Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-14
LEGISLATURE HAS
OPENED SESSION
-(Continued From Page -
tiers relating to Iowa's chief industry
must not be side-tracked.
Install Caucus Nominees.

Republican caucus nominees for the
various positions in both houses were
| duly installed. There is every reason
to believe that the working force of
the legislature Is competent and will
be effective.
| Joe Meyer who becomes secretary
of the senate Is Des Moines lawyer.
He broke into the game by reason or
the friendship of Senator Newberry
who had him as clerk and who put
him in as an assistant secretary which
position he filled for two sessions. Joe
Hadyn of Adair was clerk to Senator
Savage and it Is expected Of him that
he will do most of the reading for the
senate. Louis Stamm, of this city, mas
long been clerk in the office OF the
state mine inspectors. but year ago
he was temporarily sojourning on a
little fruit farm in Idaho and while in
that state was elected journal clerk
of the Idaho legislature and got into
the game.
| A. C. Gustafson, of Red Oak. who be-
comes chief clerk to the house USED
to dabble in newspapering at Station,
then for several years was Judge
Deemer's secretary, and two years ago
was assistant clerk. His is hard
place to fill, especially following Rush
Benedict, who was master hand at
the desk Of the house. John Hooker
smith of Des Moines and Thomas wat
tiers also of Des Moines, will assist.
Waters did the reading for the house
at the last session. John Ofhl, former
" a member from Jasper, author of the
frecracker law, will be sergeant-at-
arms Of the house.
Nine Women Placed.
| That the women are not only ahX-
| ious to get into politics but are actual
| Nv getting into politics was demon
strated by the fact of such a large
number of women elected to import
ant positions in each house. No such
large number was ever before favored.
Five women were given important
positions in the senate list OF elective
places and four were given POSITIONS
in the house.
Following the organization of the
house. committees were named TO
notify the governor of the readiness for
business, and tomorrow they will meet
in Joint assembly to hear the message
Of the governor which he will deliver
in person and read. Following this
the Joint assembly will take up the
nerfunctory matter of canvass Of the
state vote with view to declaring
the result of the last elecuon.
Legislative Notes.
The harmonious outcome OF the re-
publican caucuses, and especially Tue
selection of caucus committees, was
cause for mutual congratulations
amons republican leaders SATURDAY
lnight. The cloud that appeared last
FRIDAY morning when a disagreement
Iarose over the form Of the mouse cal
was disturbing to the party peace. but
lit was all settled In caucus and on eacn
|siae there is a caucus committee. Un
Lees this had been done it would have
lheen necessary each time caucus Is
needed in the future to circulate call
sfor signatures. Late in the session a
Joint caucus to select candidates fo1
|nr;nter and binder will have to be
held and probably for other purposes
LIT was chiefly to provide for these
CONTINGENCIES that a caucus committee
was necessary.
Once more northern Iowa gets the
|speakership of the house. Cunningham
liza from Buena Vista. Stillman was
from Greene and Eaton and Bowen and
Funk. Feely and Head all from north
ern counties. The southern part OF the
state has had Clarke, Kendall and BY
ers But in the last house a dozen or
more OF the important chairmansh1ps
M the committees were located IN the
northern part Of the state and there
was feeling that the south half had
heen overlooked. Among the members
from south of the Northwestern rail-
road there is some demand that at
this time there be fair Distribution
Of places. The senate cha1rmansh1ps
have been somewhat better distributed,
and If anything, the south has had the
hest Of it for several sessions.
Jus before the close Of the last
house session a rule was adopted FOR
the house reducing the number OF
members of the various committees. 1t
had become evident to the leading
members that committees were made
too large. The house will adopt the
ruIes Of the last house for temporary
nurnoses. including this rule as to a
limit on the membership OF commit
| tees. and IL Is luSl cloAS "a 100000
the house committees will be smaller
! The late Gov. Larrabee. who was
member of the legislature Tor many
sessions. never asked of any commit
tee maker an assignment to any com
nittee nor sought craftsmanship; ou'
he was given the most responsible
nositions, 1t is said Of Ex-senator )
r, Harsh that the only request ne maoe
of the presiding officer was that ne oe
not placed on any committee, and NJ
nreferred to do all his work from tne
floor of the senate.
H. w. Byers will have charge or the
fight before the senate committee OF
hehaf Of George Coburn for the sea-
which was given to Guy Gillett Tor the
okee.Ida-Plymouth district. Int
notice of contest was broad enough Sc
that the committee will have 10 can
,yass the entire vote of the d1strlc
and make an entire new count ol
senator.
! suffragettes are expected to d
present in great numbers at the JON
Iassembly tomorrow and on Tnursoa!