Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-02-23

previous to election. Since the regis
tration law was put into effect, more
! than 25 years ago, it has applied to
cities of $500 or more population. The
house cor! II. zee o. elections has
given it's az. j to u Till TO raise
the limit G.. .istratiOn cities to
! 1000 or r-or2 -. circle will be re-
stored to tie El.i;. y move is also
under way to grunge the primary
election date from june to September.
Governor Urging His Program.
Governor Harding is not losing sight
of his program for simplifying the
operation of the state government by
! the cutting out of duplicate boards
and commissions. In second mes
sage to the legislature the executive
emphasized what he had to say in his
inaugural and in his first special mes
sage, and called attention to what he
| considered a serious condition of the
treasury. He referred to the fact that
on July LIST, if all the appropriations
allowed by the Seth general assembly
yet remaining unpaid were drawn be-
fore the end of the present biennial
period, there would be deficit in the
treasury of practically $1,500,0O0. The
governor expressed the hope that the
legislators would give this matter
serious consideration and that they
could find some way to meet the dif-
ficulty without increasing the tax levy.
The message created something OF
furore and was followed Immediately
in the house by the adoption of a res
olution for the appointment OF spe-
cial committee of three to investigate
the impending shortage Of funds and
the cause thereof. Then the senate
came through with resolution pro-
posing the naming OF joint commit
tee for the same purpose. The house
refused to accede to the senate reso-
luton, and the joint committee OF re-
trenchment and reform, to which the
house investigators appealed for aid
and information In their quest, replied
to all suggestions and inquiries with
the struggling of the cold shoulder.
There the matter is now resting and
the outcome of the governors sug-
gestions and the solution of the
problem will not be known until the
retrenchment and reform committee
reports later in the session.
Bank Department Created.
BY a vote of "a to 20 the house has
passed the bill creating state de-
partment of banks and banking. The
bill which was adopted was COM
mittee measure in both branches OF
the assembly, had an easy time get
ting through the senate, and Will BE-
come a law with the signature OF the
governor. The bill provides for the
appointment of bank superintendent
by the governor, and that the new
department is to begin business July
list next. Ever since the law giving
the state supervision OF banks was
enacted, the supervision has been In
the hands of the auditor OF state.
Many attempts have been made In the
past to create a separate department.
but without success.
... Capitol Extension Fight.
The battle over the capitol extern
sion tract has appeared in both
houses, in the way of preliminary
skirmishes during the past week. In
the house majority of the commit
tee reported favorably on the bill to
sell all of the ground purchased ex-
cept two block to the east of the state |
house, and that portion lying to the
south. In the senate after fight it
was voted to override the ways and
means committee, which had recon-
mended for indefinite postponement a
bill by Whitmore shutting off future
levies for a fund to improve the !
grounds This means that both issues
will 20 before the assembly on their
merits, but it does not mean that
either one will win eventually. In TACT,
there is little sentiment In the senate
for the bill to sell a portion OF the
ground and many senator's see In the
fact that Whitmore won his point by
only two votes, an indication that that J
body will reject finally the PROPOSE ,
tion to discontinue the improvement
levy.
Insurance Action is Slow.
More than a score Of bills have been
introduced in the two houses relating
to insurance, and only one has so Tar
seen it's way to the floor. This Is
measure which has passed the house
and which provides that mutual casu-
atty insurance associations and state
and county mutuals may insure auto
mobiles against theft. At least half
a dozen of the measures seek In one
way or another to cripple the fire rat
ing bureau law, some of them seeking
complete humiliation of the statute.
After Printer and Binder.
In the house are two measures look
ing to the adjustment of the Offices
of state printer and binder. These
are follow-up measures on the cam
paign which was made by the Iowa
Homestead two years ago, when
good part of the session of the 36th
assembly was given to consideration
of charges of graft in the states print
ing and binding. The result OF the
then made was an
If the Drinting laws in