Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-25
stitution while the present resolution
merely injects the amendment directly.

stitution while the present resolution
| merely injects the amendment directly,
Senator Frailey Is author Of bill
| to give the power to license and regu-
late the jitneys.
| The house, with short time ahead,
wasted an hour passing a bill by
Witthauer to legalize and recognize
lobbyists, and incidentally to require
them to register and wear badges, etc.
The fight over the uniformity in text
| book bills is becoming fierce. There Is
conflict between two bills-one fav-
ored by the school men and educa-
| tors of the state, the other wanted by
the big textbook companies. big
lobby has been maintained and much
effort made at juggling the whole sit
uation.
The house passed the bill to appro-
pirate for the railroad commission IN
the matter Of making investigation into
rate matters. This will certainly pass
the senate and enable the railroad
commission to go on with the work
which has been done the past four
years.
The insurance bill prepared under
the direction of the state insurance de-
partment to prevent rate cutting ana
discrimination in insurance rates
passed the house. 1t will give the de-
partment large power over insurance
rates and the adjustment Of contro-
versies regarding rates.
With the democrats almost solid in
their support Of the proposition or
Shaeffer, of Appanoose. the house
voted Yesterday to reconsider the vote
by which it adopted the report of the
committee on constitutional amend
ments recommending indefinite post
ponement of the initiative and referen-
dunn proposition.
1t was the first time Of the session
when there had Seen anything ap-
preaching partisan solidarity on any
proposition. Because or the indorse-
ment their platform had given the
initiative and referendum. the demo-
Gratis supported the plan to save them
from defeat by this general assembly.
Republicans were bound by their
platform also to the support of the
two new popular government instru-
ments. but many republicans refused
to idorse the plan which the Thirty
fifth general assembly had adopted.
They characterized it as a dangerous
one in that it permitted one congress
sional district to defeat the interests
of the whole state.
The house passed yesterday bill to
restrict the practice of lobbying in the
Iowa legisla ture. Out of 50 votes cast
there were only Z against the measure.
Under it's provisions every organiza-
ton. corporation, firm, or group Of in
dividuals wishing to influence legisla-
ton would be compelled to file with
the secretary of state the name or
names of the person or persons en-
ployed to represent them. the amount
of their compensation, and the gen.
eral nature of the legisla ton in which
they are interested. The names of the
lobbyists, with this information, would
be entered in a book which would be
subject to public inspection.
Two months after adjournment Of
the general assembly every individ-
ual or organization so represented
would be required to file report Of
the amount paid to the lobbyist and
all expenses Of his work. Failure to
do so by the end Of the two months
would subject the organization to
penalty of 800 a day thereafter I'M
til the report was made.
An important provision CT the bill
would make it unlawful for any state
officer or employee to urge members Of
the general assembly TO increase his
salary or to pass bills affecting the
institution in which he is interested.
The bill would prohibit absolutely
lobbying on the floor while either
house Is in session.
Each section of the bill contains an
important proviso that permits any
citizen of any legislative district to
talk with the representative or sena-
tor from his district upon any matter
before the legislature without danger
Of being subjected to the penalties,
which are fines up to $1,000 and service
in Jail up to one year.
The house passed the bill almost
without discussion. 1t came up at 1:30
o'clock as a special order was ex-
planned briefly by the author and went
to a vote, which resulted in it's pas
sage by a large majority.