Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-01-20
LEGISLATIVE SEES
SION WELL BEGUN
SENATE AND HOUSE ORGANIZED
LAST MONDAY WITH CAUCUS
SLATE ACCEPTED.

+ lS always interesting. III was no eA-
ception when the seth General AS
sembly was due to begin on Monday,
Jan. 10. New members. who pre-
dominated this session, were about
TALL present, and old members were
busy in lining things up.
Lieut.. Gov. e. r. Moore of Cedar
Rapids, presided and called the SEN
ate to order, and on motion of Rep
resentative G. b. Santee of Black
hawk county, Representative Arthur
Springer of Wapello was made tenn
porary speaker of the House, and
called that assembly to business.
Lieut. Gov. Moore presided at all
Senate sessions till Thursday after
noon when the new lieutenant-gov-
ernor was sworn in. But in the
House Arch w. McFarlane of Black
hawk county was chosen as speaker
without delay and Immediately be-
gan his duties, which are strenuous
and require high ability during the
entire session.
The motion to elect McFarlane as
speaker was seconded by Represent
alive l.. w. Powers of Crawford
county, one II the six democrats in
the House, who asked that the cleo
tion of McFarlane be made unani-
nous. Mr.. Powers made fine talk
on his motion.
Representative Larson of Mont
gomery county was then chosen as
speaker pro tenn. for the session,
and the slate of the House republi-
can caucus of Saturday before, en-
dorsing candidates for chief clerk
and other employees was put
through. A. c. Gustafson was made
chief clerk and all members feel that
they have a man of experience and
well qualified for that important po-
sition. Former Representative Will
King OF Hardin county is reading
clerk OF the House.
In the Senate Col. L. w. Aims
worth was chosen as secretary of
the Senate, and the Senate slate ar
ranged also went through in filling
the other positions. Former Secre-
tary Thos. Walters was present and
days session, thus facilitating the
work of the session,
New Members Sworn In.
Swearing In the new members on
Monday forenoon brought forth a
great lineup OF members elected at
the last election. In the House half
the membership are new, and in the
Senate some sixteen or more are new
members. At this session Senator
Abben of Lyon county will answer
first on all roll calls, displacing Sem
ator Adams of Kossuth county from
that important position on the roll
call. Il is some responsibility to thus
have to lead off in the roll calls in
legislative matters. The first mem
bers called in alphabetical order
must be alert, we'll posted on what is
going on, and courageous enough to
take their stand or else pass for a
second roll call II must be credited
to Senator Adams that he was al
ways ready and always courageous
A new senator, John E. Wichman OF
Hancock county. has the honor OF
ending the roll call this session
However, his experience and ability
as a member Of the House for sew.
eral sessions would also make him
as ready to lead. lie may often have
the deciding vote.
In selecting their seats in the Sen
ate Monday the new members were
initiated with sample of the way to
get the best seats when they become
second session members.
Reforms Not So Easy
Ex-Gov. w. l.. Harding uttered
something in his farewell message
Tuesday that must appeal to those
experienced in state affairs to be the
truth. That is, that IL Iowa is to
maintain her position as the first in
public schools, and to continue heI
progress and upbuilding Of public
institutions and the general welfare
of the state, there will be no great
saving or pairing down of expendi
lures He voiced his opinion after
fourteen years of continuous public
service for this state, and after hav.
ing taken UP his duties as governor
with fixed purpose to effect many
economies and lessening Of taxes.
And Governor Kendall will realize
the same truth before he has been il
office long, as most OF the Senators
and Representatives now in office
realize 1t or will later. AT least II
per cent of the newly-elected mem
bers of the General Assembly come
there with the idea that econom.
should be the watchword and an enc
put to extravaganza in state affairs
But when they get into the work anC
look at it all from a statewide
standpoint. they find there is goo'
excuse for most of the expenditure
made and authorized, and that il 4
impossible to lop off Extravaganza
except here and there where SOM
minor position is involved For in
stance, how many members declare,
~ IT, &c hot he
of clerks, stenographers and door
keepers necessary in each Genera
Assembly should be reduced? Ant
then how much did they reduc,
them? In the House possibly hal
a dozen stenographers less may b
used this session than last. while Il
the Senate possibly as many less
They got rid Of one guard in tn
cloakroom of the Senate and a cou
pie in the House. And they starte'
to eliminate some of the doorkeep
ers, when they found that most q
these applicants were old soldier
of the Civil war, fine old men, abb
to perform the duties for most part
and willing to do az possible TO ear
the small pay they might receive
Did they cast them aside and elm
mate the few hundred dollars ey
pense for the session? They di
not, and they will not They find
is not the best service to Iowa to b
either parsimonious or to stand 4
the way OF progress.
Can Commissions Re Eliminated?
Where Governor Kendall may
effective in saving some expense I
the state will be in the consolida
ton of some commissions, commit
tees and boards. But at every ses
sion there is a demand for more o
these, and every now and then some
things slips through 10 create one