The Oskaloosa herald., 1915-01-14
IOWA ASSEMBLY
NOW IN SESSION
. 4 :IlII.I FOR WORK
WHACK OF GAVEL AT 10 A. NJ
CALLS soLoNs TO ORDER.
LEGISLATURE TO BE A BUSY ONE
Membership This Year is Dry, Very
Dry, and Legislation Along That
Line is Sure To Occupy Much
Time of the Session.

Line Is Sure To Occupy Much
Time of the Session.
Des Moines, Jan. 11.-With the
whack of gaveIs In the senate and
house chambers at ten o'clock today
the Seth general assembly got away;
on the regular biennial session. In
the senate, Lieutenant Governor Har-
ding OF Sioux City, who succeeds him
sell, has fight on his hands over the
appointment OF the standing commit
tees. The "drys" threaten. to take
away his power unless he is good. In
the house S. B. Carton, senior mem
Der from Polk county, called the men,
bers together and the republican
nominees with Big Bill Atkinson
from Butler county for speaker, were
elected ana indicted into Office. The
house committees win not be named
for several days. Committees to
arrange for the Inauguration of Gov
ernor G. w. Clarke for his second
term were named by both bodies.
Following the example of President
Wilson, Governor Clarke will read his
biennial message to the joint session
of the senate and house tomorrow
afternoon. Arrangements were made
today following the selection of the
republican states and the organization
of the senate and house.
a "Drys" Win Victory.
i' The "'drys" won their first victory
in the seth general assembly this
morning when Chas Miller of WAY
erly, long known as a friend of the
VETS" was defeated for the nomina-
ton as speaker by the democrats of
the house in caucus and G. H. Bau-
man of Van Buren, county was nomi-
mated in his stead. BaIman is a
dry" Allan Kane. another dry"
man, was nominated floor leader, dis
placing Miller, who has held this po-
sition for a number of years.
Legislators Look Dry.
A glance over the senate and house
indicates that the membership this
year is dry, very dry. Perhaps the
prohibitory amendment viii not be
ordered submitted to the voters, per
haps the mulCt law will not be re-
pealed, perhaps still another crimp
may not be taken on the drug stores.
But If all three happen, no one need
be surprised.
The temperance workers have or
ganized and already have their lobby
at work, and of late years there APP
pears to be more method, more po-
litical horse sense in the dry cam
paign than ever before.
There has been talk that the sena-
tors who are dry may try to take
n I
ding the appointment of standing
committees on the ground that he
has damp" not to say wet" at
mosphere about him at times, but this
will not develop until tomorrow. In
the house it is probable that some
of the strength which elected Atkin-
son speaker was wet" and could do
nothing else after Brady had an
nounced that he would not accept
wet votes as a gift. .
Many Bills To Be Considered. T.
Many measures of state wide i'm
portanCe will come before the legisla-
ture. To begin with there is the re-
port of the retrenchment and reform
committee, which desires to give the
state the short ballot" that is allow
the governor to name number of
state officers now elective; consoli-
date a number of departments and re-
organize the executive council.
Then there promises to be fight
over the good roads law, some of the
former members being anxious to
curb the power of the state highway
commission and return the authority
to the county supervisors and the
township trustees.
A Glance at Big Program.
There are no startling innovations
in sight, yet there is a big program
of legislation. Just glance at these
subjects sure to come up:
Revision of the primary law, per
haps to set it back nearer to election.
Revision of the judiciary elections,
so that partisan combinations will not
be possible and so that the names of
judges will rotate on the ballot
The initiative and referendum, so
that voters can start something"
themselves.
Absent voting, provision like the
Kansas law, so that travelling men can
vote by mail.
Taxation, some system that will in
fact place taxes upon the right people.
Home rule for cities, movement to
head off a corporation movement for
a public utilities commission to man
age the gassst electric light, water |
woTkssand street car lines.
County and city management A |
plan to extend the commission form"
of government to counties, by abol- |
Il
and electingN supervisors at large.
Public utilities measure, teachers
pensions, equal suffrage, prison re-
form, industrial insurance, Greater
Iowa movement, guarantee of bank
deposits. preservation of lakes, public
health, reorganization OF the Iowa Ma.
tional Guard, labor legislation, and
large number Of other measures are
slated for consideration.