Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-03-08
GOVERNOR !: WILL
NOT CALL SPEC.
'IAL SESSION
Governor Harding in State.
ment to Legislators
Gives Reasons for
Action.
NEW CODE NOT READY
All Other Pending Questions
Were Before Legisla-
ture Before.
(By The Associated Press.)


Des Moines, Iowa, March 9.-Nt
special session of the Iowa legislature
will he called by Governor w. L. Hard
ing, according to statement he made
public today. The governor said that
in-as-much as most of the questions
except code revision, which had heen
suggested as business of special ses
sion had been before the general as.
sembly in 1919, and the code revision
work had not been completed, he did
not believe special session Ileces-
safy and aavisat,te.:
The governors statement. was con
tanned in Il printed communica tion
addressed to the members of the gen
eral assembly. He cites excerpts from
messages to the legislature, in which
he said fewer laws, plainly written.
easily understood and well enforced"
was what the people Of Iowa wanted.
He also called attention to his recon-
mendations in 1917 for revision OF the
code, and declared if it is right and
proper now, it was equally right,
proper and important three years ago"
Cites Many Reasons.
However, the state having not only
existed but even prOspered in the in
terim." he continued, there is little
doubt now that it can wait little
while longer until the work assigned
by the 3sth general assembly can br
performed, so that revision can be
done with the greatest possible care
and economy not only to the state but
to the members of the Legislature as
well.''
Referring to suggestions of other
business to come before a special ses-
sion, the governor said three questions
had been discussed more than others.
They were primary suffrage for wo-
men, revision of the school laws, and
some state remuneration to the men
who served in the last war" Concern
ing them Governor Harding asserted
he had made recommendations on
them to the 1919 general assembly, and
declared if such legislation is right
and vital now" it was right and vital
in January, 1919
Il, therefore. am firmly OF the opin-
ion that since all the above referred TO
matters of legislation were before the
general assembly in regular session
last January and were passed upon,
that it would be a waste of both time
and money to convene the same body
of men, without an election by the
people. to pass upon the same subject
matter"
The cost to the state each day the
legislature is in session, the governor
said. was about $1,000.
The statement asserted the cote re-
vision work was not completed and II
am not now able TO ascertain, with ANY
deiinitencsS. when the book of nnnotn
tions will he completed and ready for
use" The courts have given until July
l, 1920, to complete the work. the gov
prnCr said.
Up to Regular Session.
The statement concludes:
IL have concluded that the work as
signed To be performed under Chapter
30 tcodc revision chapicr) was of such
volume and is so delayed in its com
pletion. That il will he impraciic..ble
TO call special session for the pur
pose of revising the code and you are.
therefore. notified that no session will
be called for the purpose of revision.
IF N session WAS called as late rs July |