Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-11
TELLING O. HARMONY
LMONG LEGISLATORS
tTH,RrY.FlFrH GENERAL ASSEM-.
sLY PREPARED TO WORK
WITHOUT p,scoRp.
STRANGELY in CONTRAST
WITH PAST LEGISLATURES
Duties To se Handled Largely by Com
mittses, Althe Number Of Working
Committees May Be Reduesd-Tsn-
tativs Legislative Program For First
Wssk Of Session. =
Special to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times- Republican.
Des Moines. Jan. 11.-Surely the
men clothed with authority to act for
Iowa people in matters of legislation
are to be complimented on the evi-
dence Of harmony and good feeling
with which the session of the Thirty
18th general assembly is entered. 1t
is situation SO strangely in contrast
with that Of two years ago, or condi-
tions which prevailed dozen or more
years ago, as to be quite worthy OF
comment. So far as can be ascertalned
there is nothing whatever in the way
of the session getting down to business
at once and making of it strictly
business session. disposing OF all the
political and semi political questions
with ease.
Legislative Program Next Week.
Unless there is something unfoc-
seen in the way the regular order Will
resu!: & about this program:
Monday-Both houses called to or
der, temporary speaker and clerk aHd
temporary secretary elected. Represen-
tative Fraley will WELD the gavel in
the house, and President Clarke In the
senate Members will be sworn In and
the governor will be notified that the
legislature has met. Probably the per-
manent organization will also be ef-
fected.
Tuesday-IIouses will meet in joint
session ana proceed to the canvass OF
the vote for governor and lieutenant
governor. There being no contest con-
test contemplated, the count will be
largely perfunctory. The address of
Governor Carroll to the legislature will
81 delivered BY him In person and be
read q sthe- Joint assembly.
Wednesday-Unle1s the count Of the
vote II nnished twill be done, and a
start - made IN the matter Of arrang-
inx for rules and the routine work OF
B tho session. .Arra1sesnents.m made forsthe
Inaugural.
Thur.day The inauguration of Gov
ernor Clarke ana Lieutenant Governor
Harding. Oath administered by Chief
Justice Weaver. Address Of Clarke and
outline Of general policies of legislation
and state work. Committees to be an
nounced in both houses.
Committee Work Begins.
The introduction of bills and refer
ence to committees follows at once
upon announcement Of committees and
committee meetings will begin. For
about two weeks the regular order will
be to have each house meet at 10
o'clock q. M. and bills will be received.
consideration Of rules. and other for
NAL matters. In the afternoon Of each
day the committees will be at work.
Few reports will be ready for some
time A few minor bills can be quickly
reported but the larger ones will go to
sub-committees and hearings will be
arranged.
The chief variation from this will be
when the two houses ballot. as re-
auired by law. for United States sena-
tor, and the next day meet and declare
an election. A second ballot, or one
in Joint sAssion, will not be needed. as
each house will show a majority for
senator Kenyon. It Is expected he will
be present and address the Joint as
sembly when his election is declared.
It 10 usual to have a short recess
about the first Of February and visit
ing committees will do their work.
Committees Too Numerous.
All the older members Of the legis-
lature aEree there are too many COM
mittees. Instead Of having commit
tee for each Of tho state institutions
under the board Of control there should
be one committee on state institutions.
Instead Of committees like those on
private corporations. horticulture,
mines, labor. township organizations.
judicial districts. and others, have
them consolidated with larger commit
tees. The bulk Of the committee work
Il done by q half dozen committees In
each house. Some Of these committees
are too large and others too small. But
unless the members themselves agree,
In caucus. or otherwise, to radical
changes, not much can be done for re-
form.
Ways ind Means More Important.
The ways and means committees Of
the two houses will this year have
greater importance than usual. The
reuort Of the tax commission should
naturally 90 to this committee. Very
likely, II this IL done. q sub-commitee
win be named in each house to devote
its time to this subject. Joint COM
mittee mestingS are quite common
when BID matters are being considered.
There IL no topic likely to have greater
attention than the tax question. This
committee viii ALSO handle the matter
of terminal taxation. any proposed
modification Of the moneys and cred
its assessment law, and the. bills for
direct inheritance tax. II there is
speesal tax levy authorized for building
roads by state aid this committee will
have to pasa on the same.
Must Stretch state Funds.
The appropriations committee will
have the usual hard task Of making. or
tryin6 to make II Of the peoples mo.-ey
do the work Of s. or more. The state
treasurer figures 1t out that million
doIIers OF extraordinary appropriations
Is al that could be safely made un-
Nsss It isSOntemplated ii that more ST.
go go TeAr4is to be raised by state
{ tax levy. The state auditor stretches
- 1lsuise nttis. Usually the .p-