Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-18
Special to Times Republican.

| may be the exact time for the fina
| breaking upsof the Thirty fifth genera
assembly the situation has changed $,
materially in the past two days that i
can rev be said fairly that-t the session
can and will finish it's work in excel
lent manner and with due regard FOL
| the proprieties. A great transforma
ton has been effected by the brusilinE
aside of a number of big bills tina,
nave stood in the way of general legis-
lauon, such as the bill for tax reform
the bill for Workmen's conrpensat ito,
and the bill for utilities commission
So long as any one of these was no.
finally disposed OF it was idle to tali
OF fixing date for adjournment With
them out of the way the two house:
put on extra speed and proceeded Il
clear the calendars rapidly.
Adjournment can now be taken al
most. any time with members feeling
that the business of the session vii
be closed decently and al least Will
as much elaboration and judgment as
that of the former sessions.
More than go general bills have
been passed. besides the fifty or more
special and legalizing acts.
In the matter of appropriations tbs
committees avoided A dilemma of moSt
serious nature by shifting to a millage
tax proposition the needs of the state
institutions. This enabled the commit :
tee to cut the askings of a million and
a quarter 10 about $500 900. Then
S125,0Q0 IS to go TO the chemistry
building a Ames $4,000 for the WON :
ems building at the fair. $4,000 for
the serum laboratory, $4,000 for cat
tie industry. $4,000 for the railroad
commission. and some other sums for
the support OF the colleges and in
creased compensation to officers and
the needs of new offices. SO in this
way the extraordinary appropriations
for the session Will be kept down TO
not more than a million and quar-
ter dollars.
Point With Pride to These Laws.
AS members are beginning 10 pack
up in readiness to go home they have
been reckoning on the fruits OF the
session and find there is much about
which they may well boast They have
Almost completely reorganized the
educational system of the state BY bills
relating to the state department of ed :
ucation and the county sUperintend-
ency, giving added power TO the de-
partment, providing for thorough su-
pervision Of schools. giving state aid
for better schools and generally max
ing big forward step for more educa-
ton especially in the rural schools.
Taken a big forward step for get
ting back to the people by approving
formally and completely the plan for
amending the state constitution to give
the people a right 70 direct vote on
matters Of legislation. and not only
giving the right TO vote but giving that
right to ali without regard to sex.
Given great additional powers 70
cities in the matter of handling public
improvements and in taxation and as
sessments, right to enact building
code. fire limits and provisions for all
cities TO go under commission plan
City funds are to bear interest.
Provided for state inspection OF
county accounts. required contracts
for feeding prisoners, etc.
The supreme court has been en-
larged and two new judges added and
a long step has been taken toward
court reforms
The administration of highway laws
and the handling of road funds has
been placed on a business basis.
The great progressive step OF the
legislature is the workInen's compen-
sation act to give Iowa a modern sys
TEN for settlement of damage claims
purSiGp Of court
Enlargement OF the state capitol
grounds and provision for upbuilding
Of all Iowa institutions.
Very little Will De added to this ex
tensive program before the close OF
the session: but the declaration made
the other night al the banquet by
more than one speaker that the record
OF the session will show more and
better legislation than any in all his
tory of the state will bear comparison
with the record even as made 10 date
The bills which have been enacted
into law follow.