The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-03-25
OF IOWA
NOT COMPETENT
ARGUMENT USED AGAINST I'M.
TIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
SENATOR OISLIKeS co. OFFICERS
Drainage Bill Has interesting Phases
of Smfrage-Torrens Land Title
System Will Be Before House
Sitting Committee at Work.

Des Moines, March 24-The people
of Iowa are not competent to initiate
Legislation nor are they competent to
use the power of referendum.
! This argument was used by Repre-.
sentative Klinker of Crawford coun.
ty, republican member of the house,
today in opposing reconsideration
OF the vote by which the resolution
for the submission of the amendment
to the constitution providing for the
initiative and referendum was indefi-
nitely postponed, but Klinker's argu-
ment did not prevail as the house by
a vote OF So to 40 passed the Schaeffer
motion to reconsider and then upon
motion by Elwood ordered the resolu-
ton placed on the calendar for pass
age. A spirited fight preceded the
vote in which democrats and republi-
cans lined up for the first real parti-
san clash of the session.
Both parties endorsed the initiative
and referendum in their party plat
form and the democrats headed by
Rogers of Carroll accused the republi-
cans of repudiating their platform
promises to the people. The demo-
Gratis lined up almost solidly for the
of the vote and Joined
by insurgent republicans had sufti-
clent strength to win by bare major
ity. The resolution for the submits
sion OF the amendment has passed
one session and requires only a sec
ond passage to be presented to the
people.
Klinker was the chairman of the
committee on constitutional amend
ments which recommended indefinite
postponement. In his argument,
klinker exhibited several large bal
lots several yards long from Califor-
MIA and South Dakota elections show
ing various measures the people yot.
ed upon. Klinker argued that the
people have not asked for this power
and do not want it. -...... . Z. .. .-.~
DisIikes County Officers.
Senator c. c.. Helmer of Carroll be-
lieves he has discovered way to
stop county officers Hobbies at state
legislature and at the same time do
away with petitions to members to
increase salaries. He has introduced
a bill to effect this cure. 1t provides
that every candidate for nomination
for a county Office shall at the pri-
mary declare himself willing to work
for the salary at that time and to ask
no increase during his term OF office.
With such pledge he believes Office
holders would be less interested in
urging increases. His bill was intro
duced after the senate had considered
and amended laws to increase salaries
for county auditors, clerks and record.
erS.
Drainage and Suffrage
A drainage bill prepared by eX-Sen-
ator Hosue which passed the House
and now. is before the senate presents
some interesting phases of suffrage.
1t provides that on drainage ditch
questions women may vote, and prop
erty owners may vote for each year
they have paid assessments. Hence
man who has paid assessments for
three years has three votes as against
the man who has paid but one and the
fellow having the biggest property in
terests gets the most votes under the
schedule of suffrage.
Torrents Title System.
One OF the most meritorious bills
now on the House calendar to come
up for consideration it that by Greene
for the establishment of the
Torren's Land title system in Iowa.
This does away with the need of long
abstracts. 1t is now in use in the two
largest counties in Minnesota, where