Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-07
STATE LEGISLATURE
IN BUSY GRIND
LAW MAKERS, THROUGH COMMIT
TEES, SITTING THE CHAFF
FROM THE WHEAT.
TO AMEND IOWA ROAD LAWS
C Constitutional Amendment Passes BY
Vote of 100 to 5.-Teachers' Pen.
sion Bill Is Introduced.
BY J. w. JARNAGIN.

BY J. w. JARNAGIN.
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 3, 1917.
The past week was largely given
over to the consideration of bills by
committees. Interest centers in a
highway bill soon to be presented by
Chairman Johnston's committee which
Is said to eliminate objections to the
Johnston bill two years ago. 1t is said
to declare in favor Of accepting the
money proffered by the government,
but it replaces the highway commits
sion by substituting state engineer.
The bill is carefully drawn by sub
committee and will pass censorship by
caucus and those opposed to the
highway commission before it is intro
duced.
Gov. Harding's Special Message.
Friday noon in the presence of a
joint session Of both houses Gov. Hard
ing read his first appeal to the general
assembly. He asked the appointment
Of special committee to revise and
report on existing tax and revenue
laws; similar committee to investi-
gate state, municipal and county gov
ernment. and to report its recommen-
dations of laws to eliminate overlap
ping authority, useless work, unneces-
sary expense, and needless offices and
officials; the appointment Of COM
mission to revise the code; an appro-
priation of $780, 900 under his personal
control to check the report soon to be
made by the interstate commerce COM
mission fixing valuation on all rail-
roads in the United States; warns as
sembly that suffrage amendment
should receive careful consideration
and asks the legislature to complete
pressing legislation, including road
law revision, and to adjourn for sixty
days, to meet then to adopt the recon-
mendations Of the three committees
to be appointed in line with his sug-
sestlons.
After the Cement Trust. d
Weaver, of Polk claiming to have
evidence conclusive that combination
Of cement dealers have boosted the
price 27 per cent within year and
exacted concession and restrictions in
making contracts that are arbitrary
and against public policy, has present.
ed joint resolution which provides
that the attorney general be directed
to inquire into the existence of any
combination to maintain. cement prices
and to inquire as to whether there are
sought to be imposed illegal restric-
tions by cement manufacturers in re-
straint of trade and in violation of
law and public policy, and to report
his conclusions to the general assoin-
bly, by written opinion and in the
event such combination and restric-
tions are found to proceed with the
prosecution of the guilty parties.
Convert County High School Into State
Normal.
The only county high school in the
state is at Panora, Guthrie county
The buildings, equipment and grounds
are valued at 100000. Foster in the
senate and Reed in the house have in.
troduced bills offering this property a
free gift to the state on condition tha,
a normal school be established and
that $4,000, a year for support be pro.
vided.
Measures Now Pending.
A large number of bills have been
introduced in both houses. Among
the more important the past week may
be named the following: Increasing
per diem of members of boards Of su-
pervisors to SO; increasing salary OF
supreme judges from $4,000 per year
to $500 per year, and increasing sal
ary of district judges from $500 to
$4,000; requiring issuance Of number
plates for auto license annually after
Jan. /, 1919; amending consolidated
school election laws so that towns and
all outside territory vote separately
on proposition; making titles more
than twenty-five years established in
contestable; fixing penalty Of $500 OF
six months Imprisonment for issuing
checks upon banks where party has nc
account or insufficient funds. if intent
is to defraud; placing moving picture
shows under censorship, subjectine
them to being deemed nuisance te
be abated by Injunction; repeating the
anti-cigarette laws and providing fol
the licensing of the sale of cigarettes
and cigarette papers; making deputy
county superintendent appointive by
the county superintendent with ap.
proval of the board of supervisors and
providing for fixing of deputy's salary
by the superintendent; maximum hour
bill for women, limiting their work tC