Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-08
WORK OF SESSION DISTINCTLY
IMPROVING AND SMOOTH
SAILING AHEAD.
ATTACKS FROM OUTSIDE
BEING ABANDONED
Prison Reform, Foundation for Good
Roads Legislation, Reform in Court
Procedure, Reform in Assessment
and Tax alton Problems in Fair Way
to Be Successfully Solved.
'ecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March S.-The legisla
tive situation is distinctly improving
Ihis is because il is apparently becom
ing better understood. The program,
stands a better chance of successful
conclusion now than at any time the
past six weeks. A working schedule
of progressive legislation was given to
the assembly. by Governor George W.
Clarke the first week. and it included:
Prison reform TO the end that the
nearly TO conform to the best modern
thought for the reformation of men
and protection of society.
Laying the foundation for a good
roads system, and preparing the way
fer the era of permanent roads. by
such legislation as would give Iowa a
complete system.
Reform of court procedure TO the
end that there be less delay and ex-
pense in litigation and quicker justice,
\ comprehensive reform as &c school
matters with special view to better
ment of school conditions in the small
er schools of Iowa
Reform as to assessment and taxa
ton. and control of public utilities,
with better business system for
county management.
The presidential preference primary,
and referendum Of the woman suf-
frage proposal.
Misrepresentine Clarke.
There has been quite a little mis-
understanding or ignoring of this pro-
gram on the part of persons inclined to
criticise; and members of the legis-
lature have complained very much of
Misrepresentation Of the whole pro-
gram to the people thru those who
seemingly have sought to destroy all
confidence Of the people in. their chosen
representatives. Governor Clarke has
been shamefully misrepresented and
his record falsified so the members
are saying: for right ffom, the start
he has manifested the Hveliest interest
in the whole program. has held many
conferences and aided very materially
in getting matters shaped up for a
successful Legislative. program. There
has been some effort to cause it to ap-
pear that the legislature and the gov
ernor and everybody in authority. are
reactionary and not at all responsive to
the desires of the great majority of the
voters out in the state. All this has
had the effect. so the legislative leaders
say. of seriously retarding progress and
making more difficult the working up
10 the wholesome program outlined at
first
No Change in Program.
II is understood, however, that heavy
pressure has been brought to bear up
on some of the critics of legislation and
under compulsion they have been in
duced to resist. In short. the most
radical OF the opponents of the legisla-
tive program have been shown the wis
dom of coming into the reservation and
being good Indians for awhile; and it
is promised the flood of detraction of
the legislators and state officials will
at least be stayed until after the ses-
sion closes.
AS soon as matters have been suffi-
GENTLY shaped up SO that it will be ap
propriate there will be, very likely, a
special message to the legislature call
ing attention again to the program and
pointing the way for a record that will
be of immense value.
Leaders of the Legislature say there