Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-14
pAeNEY RULES, ADOPTED At
LAST SESSION NOT INCLUDED
IN TEMPORARY RULES.
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
NOT MADE Up OF LAWYERS
Committee on Ways to Be Made UP Of
Forty. One Members, ~ Under Old
System - Number Of committss
Clerks Not Reduesd-spsaker Cum
ninsham Makes. Good Impression.
Special to Times Republican.


Des Moines Jan. 1.-two reform
moves were hard hit in the legisla-
ture, one in each house, on the first
day; but their opponents will be able
to make good showing that as mat
ter Of fact neither one was very much
Of a reform.
Right at the outset the house pro-
ceeded to undo something that was
done by the house near the close Of
the last session and which was then
featured as a great reform triumph. 1t
related to the number of persons OF
the committees. When the house
adopted it's rules for temporary use
it took those Of the last session, ex-
cept as to rules Is, ~ and -. AS
these rules We're not In the printed
book Of rules Of the last session Very
few knew to what the exceptions re-
ferred. A search OF the index OF the
House Journal failed to show any rel
erence TO any such rules. But some
members remembered. Along near the
close of the session Representative
Dabney, of Davis county, secured
adoption Of three rules. One of them
related to committees. 1t liked the
number of house committees at %, or
one more than at the last session. II
provided for limiting the number OIL
members of committees to from to
20 each. 1t provided that the judiciary
committee should consist of the law
yers Of the house. 1t provided spe-
cial committee on retrencnmelt and re-
form.
Committee Of Lawyers.
Now if the house had adopted the
rules of the last session without max
ing any exception, Speaker Cunning
ham would have found himself in q
pretty box. AT the last session the
committee on ways and means had Il
members. The Dabney rule would
have cut it to %. So also with several
other of the big committees. But 1t
would also have fixed his judiciary
committee definitely to consist merely
of lawyers. Some sessions ago Speaker
George w. Clarke set the fashion Of
placing on the judiciary committee
members other than lawyers and with
most excellent results. 1t has gener-
ally been followed since. Last session
there was on the judiciary committee
good members like Johnson. Larrabee
belief prevails that it is not wise to
have any committee made up OF solely
persons from any one class OF profess
sion.
AS for the committee on retrench-
ment and reform the Dabney idea was
to name four members from the house
instead of having the chairmen of the
three leading committees be members
OF this joint committee, as provided in
the code. 1t would have been lille
gal.
By it's action yesterday the house
left the hands Of Speaker Cunningham
unfettered and he can make the COM
mittees to suit himself.
Stenographers Are Retained.
The senate did not take kindly to a
proposal that the number of commit
tee clerks be reduced. This proposal
was made by Senator Larrabee and
backed by Senator McCon. In recent
years the custom has grown up OF hav-
ing fifty clerks, or one for each men,
Der. The house some years ago pro-
vided for smaller number and for an
examination as to competency and that
stenographers be available for all
members, and it has been found to
work very we'll. But the senate is not
that way. The Larrabee proposal was
to reduce the number to thirty-one
giving each Of the three leading COM
mittees clerk, and then grouping the
others. That would have cut off an
expense of about $500 a week. Senator
Clarkson declared that it would be poor
economy, and in fact not economy at
all, for it is Highly important that SEN
ators have their work done promptly
and each senator should have a ste
nogra pler. This idea was echoed by
Weber, Spaulding, Thomas and others,
and on vica voce vote the Larrabee
proposal was lost.
Speaker Makes Good Impression.
Speaker Cunningham rather sur
prised many by the eloquent and prac-
teal remarks he made on taking up
the gavel. He spoke with deliberation
but what he said was most excellent.
He would preside with impartiality,
members might differ as to politics,
but they are unit in their desires for
good legislation; they have the same
ambitions and aspirations and all want
good government; legislative results
are that which all are seeking, no mat
ter how much members may differ as
to details. He pleaded for legislation
that would bring to Iowa the millions