Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-03-16
DOORS OF BOTH HOUSES NOW
CLOSED TO INTRODUCTION
OF NEW MEASURES.
D
ONE BILL CALLS FOR
LARGE RAIL BOARD
Tendency Of Legislature Toward Gre
atjno More Offices Rather Than Re-
dueins Number-Governor Hardine's
Appointees Confirmed Optional
Free Text Book Bill to Become Law.
Snecial TO Tlmes-Republtcan.

Special 10 Tlmes-RepNp!cSH.
Des Moines, March l6.- Yesterday
was the last day for filing bills in the
senate. Up to noon there had been 545
bills introduced in the entire session.
Late in the afternoon five more bills
were introduced bringing the total up
TO $50. The house introduced SIS bills
up to yesterday when the time Tor IN
Producing bills closed.
Senator Thompson, Of Des Molnes
county. yesterday introduced bill in
creasing the number of members OF
the state railroad commission from
three TO five. II this should pass the
governor would be empowered to APP
point two additional railroad commits
sionerS.
The bill to create an additional SUI
preme court judge is still pending
Governor Harding has not yet an
nounced any successor to Judge
Deemer and 1t IS understood that ne
will not do so until the fate of the
bill as to an additional judge is deter
mined. t-staI
The governor will have two district
judges to appoint If a bill now pend
ing changing the districts in Humboldt
and Webster counties is passed.
In fact 1t appears that the tendency
OF the bills which have been introduced
In the present session has been toward
creating more offices than toward re-
ducing them.
Appontees Confirmed.
Governor Harding made three ap-
pointments this week which were con-
frmed by the senate yesterday one OF
them being to new Job created by
the present legislature, that Of state
banking commissioner.
This job pays $4,000 per year.
George Messenger. Of Lisbon, private
banker, was appointed to this position.
He appointed J. H. Strict to I'LL the
place Of William J. Dixon on the state
board Of control whose term expires
July 1. He also appointed William d.
Sheean, Of Anamosa, a democrat, to
membership on the parole board, 10
take his place at once, thus filing the
vacancy caused by the death OF ]. II.
McConlogue the democratic member
OF the board.
Thus far the legislature has abol-
ished none Of the present Offices Bills
are pending abolishing the office OF
state bee keeper, which bill has been
passed by the house; for abolishins
the state board Of parole, and for COM
bining the state fire marshars office
with state insurance commissioners
office. A bill to abolish the office Of
state printer and binder has also been
introduced but opponents OF this bill
say 1t will cost more to do the print
ing under the contract system as pro-
posed in the bill than under the pres
ent plan where the state fixes rates
for printing and binding.
The governor has a number Of other
appointments to make soon including
one member of the state board Of pa
role If that office Is retained as It no
doubt will. a member Of the state
pharmacy board, state document editor
and other officers.
More interest appears to attach to
the supreme court appointments than
10 any other as they are considered
the most important which the COVER
nor has to make.
A bill to subject newspapers to the
Injunction law in libel suits was intro
duced by Senator Thompson, of Des
Iowa legislature yesterday
Senator Thompson explained that
his would not enjoin the newspaper
convicted of libel from continuing to
publish but would enjoin 1t from con-
tinuins to write anything derogatory
to the person libeled.
Free Text Books on Vote.
School boards may provide free text
books when directed to do So by vote
Of the people. The bill by Represen-
tative Arch McFarlane, of Black
Hawk. which provides for this, was
passed by the senate Of the Iowa leg
islature yesterday after having prevl-
ously passed the house. 1t goes into
effect July I.
The house passed the Finley bill re-
quiring the railroads to pay the cost Of
grade crossing improvements instead
of only a part of it as has been the
case under the present law. This bill
has yet to pass the senate. The rail-