Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-03-21
Our Des Moines Legislative Letter
Rv ]. w. Jarnapin.

take charge of the investigation OF tht
Rathbun pardon, the part the Cover
nor took therein, and certain phases Of
the grand jury investigation which con-
cern Attorney General Havner. Judge
J. L. Kennedy, of Sioux City, was
made assistant to Mr.. Byers but he
promptly declined the honor, stating ir
effect that if he could not have com
plete charge Of the matter he would
have nothing to do with it. The com
mittee will select some other attorney
and the investigation will proceed al
once.
Right on the heels Of this action
came the surprise in the senate when
Senator Holdoegel, chairman of the
committee on departmental affairs. q
newly improvised committee, introduc'
ed q bill to take from the Secretary Of
States office the automobile depart.
ment and place it under the control OF
the State Treasurer. Several senators
participated in the discussion of con-
ditions in the Office of Secretary w. S.
Allen and some very ugly charges were
made. It was stated that clerks had
been dismissed because they gave evi-
dence to the investigating committee
that was detrimental to Allen; that
Mrs. Allen had used the Office force
and stationery and postage stamps be-
longing to the state in furthering Mr..
Aliens candidacy for fourth term
before the republican primary election
last June; that Mrs. Elliott, wife of
a member Of the Des Moines city coun.
Gil, had been carried on the osy roll for
several months during which time she
had done no work for the state, having
been forcibly elected from the clerical
department by Mrs. Allen; that Aliens
- who ii ia charge Of the automobile
department, gave neither time nor at.
tention to the duties of the position,
but drew his salary with unfailing reg
ularity; that Allen kept in q Des-
Moines bank . daily balance of from
$40, 900 to $50, 900 of state funds. de-
posted in his own name for which the
state received no interest,"; that thou
sands of letters containing checks were
unopened for weeks 1T time; that in.
efficiency and carslessness marked the
conduct of the office in Ill departments,
sample Of which was the defeat of
tho woman suffrage amendment be-
cause he failed to observe the publica-
ton requirements. All Of these things
and numerous others were heard upon
the floor of the senate and when the
bill to take the automobile department
to the state treasurer came to q vote it
passed practically unanimously. 1t was
Immediately messaged ever to the
house where it passed the next morn
ing. receiving only three opposing
votes. Gov. Harding signed the bill
that same day and upon publication in
the Des Moines dailies Saturday the
stage was all set for the transfer Mon
day morning.
1t is understood that charges will be
preferred against Mr.. Allen and i'm
peachment may follow. He was re-
jected for q fourth term at the last
election by a large majority and enter
ed upon his new term of Office January
1st. He has been seriously consider
ing the propriety of becoming . candi'
date for governor next year, his vote
getting qualities at the late primary
leading him to believe that he is q
prime favorite with the people of Iowa.
The non-partisan judiciary law was
repealed by the joint action of the two
houses and hereafter judges will be
chosen by regularly constituted politi'
cal conventions. This same bill passed
both houses two years ago but was
vetoed by Gov. Harding. He will
hardly repeat the performance this
session.
The bill granting women the privil'
ege to vote at primary elections passed
the house by large majority but was
defeated in the senate. Following the
announcement of the vote which de.
feated the measure Senator Rule offer
ed a resolution providing for a sub
mission of q constitutional amendment
granting woman suffrage to the voters
of the state and It was passed unani
mously. Representative Wilson, OF
Mahaska county, offered the same reso-
luton in the house. Both are the
same that passed two previous ses.
sions, as provided in the state constitu'
ton, but was defeated because of the
negligence of the secretary of state.
Both houses will vote favorably upon
the resolution and then it must pass
the next general sssembly before q