Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-01
IOWA SOLONS PEACEADLE
Work is Progressing with View Of
Compromise Over Matters Where
There is q Difference.
TEMPERANCE PEOPLE ACTIVE
0From : $40 correspondentl


The most significant feature OF the legis-
lstive session OF the Thirty-sixth general
assembly thus far made evident 10 q gem
ersl disposition to harmony and arrival
Of results by compromise and concession,
rather than fighting it out.
There have been no bitter words in ses-
sion or IN committees. There has been
no sharp contest for control OF this OF
that measure. Only few Of the mem
bers have started in 70 run things with a
high hand and they are not getting very
far with their asgressiveness. A few are
exploiting themselves in every possible
way. but II Is we'll understood that this il
because they are candidates for some
thing else and desire the advertising for
other purposes.
There has not been, thus far. any dis
sension over appointments to office. The
governor sent to the senate for confir-
nation the names OF a number OF his
recess appointees. and all who have been
reported on have been confiraoed While
there was some effort 10 make political
capital out Of the perhaps unfortunate
-radicalism of the governors remarks In
his message. yet there is no resentment
against the governor and in the end there
win be filed a report on the matter
which caused the ruction that will make
plain to the people that some conditions
deserve criticism and that honest efforts
are being made to correct them.
wet ana Dry Fight.
A strenuous effort has been made to
stir up strife over temperance questions.
II seems to have failed. From the very
first the dry forces have been engaged
in exploiting the alleged bis fight over
the organization They have fairly
flooded the Legislature with bills. They
have twisted everything into a wet and
dry fight. But the situation has not
changed a particle In regard to these
meters and, in truth. most OF the mem
bsrs look upon the temperance leglsla-
ton as political matter thrown in to OBJ
struct legislation. There il not, as yet,
any serious division on the temperance
question. The control is with few who
refuse to get excited one way or another.
The flood OF bills presented at the be-
binning OF the session presents nothing
essentially new. There are bills to regu-
late almost everything. A larger number
of bills affecting railroads are here, and
some OF them with merit. There are bills
TO license plumbers, BARRIERS, chiro-
practors and others Bills affecting
county officiels are numerous. number
Of the bills before the legislature are
really to correct paIpable errors found In
the Code. largely BY reason OF the Code
revision. A few bills to raise salaries
have been introduced.
The only big appropriation bills In
sight as yet are those to give for the
Iowa exhibit at San Francisco and TO
give 10 the losers by reason OF the fight
on foot and mouth disease Both OF the
bills are recognized as having merit, but
OF course all appropriations will be made
In the light OF what is 10 follow.
two subjects here mentioned will con-
sumo fifth OF all the available funds
for extraordinary expenditure, IL allowed
Highway Ensineers.
The State Highway commission has is
sued orders TO the effect that persons eni-
pIoyed as county highway engineers must
cut out the private work and devote
themselves to the public business Dur
ing the last year there has been much
complaints about some OF the engineers
having several positions or doing work
for severa maaterls. Trouble has arisen
largely from this situation. In one county
an engineer had one work for two or three
cities and towns and for half q dozen
drainage districts all at one time. with
the result that he did not get along very
we'll with the county work. It is declared
that as the work Is progressing. even in
the smallest OF the counties there viii be
enough work to take up all tho time OF
q ~
also issued a statement to the Boards
OF Supervisors asking them to be sure 70
employ only competent engineers. as II
pays at all time to employ only good
engineers. To do this It win be found
necessary TO pay good salaries.
It Is expected that ali possible COM
plants as to highway work and as to
engineers and the commission will be
aired from time TO time before the legis-
lature. Already there are indications that
some OF the senators who opposed tho
highway commission plan and favored
the old way Of making roads. and some
OF the new members elected to make war
on the highway commission. win bring
before the legislative committees all
who have grievances against the system
and that the legislature viii hear every
thing that can be said against the COM
mission.
Discrimina ti0n.
A somewhat unusual lawsuit has been
started in district court on the ground
OF Discrimination II IL claim OF Sil.ooI
rebate from the electric light and power
company. as overcharges covering mum
her OF years service TO tho Homestead
company, The company sets up the claim
that while It was paying the regular pub
lisheh card rate for its power and light
a rival concern In the same business. tbs
| Register and Leader company. was en-
gagged IN getting the same power for
per cent lower rates. Reduce OF thil
discrimination the Homestead company
has been held up for over $1,000 and
asks that this be returned TO Il.
Department vtndicated.
Some time ago the state insurance de
partment received from insurance ex-
amlners who made exhaustive investi
cation a report on the office OF managel
OF the Modern Brotherhood OF America
with headquarters in Mason City. TIT
report showed that the accounts OF tn
fraternai association were wen kept
Later suit was brought in court 10 com
Dell the company 20 permit COMMITTEES
of meAbers 10 make = real Investigation