Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-01-15
The IOWA LEGISLATURE
One of thee ,st Important Sessions
in M.nyS ars Convened on
nday.
THE FINAL NIL AGE
OF cow NOR CARROLL
Iowa's Business G rnor Recon-.
mends Many II i,rovements.
Cunningham Elected Speak
er of the House.

VI tue Sldtc VI lOWd COu'cucu at ten
o'clock on Monday morning, in one
of the most important sessions OF
Iowa's-- legislative body in many
years, because of the fact that an un.
usual number of radical changes in
our laws are proposed.
For several days the members OF
the assembly have been gathering at
Des Moines, to be on hand for the
opening of the session. There was
much speculation as to the speaker
ship of the house of representatives,
but the matter was settled at the
caucus on Saturday, when Edward
H. Cunningham of Buena Vista coun-
ty was selected for that honor over
Klay of Sioux county, by vote of
3S to "a, among the republican mem
bers. Other candidates for this po-
sition had withdrawn before the eau
Gus assembled.
Monday was devoted to the organ
ization of the house and senate. tenn
porary officers being selected, and
the governor notified that the legis-
lature had assembled.
Yesterday the house and senate
met in joint session to canvass the
vote on governor and lieutenant gov
ernor, and today to hear the final
message of Governor Carroll read,
which sparkled with suggestions for
improved social legislation. He made
three most striking declarations: :
That women should vote, this be-
ing the first time an Iowa governor
has ever recommended equal suff-
rage in his message: that state SUI
pervision of municipality operated ut
ility plants is as necessary for pub
lie protection as control of private
corporations; and that the basis fix
ed by the Working Mems Compen-
sation Commission for computing the
value of a mans life is on too high
a percentage of mans earning ca
pacity.
Relative to state supervision of
public utilities, the governor came
out flat-footed in favor of the Crist
bill, introduced at the last session of
the General Assembly, which pro-
vided for the removing of all super
vision of public utilities from the
control of cities and towns, and vest
ing such control in the hands of the
state commission which is proposed
to be created by an elaboration of
the present railroad commission. Mr..
Crist, who was last session a men,
ber of the house, Is this year MEN,
ber of the senate, and in view of the
governors recommendation will in
all probability, reintroduce his bill
as a senate measure. Two years ago
he supported this upon the argument
that public ownership has not been
ace to the present form of republican
government.
Relative to the Working Mems
commission, appointed by the Gener-
al Assembly two years ago, the gov
ernor gives an exhaustive discussion,
but points out that the Iowa Com
mission suggests the computing of a
mans injuries or death upon sixty
per cent of his average weekly earn
ings, whereas in most other states
and countries where laws of this ma
ture have been adopted, the basis of
computation has not been fixed on a
higher basis than fifty per cent of
the earning capacity In this re-
spect the governor says: There is
danger that the payment of so large
per cent might furnish an incent-
i've for malingering. 1t is my under
standing that fifty per. cent of the
average weekly wages is the amount
allowed In most other states, and has
been found to work very satisfactor-
n.y.. The recommendations OF the
governor, briefly summarized, are as
follows:
Enlarged Capitol grounds.
Erection of Judiciary building.
Iowa soldiers home coming cele-
bration.
Making Labor Commissioner dep
uties, hotel inspectors.
Increased appropriation for man
ufacture of hog cholera serum.
Appropriation to fight foul brood
In bees.
Womap's building at State Fair
grounds and establishment OF Child
Welfare League.
Creation of Office of State Sheriff.
Enlargement OF duties of Commerce
Counsel.
Creation pf an Arbitration Board
tr t.'c ,"tuS disputes