Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-08

change saloon consents from signed pc
titions to secret ballot of the voters is
undergoing some Encouragement before
its introduction this session of the leg
islature. The present tentative pro-
gram for this bill includes:
/ Vote on saloon consent at either gen.
eral or special election. at option Of the
petitioners. :
! Same percentage of voters to give
consent as in present mulct law.
| Only legal voters ,entitled to cast
their ballots. -
| Upon failure to give consent, no Sec
end vote for four years.
! Initiative for election to be by petit
ton. 81.
One matter that has caused a great
deal of controversy in the preliminaries
is that of when the saloon consent
referendum to the voters should be
made. There is objection to having it
at the general election because Of fear
that 1t would complicate matters and
drag the saloon issue into that election
to the detriment Of candidates. On the
other hand it is argued that a special
election would be costly, and it is pro-
posed that if a special election is held
it shall be at the expense Of the petit
| TONERS for the same. AS to whether or
not the plan proposed would increase
! or decrease the dry or wet territory,
opinions differ widely among members;
but the bill will be introduced in due
| time and then the discussion will dis
close what is in the minds Of members
The bill Of Wilson, of Appanoose, for
taxation Of hedge fences is an entire
new idea in state legislation. In ex-
PLANTATION it is stated that it has been
found that trees growing along the
highways send out their roots into the
open bitches and even into the tiles of
the drains and have a tendency to fill
| them up; hence there should be pen
atty for permitting these hedges. The
bill proposes to tax hedges Of willow.
Usage and other trees at the rate Of 25
| cents rod. ...e
Illness of members OF the legislature
| has became a-serious matter. Senator
Jewell has gone home and Senator
Francis has gone to. consult doctors.
Senator Ames took a fall out OF the
resolution to penalize persons for hav-
ing anything to do with the contests by
limiting the attorney fees. He de-
clared that contests are not solely for
the benefit of the senate or house. but
the people back in the counties have
some rights and it is due them that
! the legislature should provide for a full
investigation into every election. 1t
should not be made impossible to have
/ a. cnntnSf whEro ic {r n
contest. unless the parties are rich
enough to afford the expense
The 6ebat on the amendment
! of the senate rules disclosed a widely
! different view point of some senator's.
! Senator Smith. of Shelby. was dead
opposed to the limitation of time for
! Introduction of bills and presented it
as worse situation than the Cannon
! rules at Washington, picturing it as an
evil device to put all power in the
hands Of a few committees. He felt
! that every member ought to have the
right to introduce bill at any time
! as might be demanded by his constitu
ents. Clarkson took an opposite view
/ as also did Joe Allen. The latter said
/ that for years he had been aware that
I <
work at the close of the session and
| the necessity for a special Sitting COM
mittee. The legislature should do like
| a court and fix a time at which the
| case must be made up and the issues
! joined. and after watch no new matter
can be introduced. The whole purpose
| of amending the rules is to expedite
business. March 80 was fixed as the
| o. -
|
Members Of the board of agriculture
came back quickly at their critics with
a demand for an immediate investiga-
ton and prompt report Of state fair
| finances. Senator Doran declared that
! the Iowa state fair looks big to the
| farmers Of Iowa, and they Go not want
| anything done to cripple 1t or lessen
it's usefulness; that they desire it 10
be managed in the best possible way.
| for it is their school for themselves
and their boys; and it is only fair that
| there having been cloud placed on
| the management there should be in
| vestigation before the legislature
comes to consider bills relating to the
| fair. Senator Thomas pand a high COM
pliment to President Charles Cameron
of Buena Vista county, and his pre-
decessor, w. w. Morrow Of Union
county, and said that he felt sure both
Of these gentlemen and all their aso-
ciates would wish the fullest possible
| investigation. The committee in charge
| Of the investigation has already agreed
| to commence the work on Monday
with the agricultural department and
to hasten it to q conclusion.
Monday evening there will be con-
ference in the office Of the state board
of control by the joint committees on
board Of control measures and the
state institutions, at which the board
will explain its. position on various
matters. There is need OF amendment
of various clauses Of the statutes re-
lating to these institutions for the bet
ter administration Of the same, as for
! instance, in regard to paroles, to es-