Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-01-31
LEGISLATURE
SETTLING down
After Four Weeks of Work,
two Hundred Bills are
Awaiting Action of
Legislators.
APPROPRIATIONS BIG
The Game of Politics Being
Played on Several
Bills.
APPROPRIATIONS BIG
BY G. L. CASIVELL
Sec. Iowa Press ASS n.

BY G.. l.. CASWELL
See. Iowa Press Assn.
DcS Moines, Iowa. Jan. 31.-A stead.
grind, and promise Of considerable ac
complishment marks the legislative ses
sion, now four weeks old. Each house
has received hundred bills or more
and the committees all have something
TO do. Many bills and resolutions have
been passed in each house. but few IL
both, and Governor Kendall will soor
have occasion to write his O. X. on q
good many new measures or give them
his veto. 1t is said, too, that he has
some vetos right handy in his vest peck
ct to attach to any measures that look
like unnecessary or cXtravagant eX-
penditures at this time
1t has been some surprise to Il good
many Of the new members to find how
much work and time they can put in on
legislative measures--also how difficult
it is to get measure started right. then
On its way through the committees.
back to the floor of the house and real
ly passed as an act of the General AS
scmbly.
How Bill is Handled.
A bill for an act has to be drawn up
just so-thrce copies of tin certain
size and style Of arrangement with Il
cover indicating the title completely.
When introduced by the honorable
member the bill is handed to a page,
carried to the desk of the chief clerk,
identified by a number, then opened
and the title read a first and second
time, which is called the first and sec
ond reading of the bill. Then it is re-
ferred by the presiding officer TO the
committee having to deal with the sub
iect affected by the bill. Perhaps in Il
day or two the committee meets, it's
chairman presents the bill, explains its
object and refers it to a subcommittee
of three or more members who are then
responsible for the custody, inveStiga-
ton and report on the bill. If the sub
committee decides to favor the bill, they
report it back to the whole committee
with a recommendation that it do pass.
The whole committee then considers
the matter. picks it to pieces or amends
il to suit, and votes to recommend the
measure for passage by the house or
senate as reported back. If the com
mittees are unfayorable TO bill they
report it back with a recommended ton
that it be indefinitely postponed
That is genteel way of scrapping the
whole bill. Then if the house or SEN
ate accepts the report of the committee,
the bill has met its fate. Very often.
as was done last Wednesday, a bill is
reported back by the committee with
recommendation that it be "indefin-
jtely postponed" when some member
interested may protest against such re-
port and ask for roll call on the ques
ton of accepting the report, and thus
beat the committee. This was done in
the senate Wednesday on the bill pro-
yiding for an increase in the pay of
assessors. The increase provided for
in the bill was from $500 per day to
$3.50 per day, and the committee on
county and township affairs had re-
ported adversely on the bill. A roll call
rejected the committees report and on
Thursday when the bill came up as a
special order OF the day it was adopted
by the senate. and the chances are that
all the assessors in Iowa will for the
next two years get $50 more per day
than they have been getting.
The Mountain Lab0red, Etc.
Proposed increase of the pay of Miss
the efficient enrolling clerk
in the house, from seven dollars to nine
dollars per day during the session.
caused another outbreak of bad feel
ing in the senate last Tuesday that has
been the talk of the SOlons and spectat-
ers ever since. 1t was such pifflc
1t contemplated more taking slap a
some of the controlling influences in the
house and senate than it did saving the
dear taxpayers" any money. because
while the senate wasted S312J0 worth
Of its valuable time in the flood Of ora
tory started by Senator Pitt in opposi-
tion TO the resolution. it possibly saved
the tax payers $4,000 of salary that
the young lady might have gotten.
Charges were made by Senator Pitt
and others that the raise proposed by
the house resolution was only to carry
out the promises of some parties to
the procession contest for chief clerk
in the house whereby if Miss Elw ood
would Withdraw from the race for clerk
she could have the en-, olling clerkship