Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-03-12
Both Houses of Iowa Legislature Pass
Suffrage Amendment.
COMMITTEE REPORTS AGAINST
SHANKLIN LIQUOR BILL
Progress of Iowa Legislature to Date
Shown i'm Report of Measures
Passed Since Opening.


ported it, and as a result has dispos-
ed of few of the most important
questions before it, For the first time
in history Iowa through its legislat-
ure has declared itself in favor of
woman suffrage. The demand of the
people of the state for better road
work has thus far been answered in
new law not yet passed, which is
an advancement, but lacks the force
and strength and positiveness it
should have. Other road laws will
aiso be considered. Taxes, schools,
railroads, public utilities, liquor traf-
fic and many other important prob
iems are yet to be solved.
Action of the legislature during
the past week makes it certain that
when the next campaign approaches
candidates for the legislature will be
asked to state their position definite
ly on two questions. In the first place
the Oregon plan has become a law.
Under the provisions of this every
candidate for the legislature may file
with the auditor an affidavit that If
elected he will vote for that person
for United States senator who re-
sceive the highest vote in the prim-
AIRY, regardless of politics. This is
getting as near popular election of
senators as possible under the state
law. Operation of the law the first
year In its mother state resulted in
electing a republican legislature
which was compelled to elect DEM
'ocratic United States senator. Many
politicians predict similar fate for
Iowa.
Then the two branches of the leg
islature passed the joint resolution to
amend the constitution so as to pro-
vide woman's suffrage. If the next
legislature also passes the same res
olution the proposition to amend the
constitution will then be submitted
to the people at the general election.
The amendment as passed by this
assembly was cleverly devised by the
.shffragettes so as to leave on the stat
ute books no record that there ever
had been any distinction in favor of
the male sex. The senate also passed
the Ohase bill to submit the question
OF suffrage to the women alone at
the next election to learn their true
sentiments. If this should pass the
house the members of the next as
sembly will have definite means of
knowing the real sentiment of the
women of the state as a whole.
Members of the legislature who are
urging establishment of a permanent
tax commission are attempting to
withhold from introduction petitions
sent them protesting against the
commission and as substantiation are
pointing out that there is an appar-
ent organized effort being made to
get the petitions. The similarity OF
the pet&5ons. their printed form, etc.
would Indicate this clearly. There
usually tsssome organization behind
a general protest. Be this as it may,
however, the fact remains that thou
sands of farmers have signed them
and an effort to intimate that the
farmers were coerced is a reflection
.on their judgment.
The Blackford bill, designed to
change the present method Of election
in the State Agricultural society by
providing each district elect its own
member instead of the present way
OF letting the whole state select the
member, was sent back to the COM
mittee.
II the Public Utilities Commission,
the Permanent Tax Commission, the
Employers Liability Commission, are
established by the present legislature
it is estimated one hundred and fifty
new state jobs will be created.
Representative Klay has introduc-
Su Dill 10 aDoliSn the right OF ap-
peal to the court of doctors whose
certificates are. revoked by the state
board of medical examiners.
The senate killed the bill to permit
Iowa bankers to loan money on real
estate mortgages in adjoining states.
The state legislature has brought
important matters Of legislation to
the following stages at the close of
this week:
Representative Brady has introduc-
ed bill in the house for law to
provide that county boards of super
visors may order permanent roads
and assess the cost to property own