Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-01-10
HON. M B. PITT OF HARRISON COUNTY, IS CHOSEN
SPEAKER OF HOUSE AT REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS LAST SATURDAY.
Trouble to be Settled by Legislature Big Demand
For Increase In Wages. A Busy
Session Begun ,

succeeding to the high office from the
Lieutenant-Governor's chair in the In
term between Governor Cummins'
trance in the United States senate and
the Inauguration Of Gov. B. F. Carroll,
and the latter gentleman who is at
the head of the Providence Life Insur-
ance Co. Leslie M. Shaw is the other
former governor. He makes his home
in San Diego, California, that city
claiming the distinction Of being the
home Of two former secretaries of
the treasury, Lyman J. Gage. and Les
lie M. Shaw.
The Bounty on Destructive Rodents.
The boards Of supervisors in several
counties will ask for the repeal of the
law authorizing the payment Of a
bounty for pocket gophers. In some
counties there are men who make good
wages by deyoting all of their time to
trapping gophers. The object OF the
law is to exterminate the pests and
these men are doing all they can to
bring this to pass and thus vindicate
the wisdom Of the enactment. Super
visors argue that the farmer who is
not enterprising enough to trap or
poison the gophers on his own prem
ises ought to suffer the loss occasioned
by their depredations. Some farmers
attach q hose to the exhaust Of Ford
auto, insert the other end in the hole
made by the rodent and suffocation
quickly follows. Senator Mitchell, of
Mahaska county, has already an
nounced his determination to introduce
a bill offering q bounty on rats. He
claims they are the most destructive
pest that the farmer has to content
with
Game Laws Need Fixing.
There is strong sentiment over the
state favorable to the prevention Of
the slaughter Of quails and prairie
chickens. The present law provides
for an open season in the fall. The
state grange went on record at its re-
cent meeting as favoring the protec-
ton of the native birds rather than the
attempt to breed Hungarian pheas-
ants. State Game Warden Hinshaw
contends that sportsmen who take out
hunters license are entitled to some
shooting such as is afforded by chick
ems and quail. Without this the funds
for the use Of the game warden would
be depleted because people would re-
fuse to contribute their dollars for a
license.
Asks That Custodial Farm Be Inn
proved.
Former Attorney General George
Cosson has recommended to the
Thirty-seventh general assembly that
an appropriation be made for build
ings at the custodial farm a few miles
west of Des Moines. The custodial
farm site was purchased by the board
of control during the last biennial
period. Hon. George Cosson, who has
been working on a program of prison
reform, wants the farm equipped SO
that the Institution can be placed in
operation during the next two years.
To this farm would be sent jail pris-
oners where they would be profitably
employed instead of serving their SEN
.tences in idleness In jails.
To Limit Campaign Expenses.
Having in mind what it cost the sew
eral candidates for governor both at
the primary and the general election,
Senator White, Of the Bent0n-T -Tama
district, has announced that he will
introduce bill having for its object
the elimination Of reckless expenditure
of money by candidates for office. He
would limit the amount that any can
didate spends to one-half Of years
salary. That would mean that a can
didate for governor could spend only
$4,000.
Prohibition Laws More Stringent
Temperance workers are going to
ask that laws be passed making it
for consumers of liquor
to obtain a supply without limiting
the amount. The way matters are now
an individual may receive unlimited
quantities and all he has to do. is to
declare that it is for his personal use.
This enables bootleggers to carry on
their traffic. 1t is proposed that a
fixed amount shall constitute the
needs of the individual. Then, it is
that he must go in person
and sign for it at the express office
rather than permitting the drayman to
do this. An effort will be made to
make it crime for. railway or ex-
press company to carry liquor for
money consideration. 1t is believed
that if the element of gain is taken
from the traffic the busines will
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