Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-03
lE0iSLAruAE TO Ask FOR FACTS
CONCERNING RgLEAsE or
coNrEssEp RAPlsr.
LAWMAKERS HAVE RIGHT
TO REVIEW PARDoNs
Lssisisturs Making Effort TO Speed
Work and to Enforce Practices OF
Economy In State Expenditures
several Important Bills on Way to
Final Determination. Il
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Tunes Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 3.-The Thirty
eighth general assembly has now been
in session three weeks. having con :
vened on Monday. Jan. 10. Up TO the
time Of converting today there had been
1s5 bills introduced in the house ana
about a half dozen resolutions and
some 100 bills in the senate.
The Legislature has thus far enacted
only one important measure, the rau-
fication of the prohibitory consttu-
tional amendment which was acted on
by both houses on Wednesday, Jan. 10
or two days after the session opened
4 few measures with reference to the
methods and expenditures OF the pres
ont assembly have, been acted upon
Before the close of last week both the
house and senate had passed biiis pro-
viding for the eradication or barperry
bushes. Most of these bushes were
dug I'D and destroyed last spring under
an order from the department AT
Washington which declared they har-
bored dangerous spores which attack
ed Wheat and caused rust.
The legislature has shown dispo-
sition to be as economical as possible
in it's own affairs. by limiting the
amount Of postage available to each
member, by holding down the number
Of employees in both house and senate
and by reducing printing costs wher-
ever possible. II was decided not to
reprint that portion Of the legislative
a.ith the various
forms under which legislation is in
troduced. since sufficient number OF
old manuals now on hand embodied
these forms. This is OF course not OF
moment except that 1t is further in
dication to save expense, this change
saving al least $500 to the stlte.
There is also a disposition TO con-
duct business expeditiously. Joint
committee bills from both house and
senate are being arranged for on i'm
portant mea sures which it Is urged not
only develops better bill but saves
time both in preparation and in dis
cussion.
Rathbvn Pardon Bobs Up.
In, addition to the legislation which
is to be enacted the legislature Is fac
ing other important action.
Petitions are coming in demanding
an investigation of the granting by
Governor Harding Of a pardon to Err
nest Rathbun Of Ida Grove, convicted
and sentenced to Imprisonment for life
fofsfxpe and whose alleged companion
Al Ahe time OF the offense. Ray
O'Meara. IL now serving a life sentence
for his part in the affair. The governor
is required by law to report to the leg
islature the pardons he has granted
and under this requirement the legis-
lature may call for a full explanation OF
the affair which all reports declare
has caused deep resentment in Ida
Grove.
The senate committee on depart
mental affairs. Of which Senator Hol-
doegeI, OF Calhoun county. is chair
man, will make study OF various de-
partments about the state house start
ing with the automobile department
There has been much criticism Of the
delay experienced in this office in get
ting plates and of other methods and
this will probably be one of the first
departments gone into by the commit
tee. 1t Is possible CO. ordination meth