Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-19
IOWA HOUSE PREPARING FOR
LINE. UPON BILL TO ABOLISH
TWO STATE OFFICES.
COMMITTEES TO REPORT ON
CHASE BILL IN SENATE
Vote on New Highway Measure Prob.
ably Will Not Be Reached Until Next
tae ~ F.l.sa .Uat,
Week--Pitt. Johnston Crowd Working
For Compromise on Road Legislation
Road Patrol Has Little Opposition.
Special to Times : Republican.

DeS MolneS, Marcn ~. Inc HOUSE
faces a fight this week on the Helming
bill to abolish the state printer and
binder. 1t may not be reached on the
house calendar for several days but
nevertheless there will be more or less
/of line up of forces on the bill before
1t gets on the floor.
The Chase bill, removing the state
highway commission to Des Moines,
having the two deans of engineering of
thefwo state schools as members to-
gether with third to be appointed by
the governor, probably will be acted
on by the senate committee early this
week. 1t is hardly likely to come up
for a vote in the senate this week.
The friends Of the highway commits
sion are predicting its defeat with con-
fidence.
If the bill ever reaches the floor Of
the house it will find the same lineup
against it that opposed the Pitt-John-
ston measure, so the Ellwood leaders
say. In fact the friends Of the high
way commission may gain g. few re-
cruits against the Chase bill. At any
re, they say the same fifty-four votes
can be counted on which defeated the
Pitt Johnston bill.
Seeking Compromise.
AS was outlined several days ago
following the defeat Of the Pitt Ohm
ston measure the policy Of the friends
of the administration from now on vii:
DE to cement together as much as pos
sible the two road factions in the in
terests of further legislation desired by
Governor Harding. Otherwise 1t is
realized the administration bills may
get nowhere. The way was paved for
this bringing together of both factions
at meeting held early last week. The
code revision bill suggested by the
governor, was framed to meet the
wishes of both factions and the COM
mittee appointed to draw up the meas
ure, in accordance with the governors
suggestions, includes both Pitt and
anti-Pitt men.
The governor expressed the wish
that no sitting committees be ap-
appointed if it were possible to get
along without them. At least to defer
the time for appointing them. 1t was
realized that the killing off Of bills in
the sitting committees would create
more or less dissension and that the
factional spirit would thereby be kept
alive.
No Division or Foster Bill.
The Foster roal patrol bill, which
passed the senate with but little OPP
position, probably will be; passed by
the house before an6ther week. There
is no factional divisfoH on this bill. It
is looked upon rs an economy meas
ure as II makes it possible ito keep up
the roads from day to day thus avoids
ing the serious washouts which create
big expense. Under the provisions
Of the bill the supervisors are required
to appoint these road patrolmen. It is
not optional with the boards. They
must do 1t.
For many years England has had a
road patrol system. tits said that the
work has been passed from father to
son for generations and same FAM
lily has taken care OF the same stretch
OF road in England for generations.
Two Important Bills.
One of the most important measures
passed last week Is considered the
county farm agent bill Of which SEN
ator Arney. Of Marshall county, is the
author. The bill passed both the sem
ate and the house and will become a
law on signature by the governor. It
provides for $4,000 annually county aid
to the farm improvement associations,
with 200 members, who are employing
a county agent.
The bovine tuberculosis bill, passed
by the senate last week, may be passed
by the house this week. The biggest
argument for this bill appears to be
that Iowa cattle and hogs are discrim-
mated against by the packers because
Of their tendency to tuberculosis. That
the packers bid less for them because
the state is so seriously infected with
the disease. Much more so in fact
than Nebraska and states farther west.
1t appropriates $4,000 for the fund
and imposes tax Of 2 cents per head
per year on cattle and cent on hogs
to create a permanent fund.
Adjournment April ~?
The legislators will be unwilling to
remain in session longer than the mid
die of April so that April IA Is now
being fixed as the date for adjourn
ment. This will make exactly four
weeks more including the present
week. Whatever legislation has not
been acted on by that time will die a
natural death, according to present In
dications. for 1t Is apparent the men,
bers have their minds made up not to
stay longer than the middle Of April
and that they viii be unwilling to stay
from their own private business longer
than that.
The house Of the Iowa legislature
Saturday. With Speaker Pro Tenn Arch
McFarlane, Of Black Hawk county, In
the chair, passed twenty-seven bills.
by far the record Of the present ses-
sion. This Is the third time that the
regular elected speaker pro tenn has
been in the chair since the opening Of
the session.
For Honest Advertising.
The fraudulent advertising bill which
was fathered in the senate Of the
Iowa legislature by Senator Caswell, Of
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