Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-03-25
Reducing size Of Assembly.

The senate committee on constitu-
tional amendments voted out for in
definite postponement the Farr reso-
luton providing for a reduction in
the number of members Of the gener-
al assembly and the Enger resolution
providing for annual sessions of the
legislature.
The Farr measure provided for re-
duction in the number of members of
the senate to not less than 25 nor
more than 33. There are now 80 SEN
ators. The proposed amendment
would cut down the house from los
members to not less than 80 nor
more than SO. The proposition fol-
lowed closely the recommendation of
Governor Clarke In his biennial mes
sage to the general assembly.
The Enger amendment provided for
annual instead of biennial sessions
Of the legislature. One year the men,
bers would assemble for thirty days
to file bills. The following year they
would meet to pass on the bills al
ready filed--no new bills except APP
preparation bills to be 6led, accord
ing to the plan. E
State Printing Reform.
Economy in the publication Of state
reports is the object Of bill Great
ing the office of document editor,
which has been introduced by the
legislative committee on retrench-
ment and reform.
Under the bill that committee VIII
be empowered to name the editor Tor
term of two years, his salary to be
$4,000 annually. The committee will
have power to remove him at any
time 1t sees fit.
The bill is designed to meet de-
mands for reform in state printing.
The principal fault with the present
law is that there is no limit to the
amount of materials which may be
put in report. With this corrected
and an editor to go over the reports
members of the committee believe
thousands of dollars can be saved the
state annually.
May Adjourn April II.
The Iowa senate has designated
April II as the date for final ad-
journment of the general assembly.
Immediately after adoption Of the
concurrent resolution fixing the ad-
journment date, Senator Enger filed
a motion to reconsider. This will
hold the matter up so that the SEN
ate can change the date later If it
appears that the general assembly
cannot finish its work by the time
specified In this resolution.
This action by the senate is said
to be notice to the house that the
general assembly will stay until 1t
transacts its business. 1t is warning,
senators say, that the sitting COM
mittee which has been authorized.
should not be appointed and that the
house should get down to work and
transact all Of the business before it.
Proposes to Cut Salary.
White Of Iowa, county introduced in
the senate a bill to provide for a
reduction in the salary of superin-
tendent of public instruction from
$4,000 to $4,000 year and the deputy
from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
This move is said to be directed at
the superintendent because he began
drawing pay at tho ratio of 81 naa a
year when the law making the Office
appointiye went into effect immedi-
ately after the close of the Thirty
fifth general assembly. Senator White
and others in the senate assert that
the raise was not to take effect until
July /, 1915, when the superintendent
is to begin his first term as an ap-
pointive officer.
A. NJ Deyoe is the present super
intendent OF public instruction. Frank
Joseph is deputy.
Speaker Atkinson's Birthday.
The festivities marking the cele-
bration in the house of the thirty
ninth birthday of Speaker Atkinson
brought into the open the talk that
he will be candidate for lieutenant
governor.
When Miss Mabel Elwood, making
a speech of presentation of the tray-
cling bag given the speaker by the
house employees, suggested that he
might use ii on his way to the lieu
tenant Governors chair there was a
hearty burst of applause in the house.
And friends of the speaker under
stood the talk about his being can
didate is not all a joke--that he is
likely to consider the matter serious
ly.
Free State Employment Bureau.
The house committee on labor has
recommended the establishment of a
free state employment bureau with
headquarters in Des Moines to obtain
jobs for the unemployed of Iowa.
The bureau will be under the sup
ervision of the state commissioner
OF labor and will be In charge OF a
chief clerk named by the commits
sioner. The bureau will serve as a
clearing house both for the unemploy-
ed and employers who are seeking
help.
Sitting Committee Likely.
A sitting committee Of seven mem
bers may be appointed by Speaker At
kinson OF the house. A motion was
filed providing that he shall be given
that authority This is the first step
to hasten the work of the legislature.
Capitol Extension Measure.
The Iowa senate by vote OF 81 to
II killed. the Whitmore bill proyid-
A.. - al