Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-03-19
LEGISLATURE MAKES
SLOW PROGRESS
Vast Amount of Work Before Session
Inpedes Legislation.
SEN. KENYON TO EULOGIZE
LARRABEE TOMORROW
White Slave Traffic, Good Roads, FL
ections and Sanitation Receive
Consideration. Definite Pro-
gram Will be Followed.

With a vast amount of work and
hundreds of measures before it not
yet disposed of, and spring rapidly
approaching, it is incumbent upon the
lawmakers Of the state, or "law-kil-
lers" we wish we might call them, to
get busy. Thus far the season has
becn devoted largely to the introduce
tion e bills and their consideration
before committees. From now on
they will be reported out to the house
and senate, and will be debated and
passed upon as rapidly as possible.
During the past week since our last
report a special senate committee has
agreed upon bill to create a COM
mission for an investigation of white
slavery in Iowa as recommended by
Governor Clarke. The commission
will exist for two years and report to
the next general assembly.
Senator Thomas of Union has in
troduced bill to knock out white
slavery by fixing a minimum wage
scale of $1.25 day or $3.50. a week
for all girls and women who work.
Senator Balkema has introduced a
substitute good roads bill for the
joint committee on highways. 1t puts
the qualifications of county engineers
under the power of the proposed state
highway commission and fixes the
dean of the engineering department
at Ames as member of the commits
sion.
The house passed non-partisan
judiciary bill which provides for, a
partisan primary and non-partisan
election for the choice of judges. The
bill was so amended as to lose the
vote of its author, Klay of Sioux, on
final passage.
The house has passed the Whitney
sanitation bill for the inspection Of
all places where foodstuffs are sold
and a license fee of So to be paid by
every place inspected.
A definite legislative program is
contemplated in senate resolution
offered by Senator McColl of Dallas,
which recites that there are matters
of great Importance before the legis-
lature, that the time for adjournment
is approaching and the people have
demanded legislation on certain large
subjects, therefore that the following
matters shall have precedence of con-
sideration by the senate:
Appropriations, n"
Public utilities,
Penitentiary and prison reform,
Workmen'si compensation act,
Schools, tha
Roads, a.
Reform in administration of tax
Law, 80
Extension of capitol grounds,
Industrial disputes act.
1t Is suggested that the senate may
from time to time fix the order of
precedence within this important
group of subjects. The precedence
shall be only between the hours of
10 a. m. and 4 p. rns~-when the senate
is in session. II is therefore left open
for the early or late hours for the
small business of the session, like
raising salaries, legalizing acts and
doctoring insurance laws.
This is definite program to which
legislators, In consultation with the
governor and other state officers have
been working right from the start.
Doubtless similar program will be
adopted in the house.
During this week feature will be
a joint session on Thursday morning
when Senator VIM. S. Kenyon will
deliver eulogy on the late Gov. VIM.
Larrabee. 1t is known that there was
a very close bond of affection between
the veteran statesman and the young
senator and there is no doubt that the
memorial service will be fine one.
The record of the past week, tho
not without some interest, does not
show up very we'll with work actually
finished. A goodly number of bills
were made ready for the signature of
the governor, but none of the class
regarded as of first Importance.
Undoubtedly the most important
bill that got through both houses dur
ing the weeks the McColl bill to cut
OF the perquisites of the school treas
urers. 1t provides that they shall not
be paid any salary and that the school