Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-02
USUAL PLANS MADE FOR SHORT
AND ECONOMICAL SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE.
NO INDICATION THAT
ETHER WILL RESULT
Work Of Organization Always orass
and Farmer and Banker Members
Insist Upon Recess About March !
Mary Needless Bills Always En-
Cumber Calendars.
Special to neutrality-suspicious..

Dies Molnes Dec. 2,-The usual pre-
diCtions that the next Legislature
which convenes acre Jan. lG VIII re a
comparatively short SESSION and that
il VIII hold down the Appropriation lid
unusually tight are now being made.
It is he usual th.n= also for tn = gov
ernOrs in their messages 70 the legs
laturc 20 advise economy and l short
session. But invariably lie sessi ms
OF the Iowa .c-lslI-ure Clas oGt and
-hc sum total II ne appropriate IS
larger than the mn3ab@rs themselves
had thought they NJGlj be VIII IL ne
asse mhly convened
l. is generally con coded. however. by
those who watch the solcrS at work
that the vast majority OF the members
are sincere and earnest in their hopes
that the session Will be short one
and tnat the members Will not find u
necessary TO spend an unusual amount
OF money. Bat somehow or other y
always takes considerable time 10
transact public business and the eX-
penses total more than lad been anti
cipateG.
II is during the first half OF the ses-
sion thar work dracs. Ii takes about
ten days to get the organization per
feCted. AS the bills are introduced
they are referred 10 committees but
comparatively few bills are offered
during tie early part Of the session.
The members having legislation in
mind Usually wait until they have
learned somewhat the sentiments or
opinions Of their fellow members,
especially OF those interested in any
particular legislation. before they be
gin drafting bill. Then i takes time
10 Graft il and the more important il
i the longer time il takes. As a con-
sequence the important legislation is
not introduced as RUE until after
he first half OF the session. During the
early days there IS not enough !eslsla-
ton TO consider 10 hold morning ana
afternoon sessions. But during the
later nalt OF the period sessions are
held from a. N. until ! p. N. or later
and some night meetings Of the solons
are always necessary.
The members of the assembly who
are bankers and those who are farmers
find IL necessary TO be at home for
few days preceding and following
March because OF the March settle
ments and farm changes. Hence the
assembly takes a ten day or two weeks
vacation Just proceeding and Just
! following March I. The assemblymen
also find opportunity thru this brief
visit at home TO ind out what the
folks back nome are thinking concern
ing legislation and proposed legisla-
ton which has come up during the
early part of the session.
Much Needless Legislation.
Even the most generous observers OF
the average Legislature are forced 10
admit there IS always a certain amount
OF needless legisla tive proposals or foot
bills dumped in the legislative hopper
which take time and get nowhere.
As TO appropriations its the state
schools and the state institutions that
require a considerable portion Of the
states money. Then Iowa is pro-
gressive state and TO progress means
Investment and expenditure, invest
ment in better rural and district
schools. in better state schools in con-
serving the citizenship Of the state as
much as possible by caring Cor the IN
fortunate and training them in ac-
cordance with modern methods, IN
better roads and improved municipal
conditions, all of which revert to the
Individual advantage Of the people and
help TO maxi Iowa prosperous and
successful. Hence every legislature
finds IL necessary TO spend consider
able money 70 keep the state progress
Ing
The last legislature appropriated
81 !, 900 900. for the biennial period
which ends June 30 1919. 1t will be
remembered $1,000, 900 Of this was for
war fund. More than 100000 Of this
fund * still on hand Improvements to
the state institutions 10 cost Sl.323, $50
were authorized. The maj0rity Of these
improvements have not been made
however. Maintenance Of these insti-
tut tons and Of the three state colleges
took a big slice out Of this sum.
1t is posi- BILE that with the need for
war money over and witt! disposition
to go light on improvements The COM
ing legislature may be able to figure
how the state can get along for the
next biennial period with smaller
expenditure than in the two years
which epd Tune 20 1919