primary
now, when they established it for
the very same purpose, to elect Sem
ator Cummins, is daily becoming
more ludicrous, and is losing
strength daily for the insurgent
cause. It is constantly becoming
more apparent that there is little Of
sincerity. consistency or stability
III the movement. The only right
and logical solution of the matter,
under the existing laws In Iowa, is
..sheld primary The lora elec-
ton law is for a primary. and this
right should not be denied the peo-
pie now.
Many more bills have been in
troduced than ever before during
the first three weeks of general
assembly. But this is as far as they
have gone. Every committee is load
ed down with bills not acted upon.
And the senatorial problem is yet
unsettled. 1t seems apparent this
assembly will be unable to settle it.
Efficient work will not be done for
the state, 1t seems, until the men,
bers admit their inability to make
a choice and provide means for
letting the people select their sena-
tor at special primary. OF course
such a determination would not re-
lieve the members of voting every
noon which takes half hour, but 1t
would relieve their minds of the re-
sponsibility and give them opportun-
ity to think of legislation and work
on law making and unmaking in
stead Of playing politics. Some
very important measures have been
offered the legislature for considera-
tion. One Of the most prominent
of these Is the Public Utilities Com
mission bill by Sammis. This pro-
vides for enlarging the duties Of the
Board of Railroad Commissioners to
give the board control over all util-
ity corporations such as power, gas,
electric and water plants the same
as it now has over railroads. 1t
further enlarges the membership
from three to FIVE. Fifty thousand
dollars is asked for publicity bur-
eau by Senator White of Iowa. and
the sum Is considered very modest
in comparison with the great
amounts being spent on other states
to advertise. His bill provides fol
board of five to work without com
pensation other than expenses, per-
mitting that board to pay an assist
ant, however. In view of the fac
that Iowa has lost population 1t II
not expected any voice will be rails
ed against publicity to bring the val
ue Of Iowa to the attention of the
world-publicity means more peo'
pie, better prices for land, more
workers and more money spent In
the state.
During the past week a large
number of new bills have been in
troduced. of more or less import
ance, so that the legislature now has
an immense amount of work ahead
of 1t. Among those of general in
terest are the following: compelling