Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-14
mentioned before.
Dill Not Nailroadod.

Oil NoS UooVfOS0O0s $l
It has been said by way OF criticism
that the bin providing for the extern
sion was not fully considered and was
railroaded thru the Legislature. Nothing
could be farther from the truth. AZ !
stated In the beginning, the matter
had been in mind and recommended by
governors for years. l was lnaugurRted
on Jan. Is and on the 26th day OF that
month there WAS q meeting OF senators
and representatives to consider the
question which lasted two hours. 1t
was discussed constantly from that
time on to its passage. In all my ex-
perience l have hardly known OF
measure that had more publicity or a
subject more fully discussed. A. early
as about the Goth of February two diff
ferent plats of views OF the grounds
according to the plan proposed by the
landscape architect. in size about AxO
feet and framed were on constant ex-
hibition before the members and the
public and were seep and examined
dare say not only by the members but
by scores Of people from all parts OF
the state. On Sunday. March 2, there
was published in the Register and
Leader under the heading in large let
:ers across the page, Allison Monu-
ment and Proposed Improvement OF
the State House Grounds" the views
referred to and the subject was dis
cussed On the 18th Of March there
was conference for the consideration
Of the subject at which there were
present nine senators and ten repre-
sentatives. The bill was strenuously
urged during the entire session by re-
publicans and democrats alike and
both parties were represented at every
conference. The bill was finally drafted
with three proposed boundaries OF ex-
tension and introduced in both houses
on the Attn Of April. 1t was consid-
cred in the appropriations committees
of both houses. When introduced 1t
was printed in both journals with
plat Of the largest proposed boundary
and additionals Of said plat were laid
on the desk Of every member. On the
fourth day Of April 1t was made spe-
cial order for the Sth at 10 o'clock.
thus giving four days notice that at
that time 1t would take precedence
over everything else and be considered.
Every man had this opportunity to pre-
pare any support or opposition he
might desire to make. When the time
came 1t was discussed pro and con and
passed by an overwhelming majority.
Then a motion was made to reconsider
and was laid on the table and the bill
messaged to the senate. There the
same Identical bill had already been
considered by a committee and recon-
mended for passage SO the house bill
was substituted for the senate bill and
passed In both houses it was voted
for by both democrats and republicans
substantially in proportion to num-
bers. Twenty seven democrats voted
for the bill and twenty against it.
Among those absent or not voting were
three democrats who had attended the
conferences and spoken enthusiasttcal-
ly for the bin and two Of them espe-
cially urging the provision for antic-
ipating the tax. The whole history
and record of the subject shows the
most unusual publicity and discussion
and completely refutes the charge Of
"raiiroading" which is made simply
to prejudice the minds of the people.
Not Des Moines Proposition.
1t is also said that it was Des
Moines proposition. But Des Moines
did not propose capitol extension. No
man is a good citizen who will de-
=, liberately try to prejudice the minds OF
the people. No lobby appeared from
any place for this bill. ] do not be-
lieve member Of the legislature can
be found who will say that citizen OF
Des iMoines ever mentioned the sub
ject to him. do not believe one can.