Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-02-12
Many Important Matters are Now Tn.
der Consideration.
COMMITTEES ARE BUSY
SHAPING LEGISLATION
Something of the Progress Made b!
Iowa Lawmakers i'm Framing
Legislation During Past
Week.

During the past week the iowa leS-
islature has spent its time in hard
work, the committees giving careful
attention to the various important
matters before that body. In each
department there has been plenty to
Keep the committees busy, and before
many days some of the most import
ant matters will be on the floor of the
Two bodies for discussion and final
disposal. 1t is the general opinion
that the present legislature, the most
important in many years, is compos-
ed of level headed, conservative, wise
men as a rule, men determined to
work for all the people of Iowa, with
out regard to politics or faction. The
Des Moines Capitol says, with refer
ence to this.
The general assembly has been in
session now about one month and it
is apparent that the membership is
above the average in intelligence and
that there is patriotic spirit and a
genuine desire to serve the state Po-
litical or other factionalism has not
disturbed the membership so far The
senators and representatives are Civ
ing careful thought to the two leading
propositions which relate to schools
and good roads. Some OF the mem
Ders had given great thought to these
themes before they came. They have
given more thought to them since the
session began. We believe that wise
legislation on both schools and roads
will be the outcome of their deliber-
lations. The state has had great deal
OF anxiety and the people have writ
lien many letters to their members
Letter writing to members is always
good thing. The senator's and rep
resentatives are part of the people
and they want to hear from their con-
stituents. The session has been de-
e,aedly agreeable so far.
BY continuance of the present
policy of sticking to business, aiding
Eetrenchment and reform and taking
big problems in all their deserved ser
iousness, the Thirty-fifth general as
sembly will merit the approval of the
state.
Following is the present status of
important legislation in the Iowa gem
eral assembly:
Good Roads.
The subcommittees of the senate
and house committees on highways,
working as joint committee, have
soon will be presented to both houses
as a committee measure.
Prohibition.
The house has passed a bill by al
vote of 50 to 80, for a daylight clos
ing law for saloons.
The senate committee on the sup
preston Of intemperance has a bill
under consideration to amend the
Moon law so that licenses for saloons
may be granted at the ration of one
Tor each 100 lawful signers of saloon
petitions of consent instead of one for
each 1000 of population as at pres
ent. Schrupp of Dubuque is the auth
or of the bill.
Action on a resolution to vitiate
the recent Endorsement of the Ken
ycn-Shepard bill is held in abeyance.
State School Fight.
Plans for a compromise have been
abandoned and the fight will be
fought out on the floors of the two
houses. The first public hearing Will
De held on Thursday afternoon, Feb.
18th, at l o'clock in the house cham
Der before joint assembly of the
house and senate.
State Normal Schools.
Favorable report is promised by
the committee on educational insti-
tutions in the senate on the bill by
Smith Of Shelby for three new state
normal schools, the sites for which
are 10 De chosen by the state board
of education.
Race Intermarriage.
The Miller bin to prohibit the mar
riage OF whites with negroes is on the
calendar for debate in the house. 1t
was recommended for indefinite post
ponement by the house judiciary
committee, but the house overrulec
the committee and ordered the bill on
the calender
Votes for Women.
Resolutions for proposed change
in the constitution to give the right