Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-01-24
IOWA LEGISLATURE
ENDS SECOND week
Dry Amendment Disposed of in Rec.
ord Breap ing Fashion by
BE- Houses.
ROAD BILL NEHN V
ORDER o2 'PoRrANcE
No Measure Drafted bun q h Sides
Are Lining Up for ImpI 'g
Struggle.


eral assembly for another week.
The second week of the Thirty-sev-
enth session ended Saturday with
16O bills on file and in the hands
of committees. Although the ad-
ministration has urged a 20 instead
of 100 day session, so far there has
been no speeding up of the legisla
tive machinery.
At the close Of the second week of
the Thirty-sixth general assembly in
1916, there were ia bills on file in
both houses, of which 95 were in the
house and 79 in the senate. Today
there are 73 bills on file in the house
and 81 in the senate.
The senate has made better time
in handling the prohibitory amend
ment than was the case two years
ago. The Thirty-sixth general as
sembly passed the amendment on
Feb. II, 1915. The Thirty-seventh
passed the amendment for the Sec
ond time on January IS, without de-
bate. There was a marked differ
ence in the treatment the measure
received in the two legislatures
Two years ago the senate commit
tee refused to return the amend.
ment to the senate and it was not re-
ported out until the senate ordered
action by the committee. There was
spirited debate and on the vote ten
senators opposed it. The amend
ment was attacked in the house too,
but it got through and was present.
ed to the Thirty-seventh general as
sembly for the second adoption.
This year the senate committee
hardly waited until the amendmen.
was referred to 1t, before reporting
it back for pasasge There was no
debate and the vote was 45 for, and
3 against it. The three votes against
ii were from Dubuque, Scott and Lee
three wet counties.
The amendment is now in the
house where it has been made
special order of business for next
Tuesday. 1t will go through with
out opposition, il is reported.
Election Date Discussed.
The temperance faction now is
trying to agree upon a date for sub
niss!on of the amendment to the
voters. The w. C. IT. u. wants a
special election in October or No
vember 1917. The constitutional
amendment association will hold i
meeting Tuesday to discuss the point
and to notify the legislature OF
wishes Of the drys in regard TO the
election.
The amendment is the only impor-
tant matter fully under way.
The committees in house and
senate now have enough bills to en-
able them TO get in good work, but
the reports will not be returned fas.
enough TO make next wee; very
lusy. The general assembly is still
i'.eeting each morning at 10 O'Clock
and adjourning for the day at IL or
1880 o'clock. In the fourth or fifth
week the legislators hope to open
the morning SESSION at 8 o'clock and
continue through the afternoon.
Probably Late Adjournment.
The move to limit the session TO
seventy days, and adjourn on March
IS, is being discouraged. Senator
Foster introduced a resolution in the
senate fixing that as the date for H.
nal adjournment. At the sugges.
ton of the leaders of the senate he
has not called the resolution up Tor
action. They say they see no hope
OF getting through at that time, ana
they do not desire the session tied
up by resolution adopted at this
time.
The senate has done nothing fur
ther with the confirmation of f.. F..
jones as member of the state board
OF education, A. B. Funk as indus
trial commissioner and w. S. With
row as member of the board of pa
reie. Some OF the democrats have
seelared they will oppose the confir-
nation of Jones owing to the Willis
ca case, but the republicans hope
they may be able to muster enough
votes to confirm his appointment.
Jones friends have been disappoint-
ed in lack of support on the part OF
enc or two senators from south
western Iowa.
That the administration program
Will be given first attention by the
y Continued on last psge.)