Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-02-09

By the governor Of any state. whore II
IL thought the valuations reported by
the commission are not fair and just
and that but thirty days are allowed
after the report is filed for such pro-
test and hearing. If no protest ID
made the valuations will stand as
given for the state named. He asked
for authority and financial power to
conduct statewide investigation. He
asked for an appropriation of $780,
900 to be expended under his dtrec-
ton, or as the legislature might direct,
and for authority to call to his as
sistance any officer or employe OF the
state whose services can be used to
advantage in the matter.
Work to be Done Now.
In abiding to what he deemed the
necessary work of the assembly, to be
completed before declaring the recess
suggested, Governor Harding said:
my suggestion and recommendation is
that you proceed now to make the
necessary appropriations for the bien-
NAL period, and to the consideration
Of general important matters not in
herent in the matters heretofore dis
cussed, neglecting, as you proceed, no
opportunity for repeal of obsolete or
unavoidable laws; take up the ques-
ton of how best to handle the state
printing and binding, and go carefully
into the various road and other meas
ures which now are or may be before
you. Among these questions is that of
the extension of the right Of suffrage
to women, pending before you. The
question presented is not local one,
nor transitory, but involves considera-
ton of fundamental and political civil
rights, which should be considered, de.
bated and voted upon in spirit OF
deepest concern for reaching a right
result. II you shall give these mat
tiers, as l know you will, the attention
and study they deserve, your time will
be fully taken up for reasonable
period. At the end of such period as
shall be reasonably necessary for the
disposition of these matters, urge
that you provide for a recess to day
certain, and this recess be employed
in investigation of the larger matters
first touched on, and in forming q.
definite plan for dealing with them. I
suggest committee from your mem
bership, selected as you shall determ-
inc, to take up the problem Of revis-
ing the system Of raising revenue. a
similar committee to take up the
problem Of overlapping authority, and
the appointment Of small number OF
skilled and competent persons, trained
in the law, to edit the existing codes,
and to clarity and simplify them.
A Patriotic Duty.
Attention was then called to the
fact that the constitution prohibits
any member from receiving additional
pay for services rendered IN recess,
but the governor declared his conf
dence that the legislators would pro-
coed in a spirit which would give no
thought to that If they are convinced
that a service to the state can be rem
dered by the method proposed.
Prohibitory Act Completed.
Both houses have adopted and Gov
ernor Harding has signed the prohib-
itory amendment resolution. Under a
ruling from Attorney General Havner
the house adopted the amendment rs
it came from the senate, with the ex-
ception of correcting the date given as
to when it was signed two years ago
by Governor Clarke. The attorney gen.
eral held that the surplusage Of
language in the resolution referring it
to the next general assembly was not
a defect, that would impair its consti-
tutionality. There were but five votes
against the resolution in the house
and but four in the senate, all repre-
sentatives Of the eastern river coun-
ties, and all of whom explained they
were voting the sentiment of their
constituents.
Hard Shedding for Suffrage.
The suffrage amendment is again In
both houses of the assembly. 1t was
introduced in the senate by Senator
Parker, Of Polk, and in the house by
Representative Murray, of Buena
Vista. Action by the committees hav.
ing consideration of the amendment
in charge is being delayed, and there
are reports that the senate committee
has a majority in favor Of recommend
alton for indefinite postponement. The
legislators who are openly opposing
the presentation Of the matter at this
time are Of the opinion that it would
be useless to submit it so shortly after
its defeat at the polls. The sentiment
in the house seems to be more favora-
BILE, and there may be a reversion to
the old custom of one house adopting
the resolution, only to have it killed
in the other.
For Separate Banking Department
A bill has been introduced in both
houses providing for the establishment
of superintendent of banks and the
of the banking department