Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-02-14
LAWMAKERS KILLING
MANY FREAK BILLS
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ENDORS-
ING PRES. WILSON IN STAND
HE HAS TAKEN.
CHANGES IN ELECTION LAWS
Over Half Million Dollars Spent In
Elections in State During
1915.
(By ]. W. Jarnagin.)

DcS MOIucS, IOWA, FEBRUARY lU, 1J1
Various COMMITTEES have been busy
the past week wedding out measures
that are introduced in order to please
some folks at home but which are
wholly without merit. Freak bills
therethere have been a-plenty. Nearly
800 bills have been introduced in the
house and about $50 in the senate
Committees have devoted much time
in sorting out really meritorious
measures and this means that numer-
GUS pet bills had to be ruthlessly put
tor sleep. In the senate the "bone
dry" bills have been perplexing
feature. Friends of the prohibitory
amendment believe that it is possible
to pass laws at this session that will
be so drastic as to react and thus
lead to much opposition to the amend
ment when the election is called.
Others aver that the only way to make
sure of the success OF the amendment
is to convince people that prohibition
will prohibit and thus sentiment is
not only divided but it is extremely
cautious. Two the Whitmore bills
meet with favor. One makes 1t a
crime to advertise liquor either in
newspapers, on bills boards or thru
circulars and the other provides that
sale shall take place at the point of
delivery. The measure that is causing
so much worry is wheher a person
will be allowed to ship in a limited
amount of liquor for home consump-
tion and whether 1t shall be a crime to
bring in liquor from another state,
either on the person, in suitcases or
automobiles. 1t is believed COM
promise will result.
Wants to Sell Farm.
!, Sale OF the Flynn farm property is
proposed in bill introduced by Sem
ators Hale OF Jones countytand Frail-
.ey of Lee county. The intention Of
the bill is to open the way for locat-
Ing the custodial farm near the Pc
formatory at Anamosa or the peniten-
tiary at Fort Madison, where prison
ers from those, institutions may have
easier accessa tofthe outdoor work. !.
No Relations Need Apply. 80
NepOtism is banned II bill intro
duced by Senator Chase becomes q
law. The bill provides that any pub
lie official who shall appoint a relative
in public Office shall lose his own
position and not be eligible to hold
1t again or draw the salary from it
and that the relative SO appointed
shall draw no salary.
+, Weaver Carries His Bill Through.
S Although his measure providing for
community centers in cities of over
10000 inhabitants was squelched in
the committee lof municipal affairs
and after a vigorous fight and an elo-
quent defense of the measure he sue
ceded in carrying it through the house
by vote of S3 to 10. 1t was the first
real skirmish in the house this session.
Check Bill Passes Senate.
Senator G. F. Kimball's fraudulent
check bill, was passed in an amend
ed form by the senate by a vote of AZ
to 3. AS amended it provides that any
person who, with intent to defraud,
shall draw check or order on bank
in which he does not have sufficient
funds or credit to meet same, shall
be guilty Of misdemeanor and on
conviction shall be punishable by a
fine not to exceed 800. or imprason-
ment in the county Jail not to exceed
thirty days. II the drawer of the check
is able to pay 1t on demand he will
not be subject to the provisions OF
the law.
Wants State Fair Accounts
Investigated.
Lake, OF Sioux City wants comft-
tee to 60 over the accounts OF the
state fair management, in order that
it may be known the status of that
organization. He claims that its ac-
counts are carlessly kept and that
poor management will be developed II
strict accounting is not required. He
says he does not charge fraud but he
thinks he has sufficient data to justify
an examination.
Changes In Election Laws.
The joint subcommitte Of the leg
islative committee on elections has
approved the Kimball bill amending
the primary law, with few amend
ments. The Kimball bill provides for
the nomination of candidates for all
state Offices other than governor and
lieutenant governor by the state con-
vention. The selection Of the two
highest state officers and United
States senator would continue to be
made at the primary. The committee
ordered the bill amended to provide
for the selection of delegates to the
state convention by the county con-
vention; to remove the square oppos-
lite the blank on the ballot provided
for writing in the name Of a cand-
idate for representative. senator,