The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-03-14
HIGHWAY BILLS .
BRING0UT VOTE
Large Number Of Visitors Present
When House of Representatives
Took up Road Bills.
MARCH 81, DATE OF ADJ'RNMENT

Took up Road Bills.
MARCH 81, DATE OF ADJ'RNMENT
Resolution Censuring United States
Senators was by Unanimous Con-
sent Stricken From Records.
DDS MONIES, March 1O-The gen.
eral assembly reconvened Tuesday,
March 9Th, after ten day recess. Both
houses got down to business and pro-
ceeded to clear the calendar of i'm
portant measures that had been ac-
cumulating ever since the session
opened. Thus far a number of bills
have passed one branch or the other
and from now the outlook is for vigor-
Gus action. McFerren Of Hamilton in
troduced the first of the week a con-
current resolution fixing March 31st
as the date for adjournment and this
is subject to action any time. 1t is
not believed, however, that adjourn
ment can be reached before the second
week in April.
Highway Bills Furnish Excitement.
Friday had been fixed before recess
was taken as the date for taking up
the highway bills which have been be-
fore committees ever since the legis-
lature convened. TO complicate mat
ters still the more Shortess of Tama
and Larson Of Montgomery intro
duced bill that retains the highway
commission, which has been the real
bone of contention and makes various
and sundry amendments to the pres
ent law. When the time arrived for the
special consideration of the various
bills there was a large number of Wis
itors on the floor of the house and
the galleries were filed. Elwood of
Howard was recognized by Speaker
Pitt and the Elwood- -Mackie bill, which
came up as an amendment to the Pitt
Johnston bill, was taken up, Mr.. FL
wood gave a concise and forceful pre-
sentation of the bill, showed wherein
it differed from the other measures and
pointed out the improvements over
the present law. He read telegram
from the department in Washington
approving it's provisions for accepting
federal aid. Rogers of Carroll next
took the floor and offered an amend
ment to the Elwood-Macllie bill which
struck out all reference to receiving
federal aid and substituted a
highway commission. in place Of the
highway commission. This amend
ment to the amendment precipitated
a general debate upon the entire high
way proposition. Weaver Of Polk,
Mackie of Benton and Klinker of
Crawford supported the highway COM
mission and the amendments in the
present law provided for in the FL
wood .Mackie bill. Roberts Of Ring
gold, Crozier of Marion and Tucker
of Clinton talked against the highway
commission. Some of the addresses
consumed from one to two hours and
it was six o'clock before adjournment
could be had and this by tie vote.
the speaker of the house breaking the
tie in favor of adjournment. Friday
night was given over to caucusing.
Telegrams and petitions had been
rolling in all day and by night dele
cations representing the home folks
began to arrive. Both sides worked
desperately to line up the wavering
members and not since the memorable
senatorial fight between Gear and
Cummins has there been such an eX-
citing time in legislative circles. Sen
ators were interviewed and many OF
them listened to the debate and were
in conference with the friends OF one
side or the other during the exciting
scenes of Friday night at the Savery
hotel.
Saturday morning found everybody
eXpectant and cautious. The house
the house was tied and every effort
but when a call of the house was
called Richards of Muscatine was
found to be absent. The sergeant at
arms was instructed to bring him in
and it was nearly ten o'clock before
he was located at his hotel, his eX-
PLANTATION being that he did not think
the house convened until 10. The
discussion Of the road question was
taken up at once. Johnston was the
first speaker in defense of the meas
ure which bears his name. Lee of
Sac followed and he in turn was fol-
lowed by Giltner of Monroe. The
previous question was moved by Lee
of Sac, but was defeated by 50 to 54.
A vote on a motion by Rogers was Of
fered and it resulted 81 to 54. 1t
was quite evident by this time that
the house was tied and every effoort
made to adjourn or to recess failed
and finally a vote was taken upon the
Rogers amendment and it received the
same vote of 81 to 81, and not having
received a majority it was declared
lost. The question again reverted
upon the Elwood-Mackie amendment
and when Elwood took: the floor he
gave way to Larson of Montgomery.
who moved as an amendment to the
Elwoad- -Mackie measure the Larson
Shortnss bill. This still further tied
mattErs up and it was soon evident
that sReither side could extricate itself
unless some one wavered which was
not in evidence when the legislature
in compliance with 3 joint resolution
adjourned to witness parade and re-
view by the members Of the Second
regiment just back from the border.
To Encourage Night Schools.
Representative John w. RoWley OF
Van Buren, county is the author of
bill that would be of great value in
cities and in mining communities. 1t
permits school boards OF any organ
lied district in the state to maintain
during a certain number OF evenings
each week, two hours school for
pupils over 16 years of age who are