Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-04-19
LEGISLATURE ENDS
HISTORIC SESSION
Chief Thing Accomplished Was
II 'Pass the Buck"T To Hard
ing and Smash Kitchen
Cabinet"

Des Moines. Ia. April 16.-The 3Tth
general assembly which closes it's three
months session today, a lay claim
to one distinction, if it can be called a
distinction, without fear of successful
contradiction.
1t was different from the rest.
The issues it's members fought over
most never lived to see the light of
day. The measures to which legisla-
tors devoted most of their time have
not added a paragraph to the code OF
Iowa. MOI all bills fought over were
killed. But those which saw the hard
est trench warfare are now buried in
Somar'S land.
Legislative machinery was choked
the first half of the session by the road
fight in the house. 1t lasted for weeks.
Scores of pages of road legislation were
introduced. And when the ina count
came. every page was slaughtered. The
Dnly real DAD laws adopted came from
the senate whose members dwelt in
peace n harmony most of the time.
Vid bills.
Got Wrought UP.
The last part of the session say a
frantic scramble to undo what had been
Zone earlier. Both houses were Won
derfully successful. Both had discov-
cred some things that had gone on in
The session they didn't know about
when they passed the bills they later
slaughtered so gleefully. The principal
discoveries were the kitchen cabinet"
and Sa%lingerism. So impressed were
they with those discoveries that they
took the 35th general ~assernbly's non
partisan judiciary law and "undid"
hat, all on account of the Salingers,
and added it to the list OF dead legis-
alton together with the famous four
year-term bill and the eighth judge
bill.
A familiar legislative expression is
pass the buck" That's what the
1hirty-seVenth proceeded to do to
Governor Harding. They ignored the
administration NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. re-
lrenchment in state finances. reduction
In number of state departments, reduc-
ton in the number of state employees,
adjustment of commissions, %reorgan-
iZation OF county, city and state gov
inner to eliminate overlapping de-
| parGments-and all. The only part of
the governors program thai reached
first base was code revision and it was
tagged out trying to reach home, the
taggers being the sitting committees.
Feel Good About 1t.
And yet the majority Of the Iegisla-
tors are returning home fairly well
pleased with themselves. They stepped
on" the S%alingers and the Kitchen cab
met" They also managed to slip in
/! some pretty good laws and measures
between fights.
The Salingers, through. the action of
the legislature, promise to be a big is
sue in the next campaign-provided, Of
course, there is no war.
Submission of the constitutional pro-
hibitory amendment was approved by
| both houses and October Is was set
| as the date for the special election.
Important liquor legislation was adopt
ed. but it's Importance was spent by the
! action Of the courts in sustaining the
| validity of section 2419 of the code,
| which denies Importation of liquor for
| personal use.
The circle was also returned to the
ballot, a step very much desired by re-
| publ,cans. The offices of state printer
! and state binder Were abolished with
| little fighting, but with much pleasure
to James Nj. Pierce, editor OF the Iowa
| Homestead. The fire insurance rating
| bureau law was repealed on the ground
that it created a monopoly hat had
raised insurance rates in the state.
The presidential preference primary
| was abolished as an unnecessary nui-
| sance. The election Of state superin-
| tendent of public instruction was re-
turned to a vote OF the people.