Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-27
|RObD nsAI NEXT
WEEK N A0|)S[:
CONTEXT 10 be PREciPlTATED
EARLY AND ISSUES WELL
DEFINED.
COMMISSIONS FRIENDS
MEETING EVERY NIGHT
Ferty.six Representation Said to BE
Positively Pledged Against Reae-
tionary legislation Maj rity in Sem
aate Opposed to Pitt. Johnston Pro.
gram.
Special to Time,-Republican.

Des Moines, ian. 27.-It is probable
that the fight on the road issue in the
house Of representatives will be pre-
ciptated early next week. Friends OF
the present highway commission law
are meeting every evening to discuss
a bill which will embody their views.
The fight promises to be square toea
between the friends OF the highway
commission and its opponents. The
( claiming forty six representatives who
are positively pledged to support bill
favorable to the commission. In adj
dition there. are some twenty or more
who are classed as doubtful or who
have given no positive assurance as to
what sort Of a law they will favor.
4 On the, senate side it is claimed that
Rthere are at least thirty senator's
i who are positively committed to pro-
Rgram supporting the highway commits
sion. OF the twenty others, the high
n way commission forces claim they will
Ehave q majority when it comes to a
Dvote.
The bill which is being drafted to
Eametd the present highway law by the
Friends Of the commission will, among
Mother provisions, include the following:
|fA reduction in the amount OF money
(which the commission receives from
1Ehe automobile fund and (which sup
RportA the Commission from per cent
TO 3 per cent; the doing away with en-
yineering expense on preliminary work
Inns ofar as possible; the retention OF
the highway commission with a re-
duction OF It's power to some extent;
acceptance Of the 9Shackelford bill for
Eederal aid in. road building.
Backers of this program declare that
Ethe highway commission bill has moro
Friends I'M the house than it had two
RteSrs ago when the Johnston bill was
.5
REpresentatives NJ. J. Randall. Of
Linn county; w. w, Anderson. Of
snebne, and Arch w. McFarlane, of
SNaterieo. are active in organizing the
ahighway commission supporters in the
Mouse.
4 On the senate side, Senator Nicholas
8Ba1kema, Of Lyon county, chairman Of
1.-THE committee on highways, and auth
Ipr ofathe present highway commission
flaw, As leading the highway commits
sion forces. = II T. 81 :,
Suffrage Amendment. 8s &
| The suffrage amendment will be
similar to the one which was voted on
/ last June. If 1T is to carry It will have
to 20 thru both branches Of the legts-
s1ature In this present assembly and the
one two years hence and be voted on
aRaln BY the people-same program
as, carried out sbefore--and- the same
program as is required when any con-
stitutional amendment Is passed.
The women are basing their argu-
ments for the passage Of this amend
ment on the claims that the last cleo
ton was illegally conducted in many
precincts.
In statement given out yesterday
the president Of the w. C. T. u, Mrs.
Ida b. Wise Smith, declared that the
Nv. C. r. III, makes no accusations OF
collusion Of fraud in the suffrage cleo
ton.
I'VE feel that In this case as in 9TH
ers Ignorance of law or any other rea-
son is no excuse for failure to comply
with law" said Mrs. Smith.
Mrs Smith explained that the suit
brought in connection with the inves-
tigation Of the organization was instl-
tuted for the purpose Of preserving the
ballots cast in the suffrage election o.
June 5, otherwise they would have
been destroyed Dec. 5.
The offices Of the w. c. T. U. yes
terday issued a challenge to Charles
Mclean, Of Dubuque, to debate with
John b. Hammond, of Des Moines, the
question as to the legality Of the SUI
frage election. In a letter published IN
iaDes Moines newspapers Mr.. Mclean
defended the Legality OF the specia.
election on suffrage.
John B. Hammond made the investi-
cation OF the election for the Women.s
organization on which they are basing
their suits.
/. ls5 Labor Explains Bill.
5Ists REPRESENTATIVES. Of organized labor
Yesterday argued for the passage OF
the ar,ti-injunction law before joins
meeting Of the labor committees q
bothShouse and senate.
Grant Hamilton. Of Washington. y.
a.. legislative agent for the American
g1yedera ton of Labor, explained the BILL.
a similar bill Is being asked Tor IN
eight different states at this time
The Bill would prevent the issuance
8of iniunctions in labor troubles except
IN cases where property is being de.
sstroyed or where other statutes 40 not
cover some misdemeanor.
1--WE want to be made equal Detore
IN II