Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-14
READY TO ADJOURN
BEFORE MIDNIGHT
Road Issues Dominated Early Part Of
ssssien-War Legislation During
Past Two Weeks Crowded to Fore.
srsund-sharp Contests Over Many
Measures.
Special to Times-Republican.

today in accordance with the resolu-
tion passed by both house and senate
some weeks ago. During the closing
week OF the assembly night sessions
have been held by the house in order
to complete its work. Many bills have
failed Of passage during the last week.
however, for lack of time in which to
gain full confederation for them.
Out Of some 1900 bills introduced in
! both branches about one-third have
been enacted into law.
The session has been characterized
by factionalism growing out OF the
road fight and issues which entered in
to the campaign OF last fall. This tied
UP LEGISLATION more or less during the
first half of the session.
Road Issue Dominates.
Tho dominating issue during the
early part Of the session was the road
yquestion and the effort to abolish the
state highway commission as embodied
in the Pitt Johnston bill. This was set
tied late in the evening OF March 10,
however, after two days deadlock. in
which the Pitt-Johnston bill went
down to defeat. Following the defeat
OF this measure factional lines did not
appear to be 50 closely drawn.
In the last days Of the session war
legislation crowded to the foreground
The military committees Of the two
houses came to be the most important
committees. The assembly authorized
the appropriation Of $l,000.00o as war
FIND &c be expended under the direc-
ton OF the governor and the ad1utant
general for raising an army and meet
ing the emergencies Of war. 1t Is ex-
pected that portion Of this money, al
least, will eventually be refunded by
the federal government Both the
house and senate appropriations CONF
mittee turned down a request for an
appropriation for 100000 to promote
conservation Of food stuffs and the
raising ora big crop this year. 1t was
to have been expended under the di-
rcction Of the state agricultural ex-
tension department at Ames and the
question Of good seed. catch crops in
case of failure Of early sown crops and
other crop emergency measures were
te be looked after The action on this
request was deferred by the appropri-
atoms committees until yesterday
Other war measures tending to afford
protection to the property and lives of
the people Of the state and to encour-
age recruiting and the men in the SER
Wee were adopted. Il. & %. .st.s n
j Yesterday the house defeated the BILL
which had passed the senate providing
for code revision. This was one Of the
measures in which more or less fac
tiOnalism existed. The main reason for
It's defeat however, was the fact that
1t would cost big sum of money and
In the war times it was argued that all
possible expenditures must be cur
tailed.
Other Measures Bring Contests.
In addition to the road bill the hard
est. fought battles Of the session were
over the following measures:
The adjustment of the office Of
state printer and binder as provided
for in the Helming bill This was an
administration measure concerning
which Speaker Pitt announced after
the road fight that it would be the next
big fight in the house. 1t proved to be
but the administration bill went down
10 defeat A substitute bill, drawn by
Stone Of Sioux county and Miller Of
Boone, was adopted. This provides for
the nbolishment of the Office Of state
printer and binder after 1919, specified
that all work should be let by contract
and further provided that no contracts
should be let at prices greater than the
maximum prices specified under the
old state printer and binder law.
The eighth Judge will which would
have provided an additional judge o;
the supreme court. This measure,
known as the .Epps bill, passed the
house and also the senate, but the
senate tackled an amendment to it pro-
3viding that the appointment of the
Judge must be confirmed by the senate.
In the debate in the senate ), it was
charged that the supreme court now is
not doing any more work with seven
judges than it had done with six ana
figures we're brought out to substant!-'
ate this argument. So when the bill
went back to the house for concur
renee on the senate amendment the
fight was renewed and the bill was de-
feated.
The non partisan judiciary law. The
LEGISLATORS battled more or less over
the repeal Of this measure from early
ia the session but did not manage to
net the law repealed until two days be-
fore adjournment when It was knocked
out In both the house and senate thru
an amendment to; the Kdmball election
bill.
The four year term bill. The meas
.ure managed to get thru both house
and senate before any opposition was
aroused. It provided for four-year
terms Of the county Offices but made
the four wears effective as regards
treasurers. clerks and auditors In 1915,
thus adding two terms onto those now
holding those positions, and not APP
plying to the other county offices until
1920 The bill was finally killed in the
senate by recalling 1T from the enroll
ing clerk ana py a similar action in the
house.
\ The effort to repeal the so-called
'blue" laws or present Sunday laws.
ThH was fought out in the house only
yesterday when a bill which had passed
the senate making 1t possible for towns
over 500 Inhabitants to vote on the
opposition OF whether or not amuse-
mef,ts should be permitted on Sunday,
went down to- defeat.
Important Session Fsaturss.
some Of the important features Of
The session were the following:
THE adoption OF the prohibitory con-
StlfutionA amendment and the fixing
81 special election date on Oct. Is.
asche people will then8vote on scnnstitu-