Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-02-05

the people. They say the sentiment
of the people as whole, on this ques-
ton is not known, that it is one the
people themselves should decide, and
a decision by them favorable to dry
state would be lasting in its effects
and would stop the biennial wrangle
which confronts every legislature UNI
der existing conditions.
N0n.Partisan Law Unpopular.
Bills to repeal the partisan
Judiciary law have been presented in
both houses. This is in line with the
recommendations of Governor Clarke
In his biennial message to the legisla-
ture. The law has been given but one
trial, having been adopted by the 35th
general assembly. There has been
much unfavorable discussion Of the
act, both before and since election.
A second bill relative to this law is
one presented by Senator Hagemann,
of the Bremen Butler district, provid-
ing for separate ballot at general
elections containing the names of
judiciary candidates.
Amends Law Publication Law.
Representative Miller, of Bremen
county, has bill before the house
providing that laws adopted by the
general assembly, and which become
operative by their terms upon publi-
cation, may be published in any pa
per in the state The present law pro-
vides for such publication in two
newspapers Of general circulation, one
Of which shall be published at the
seat Of government. The newspapers
Of Des Moines have joined in a state
| ment to the assembly that they will
not receive and publish the laws, at
the price fixed by the code, as it is
much below the price charged to their
regular advertisers for space. Mr..
Miller's bill would overcome the diff
| ficulty, by having the laws published
in two papers outside of the capital
city, or by weekly here and one out
side paper and thus save the state the
extraordinary expenditure that Is
threatened by the position taken by
the capital city papers,
City Manager Bills Are In.
Two bills on the city manager plan
Of government are before the assem-
bly,, the one introduced in the senate
by Senator Foskett Of Page county,
gives city councils authority to create
the office of city manager and to ap-
point such official. He is to have such
duties as shall be placed upon him by
ordinance adopted by the council. The
MI re Mil
Bloomfield and Charlton have city
managers operating under city ordi-
nances. and appointed in the manner
as provided by the Foskett bill. A
similar bill was presented by Wens-
trand Of Page county. in the house.
Home Rule for Cities.
The home rule for cities bill. faith
cred by the legislative committee of
the Iowa League OF Municipalities, has
been prepared and will be urged upon
members of the assembly by the COM
mittee. The bill gives cities more lee
way in operation than they have at
present, but does not take away from
them in any manner the state police
power and regulation.
To Change Date OF Primary.
Two bills have been presented look
ing to change in the date for the
biennial primary election. At present
the law fixes the time for holding this
election as the second Monday in
June. One of the proposed amend
ments to this law would change the
date to the third Monday in August
This was introduced in the senate by
Wilson of Appanoose. The other bill
is by Bauman of Van Buren, and fixes
the time for the primary as the second
Monday in September.
The measure permitting people
away from home on election day to
vote by mail, and which was defeated
by the 35th general assembly, has been
put forward again.
Hits Divorce Evil.
Representative Rogers, of Carroll,
would take away some of the ease
with which married couples in Iowa
have been able to end their relations,
by way Of the divorce court, by max
ing it impossible to secure q divorce
by default The Rogers bill makes it
the duty Of the county attorney to ap-
pear in all cases where the defendant
fails to put in an appearance and if
he finds evidence of collision between
husband and wife regarding the di-
vorce it is to be refused.
For Panama. Pacific Exposition.
In line with the recommendation
made by Governor Clarke in his bien-
NAL message, bill providing for an
exhibit by Iowa at the Panama-Pacitic
exposition at San Francisco. and max
Ing an appropriation Of $125,OOO, has
been introduced in both houses. The
35th assembly refused to make an ap-
preparation for the exposition, but a
number of prominent citizens Of the |
state took the matter up, canvassed |
Al