Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-22
ovERSHADoWS ALL OTHER
QUESTIONS TO COME BEFORE
LEGISLATURE.
TEMPERANCE MEASURES
MEET LITTLE OPPOSITION
Revision Of Election Laws, Insurance
and Other Questions Fail to Generate
Personal Feeling Manifest Among
Highway Factions in House - Pros.
poets Of Early Adjournment Gone.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 22.-With the first
two weeks Of the Iowa legislative SEES
sion over, during which much Of the
time has been consumed in the organ
ization, the present week promises to
be one Of real activity in the matter Of
introduction and consideration of legis-
lation.
In the way OF legislation the prompt
action of the senate in adopting the
prohibitory amendment was the out
standing feature. A similar action on
the part of the house which is sched-
uled for Thursday Of this week will be
be taken up to the legislature to fix a
time for holding the special election to
vote on this.
Road Question Dominates.
However, there is just one question
before the present legislature which
overshadows all others In matter Of in
terest and feeling and that is the uues-
ton of roads. The temperance meas
ures are going thru with but little OPP
position. The revision of the election
laws is Of course a matter Of impor-
lance and interest and the same Is true
of the insurance laws. Law enforce
ment measures are also arousing inter-
est. But on none Of these questions is
there the personal feeling and evident
concern that there Is in road legisla-
ton.
Roads was the dominating feature Of
the gubernatorial campaign and of the
fight for speakership and it is likewise
the one big issue before the legisla-
ture.
Just as it is in all matters of legis
lation where there is an impending
fight the real road bills which will pre-
cipitate the fray will probably not be
introduced early in the session. The
opponents Of the highway commission
law will be the aggressors in road leg
islation and the friends of the commits :
sion law will be on the defensive. The
Johnston road crowd fgrom which will
emanate the anti-highway commission
LEGISLATION Is evidently studying the
prospects diligently. Apparently 1T is
not a question with them 6f going as
far as they wish but Of going as far
as they may. That is they want to get
rid of the authoritative power of the
highway commission and apparently to
substitute some other measure which
will in their judgment work out more
satisfactorily to their home supervls-.
ors.
As a matter Of fact there are many
divergent views in the house on the
roads question even among those who
supported Speaker Pitt for his position.
The Johnston road crowd probably Will
have big conference soon on the road
question. This faction wants to be sure
OF its votes before launching any bill.
Roads in Senate.
Over on the senate side Senator
Ralkema, chairman Of the highways
commission and father of the highway
commission law. is framing up some
bills calculated to make the execution
of the highway law more smooth. Two
road bills were introduced last week.
one In the house and one in the senate.
The house bill. fathered by Representa-
tive Dean, Of Osceola county. would
take away the supervision OF roads on
the part of township trustees and lodge
It in the board of supervisors. The
senate bill, introduced by Senator Hol-
doegel. of Rockwell City. would give to
the highway commission power to su-
pervise cuts and fills and the putting OF
roads to grade, which power Is now
lodged with the county supervisors .
The equal suffrage amendment may
come before the general assembly some
time this week. The leaders In the
movement are apparently undismayed
BIZ past experiences and hope to have
the amendment pass both this and the