The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-29
Des Moines Letter.

Des Moines, May 26.-Political
students here Analysing the situation
believe the next Iowa legislature will
be one to focus it's energy in enact
ment of laws for the elevation and
correction of morals. The recent
legislature it is urged can justly be
claimed an aesthetic body. 1t ap-
propriated money for enlargement
and Identification of the capitol
grounds, provided an appropriation
for erection of beautiful WOman's
building at the state fair grounds,
passed a law to regulate the plant
ing of shade trees, gave additional
power to park commissioners and
river levee commissions.
Economic questions of Importance
it failed to enact such as public
utilities commission, or revenue re-
form laws. 1t did pass working
mems compensation bill but one that
is not mandatory and becomes in
operation merely experimental.
The question of public health and
morals made but slight impression
on the assembly. Adjustment OF
contract labor in prisons was not
provided; the appeal to permit parol-
ing of lifers who have served thirty
years in good behavior was unlist-
ened to. appeal to provide such pay
as would insure more efficient guards
was given but slight consideration,
suggestion to provide care for in
noCent families deprived OF support
by imprisonment of the provlder
brought no del.beration. True, tax
was voted to provide an additional
custodial farm and a woman's REFORM
atory, but as against this, some
fifty new crimes were created to
help populate these. The appeal to
block the progress Of the 'black
plague" resulted in only a law that
will help gather statistics of the
rapidly increasing social menace but
do nothing in a corrective way. True
saloons were abolished from the city
where is located the state university,
but the brewery was permitted to
continue there making liquor. The
legislators cut an hour off each end
of the day that saloons may operate,
but it failed to consider the question
whether or not the sale should be
entirely abolished.
The composite mind of the last as
sembly was turned to the beautiful
from the standpoint of landscapes,
architecture, horticulture, history
(appropriating $4,000 for the his
torical society to print books, etc..
Even the awful death struggle of
Junkin in the penitentiary prison
yard would not arouse consideration
of abolishing the death penalty, even
the assurance of the scientist who
examined that criminal brain that
the man was morally irresponsible,
diseased rather than criminal, could
not awaken consideration to law to
provide medical inspection in schools
to disclose such predispositions and
permit elimination by special train
ing But these are the matters, it
is believed will be given serious con-
sideration by the next assembly-not
because of the theory legislation as
many other things move in cycles,
but because of the universal agita-
ton of the subjects throughout the
state by women's clubs, physicians,
public officials, etc. 1t is quite GER
tain the next legislature will not
duplicate the action of the last in
aesthetic extension and develop
uil GU ClcCllOu VI IAO OAACCu
States senator will eliminate a polit-
ical deadlock such as two years ago
interferred with legislation. Failure
of the last session to appoint COM
missions to study economic PROPOSE
tions and suggest laws which will
eliminate much definite considera-
ton along that line. So it is believ-
ed in view of the present agitation
for better prison methods, more
scientific treatment of persons &C
cused of crime, better methods of
developing children to good citizen
ship, better methods of correcting
evils of those already grown-that
the next General Assembly will CEN
tralize it's efforts along the line Of
making better citizens, hence better
government