Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-03-21

enough votes to pass the bill to abol-
ish the offices of state printer and
binder. All of which is most heartily
desired by the Iowa Homestead arch
enemy of the state printer and most
loyal supporter of the Pitt-Johnston
| forces.
The Kitchen cabinet, of which
the Salinger brothers. sons of JUS
tice Salinger are the leading mem
bers, demonstrated its efficiency this
week One of its members. George
Messenger of Linden, was appointed
state banking commissioner under
the new law and his appointment
was confirmed by the senate after a
bitter contest. The contest was
purely perfunctory however as the
cabinet knew before the appointment
went up that it had votes to spare for
Messenger. A check Of the senate
had been made.
There were other important meas
uiSo bCluic INC hiitS -ScNSHlu. lHlS
week.
Cady Chase of Hamilton introduc-
ed new road bill, peculiar thing.
It provides for the removal of the
highway commission to Des Moines.
1t would make the deans of the en-
gineering departments of the state
university and the state college two
members of the board and give the
governor the power to appoint the
third, an experienced highway engi-
neer at salary of $4,000 1t would
take away or add to none of the pow
ers of the present highway commits
sion.
The bill looks as If some one had
said to the Pitt-Johnston men
Here you fellows lay off and let
Chase try it awhile" And Chase
started out with feeler, to see what
would pass the senate.
The highway commission support
ers in the house have decided to fight
the bill Tey are going to fight it on
the same ground the Pitt-Johnston
men fought against the highway com
mission in the house road fight. 1t
would involve the two state educa-
tions of learning into the road busi-
ness-the very thing the Pitt-John-
ston men said they wanted to get
away from by moving the commission
ito Des Moines thru the provisions of
the Johnston bill. Aud the highway
commission hackers in the house say
they still have the tifty-four votes.
They are not going to make any COM
promise on road legislation. because
they don't have to.
The house passed the Larson bill
granting an appropriation of S25,.
900 to the governor and attorney
general for special agents. 1t also
provides that all peace officers shall
be subject to call to any part of the
state for service, giving the state the
advantage of state. constabulary
without establishing such as an indi-
vidual branch of law enforcement
The Weaver bill providing for the
collecting of tax revenue by the bud
get instead of the millage system
passed the house. The farm agent
bill authorizing counties to appropri-
ate $4,000 to aid farmers improve
ment organization, passed both hous-
les. The senate voted in favor of a
$4,000 appropriation to fight bovine
tuberculosis. The senate said the
soldiers and sailors monument on
capitol extension should not be NOV
ed Both houses have passed the
ISchrup bill permitting special chart
er cities to adopt the city manager
plan. The Chase bill to prevent
courts from enjoining strikes was re-
lported out for passage in the house
The house approved the bill to con-
pei railroads to pay all the expense
of eliminating grade crossings.