Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-28
Mia Inspectors Bill.

MihA Inspectors Bill.
State mine inspectors explain that
the mine inspectors bill which the
Thirty-sixth general assembly will be
asked to pass. is not for the purpose
OF extending the terms Of the inspec-
tors but to correct an error made by
the Thirty-fifth general assembly.
The mine inspection law as 1t has
been on the books for the last two
years has been worthless, owing to
an error made by the hcuse OF the
last general assembly, it is said. The
bill as il passed the senate provided
that the inspectors shall have four
year term As it passed the house
1t provided for six year TENS for the
inspectors. The bill was not return
ed to the senate in the amended form
but sent to the governor to be
signed The law appears in the code
supplement as 1t passed the house.
The inspectors have said nothing
regarding the fault in the law during
the last two years because they, said
that If 1t were known that the meas
ure was worthless the mine opera
tors would have refused to obey the
inspectors instructions.
Senator Frederick Larrabee of Fort
Dodge will introduce the new bill in
the senate. The inspectors do not
take advantage of the six year term
which the house was willing to give
them last session. The bill provides
for four year term. No mention is
made that the present inspectors are
to continue in the jobs under the new
law. The inspectors are taking
chances that the governor will reap
point them. The present inspectors
are: John E. Jeffrys of Abba for
First district, r. It. Rhys of Ottumwa
for Second district and Edward
Sweeney of Des Moines for Third dis.
Eict. The positions pay salary of
$1,s00 year.
Votes for Women.
The general assembly OF Iowa in
1913 passed joint resolution amend
ing the state constitution in such
manner as to extend the right of
suffrage to women. II this amend
ment is to become effective it must
be again passed by the general as
sembly this winter and later ratified
by the people of the state at popu-
lar election. Consequently the advo-
Gates of woman suffrage in Iowa will
await with much anxiety the action
Of the legislature on this topic dur
ing the next few months. The move
ment for equal suffrage is by no means
new one, either in the United States
in general or in Iowa in particular.
as Is shown by Professor F. E. Hor-
ack in a paper recently published in
the "Iowa Applied History Series" by
the State Historical Society. Ever
since the civil war;" declares the writ
err, "equal suffrage has been ques.
tion of biennial recurrence in the gen.
eral assembly of Iowa. Through the
efforts of a small but persistent
group of men this subject has per-
sistently found its way into the rec
ords of every session of the state
legislature for nearly half century"
Now that the amendment has passed
one session of the legislature. how
ever, the leaders in the movement for
equal suffrage feel encouraged to ex-
ert every effort to insure ultimate
success.
Successor to ketchum.
Governor Clarke will be asked TO
make an appointment Immediately to
fill the vacancy on the railroad CON-
mission, owing to the volume of BUSH
ness the board has to dispose OF The
illness Of Mr.. Ketchum during the last
six months prevented him from TAX
ing an active part In the delibera-
tions Of the, commission. Many
hearings were postponed with the
hope that he would recover so as to
participate. gYs 0a
The governor in his biennial mes
sage recommended that the legisla-
ture make the Office of railroad COM
missioner appointive. II this is done
the board will be nonpartisan and
there probably win be required that
ut least two political parties shall be
represented. However. 1t is said that
the governor. will not wait for legis-
lative action on his Recommendation,
but will fill the board as it Is now
organized so thatlit can proceed with
its business. Some Of. the measures
before 1t are over year old.
A bill has been prepared to be in
troduced in the legislature ina few
days which will place the telephone.
and telegraph companies under the
railroad commission and provide that
the commission be increased to five
members.
81 ggah
Farm Stock Sales.
Refusal of the federal authorities
to permit farm stock sales in john
son, Jones, Jackson, Clinton, Cedar
and Iowa counties, until sixty days
after the last case of foot and mouth
disease has disappeared in each. prob
ably will result in the Iowa legisla-
ture taking hand in the controversy.
Delegations representing the six
counties called on Governor Clarke
and the executive council asking for
removal of the ban on farm sales. No
action was, taken pending the result
of a recommendation made by DR.. j.
I. Gibson, state Veterinarian, that the
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