Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-17
SENATE R[lDI %
QUIZ, HOUSE NOT
REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SOME
BUSINESS THEY DESIRE TO
DISPOSE OF.
UPPER HOUSE WILLING
TO ADJOURN SESSION
Legislature Still in Doubt Early Today
as to Exact Time Of Concluding
Some Measures Still in Conference
Between Two Houses-Senate Backs
Up Gu 500 600 Appropriation.

Des Moines, April 17.-When the two
houses met Saturday morning the un-
answered question was, VIII there be
adjournment today?'
A good many have been answering
it for several days, but the trouble has
been lack of agreement in the answers.
The fact remains, however, that the
period OF legislative elaboration OF
proposed measures has passed. AT this
stage of the game nothing is done save
to accept the say-so of somebody else
and go it blind. Bills are seldom read,
roll calls are informal. amendments are
slapped on in haste, voting is done as
suggested by neighbor or member
of the third house.
I'VE are ready to quit SO far as the
senate is concerned said President
Harding at the close last night. There
| is really nothing of great Importance
! at stake now. We can finish up all the
| bills that must be passed on Saturday
and adjourn"
1T will not be possible to really
finish" said Speaker Atkinson last
evening. There are at least seventy
| five senate bills in the house that
ought to be acted on. If it is done
there can be no adjournment this
week."
Bills Still in Conference.
Two or. three of the bills that went
to conference were disposed of yester-
day; but the Thomas bill on county
school book uniformity was still under
consideration, also the board of con-
troll appropriation bill. In the former
an agreement was secured for fairly
good law, but it will take fighting to
get it thru against the wishes Of big
lobby. In the board of control bill the
conference committee was packed
against the custodial farm and wom-
ems reformatory equipment.
The house timidly adopted an ad-
journment resolution just before TAX
ing recess for supper, and then tied it
up so the senate could not get hold OF
lit House leaders really feared to cut
the strings and let the senate have its
say-so now. If there is adjournment
today it will have to be decided on
| with a snap and be carried with
rush.
| The senate should dispose Of the
board OF education personnel before
quitting. Probably this can be done in
few minutes any time. But to quit
today means long and hard days
work.
Long Controversy Closed.
An interesting little controversy
which had been hanging fire long
time was closed up yesterday. 1t was
over the Helmer bill to increase the
maximum amount which might be re-
covered by a husband for loss of a
wife in accident because Of love and
affection. etc. Two years ago 1t was
made possible, for the first time, to put
it up to the jury to consider this at
all, and a limit of $4,000 was fixed.
One house wanted to remove the limit
entirely and the other fixed it at $780,
900, a conference committee fixed the
limit at $4,000 which was accepted.
The senate very quickly disposed OF
the scheme to again reorganize the
state board of health and virtually
make it an adjunct of the state uni
yersity. The plan was to put on the
board a majority of members who are
Of the university faculty, then nomi-
nally leave headquarters at the state
house, in connection with Al TRICKS
labor bureau But the bill was liter
ally ridiculed off the map.
Amusing incident.
A funny thing happened yesterday in
connection with the salary raises. Bills
have been passed making many
changes in county officers salaries,
raising some and lowering others. The
senate passed a bill which forbids any
person elected to office accepting, in
any way, any increase in salary dur
| ing the term for which he was elected.
| If it passes the house all the reduc-
tons in salaries will go. but not one
of the increases. The fees Will be cut
off but no corresponding raise in
straight salaries anywhere along the
| line. OF course it was intended the
house should kill the bill but house
members also are looking for a chance
to make a record" on which to run
again.
The printing and binding matter was
r.,t out of the way easier than had
been anticipated There was very little
interest in the matter save sort OF
spurious interest in part stirred up for
political reasons. The plan adopted OF
revision OF the rates TO be paid is one
long urged and considered but not I'M
til now made possible. The saving in
this connection with what can be done
| if a document editor Is selected who
has the courage and the ability and
disposition to do the right thing is
selected. The legislature. however, at
tached a salary which indicates little
desire to get the right kind Of a man
for the place, as anyone accepting it
will make a sacrifice.
Senate Kills Valuation Appropriation.
The best fight made, tho losing one,
was made by Senator Allen yesterday
| for the 100000 with which to make a
start for the physical valuation Of Iowa
railroads as a basis Cor assessment and
J rate making. The appropriations COM
mittee had recommended the bill for
$50, Gee <o7 carrying on the rate case
prosecutions by the railroad commits
sion. Senator Allen offered an amend
ment to add 100000 for the physical
valuation He carried it by Just Is
votes and then passed the bill. Later
in the day Thompson, who had voted
for the bill backed up and moved q
reconsideration and with Thomas car
ried the amendment to defeat, after
which the bill was passed.
| Educational Bills Unehanssd.
The triumph Of the session. however.
was scored when the house. an well as
the senate, accepted without change Of
a dollar. the edsieationa! institution ap-