Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-03-14
ROAD bills CLAIM
ATTENTION OF HOUSE
HIGHWAY BILLS FURNISH EX.
CITEMENT. AMENDMENT ELEC-
TION BILL PASSES SENATE.
TIPPING LAW is DEFEATED
Elimination of Grade Crossings Ex-
Pensive. Old Soldiers to
Vicksburg.

Penslve. Old Soldiers to
Vicksburg.
(By J. w. Jarnagin)
Des Moines. Iowa, March 10, 1917
The general assembly reconvened
Tuesday, March 6, after ten-day re-
cess. Both houses got down to busi-
mes and proceeded to clear the cal
endar of important measures that had
been accumulating ever since the ses-
sion opened Thus far number of
bills have passed one branch or the
other and from now the outlook is for
vigorous action. McFerren, of Hamil-
ton, introduced the first of the week
concurrent resolution fixing March
81 as the date for adjournment and
this is subject to action any time. It
is not believed however that adjourn
ment can be reached before the Sec
ond week in April.
Highway Bills Furnish Excitement.
Friday had been fixed before recess
was taken as the date for taking up
the highway bills which have been be-
fore committees ever since the legis
lature convened To complicate mat
ters still more Shortess, of Tama
and Larson, of Montgomery, intro
duced bill that retains the highway
commission, which has been the real
bone Of contention, and makes various
and sundry amendment to the present
law. When the time arrived for the
special consideration Of the various
bills there was large number of Wis
itors on the floor of the house and
the galleries were filled. Elwood, of
Howard, was recognized BY Speaker
Pitt and the Elwood- Mackie bill which
! came up as an amendment to the Pitt
Johnson bill, was taken up. Mr.. Ell
wood gave concise and forceful pres
entation of the bill, showed wherein
it differed from the other measure and
pointed out the improvements over
the present law. He read telegram
from the department in Washington
approving its provisions for accepting
federal aid Rogers, of Carroll, next
took the floor and offered an amend
ment, to the Elwood- Mackie bill which
struck out ali reference to receiving
federal aid and substituted a
highway commissioner in place OF the
highway commission. This amend
ment to the amendment precipitated
a general debate upon the entire high
way proposition. Weaver. of Polk,
Mackie, Of Benton, and e,KLnker OF
Crawford, supported the highway com
mission and the amendments in the
present law provided for in the Ell
wood -Mackie bill Roberts, of Ring
gold, Crozier, of Marion, and Tucker,
of Clinton, talked against the highway
commission. Some of the addresses
consumed from one to two hourh and
it was six o'clock before adjournment
could be had and this by tie vote,
the speaker of the house breaking the
tie in favor of adjournment. Friday
night was given over to caucusing.
kilograms and petitions had been
rolling in all day and by night dele
cations representing the home folks
began TO arrive. Both sides worked
desperately to line up the wavering
members an not since the memorable
senatorial fight between Gear and
Cummins has there been such an ex-
citing time in legislative circles. Sen
! ators were interested and many of
them listened to the debate and were
| in conference with the friends of one
side or the other during the exciting
scenes of Friday night at the Savery
hotel
Saturday morning found everybody
expectant and cautious. The house
was to have convened at nine o'clock
but when roll of the house was
called Richards, of Muscatine, was
found to be absent. The sergeant at
arms was instructed to bring him in
and it was nearly ten O'Clock before
\ he located him at his hotel his ex-
/ planation being that he did not think
the house convened until 10. The
discussion of the road question was
taken up at once. Johnson was the
! first speaker in defense OF the meas
lure which bears his name. Lee. OF
Sac, followed and he in turn ,wss FOL
/. lowed by Giltner tof Monroe. Tne
nroJfous question: was moved by Lee,
4m Sac, but was defeated by "a to 81.
a vote on motion by Rogers was Of
fered and it resulted 81 to 54. 1t
was quite evident by this time that
the house was tied and every effort
made to adjourn or to recess failed
and finally vote was taken upon the
| same vote of 81 to 54, and not having
received majority it was declared
lost. The question again reverted
upon the Elwood -Mackie amendment
and when Elwood took the floor he
gave way to Larson Of Montgomery,
who moved as an amendment to the
Elwood- -Mackie measure the Larson
Shortess bill. This still further tied
matters up and it was soon evident
that neither side could extricate itself
unless some one wavered which was
not in evidence when the legislature
ii, compliance with joint resolution
adjourned to witness parade and re-
view by the members of the Second
regiment just back from the border.
To Encourage Night Schools.
Representative John w. Rowley, Of
Van Buren county, is the author of a
bill that would be of great value in
cities and in mining communities. It
permits school boards, of any organ
ized district in the state, to maintain
during a certain number of evenings
in each week, a two hours school for
pupils over 16 years of age who are
unable to attend day schools. Under
this bill adults, of limited education.
may attend. The measure is intended
for the young men and young women
who are compelled to work during
the day in order to make a living and
who desire an education.
Vocational Trimming.
On being apprised that President
Wilcon had signed the Smith Hughes