Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-02-02
BILL FOR TWO SETS
ELECTION JUDGES
Bill Introduced in Iowa Legislature
Last Week, So Ballots Can be
Counted Continuously
LEGISLATORS ARE
HAVING BUSY TIME
Trying to Keep Down Appropriations
and Yet Promote the States In
terests.
Especial Correspondence J
Des Moines. Jan. 81. 1921


Des Moines, Jan. 81, 1921.
There is no discounting the inten-
tion of this General Assembly to be
tight on appropriation bills. A
number of such bills are already in
the hapds of subcommittee of the
appropriations committees, and every
legislator is putting on the brakes
to hold down the expenditures. IL
was some shock to them, then, when
the first of last week the "askings"
of the state educational institutions
were presented in the form of bills
carrying appropriations to the
amount of something like $4,000 900
for the next two years. The heads of
the educational institutions have been
just as charry of asking such
amounts as the Legislature will be
about allowing them too, but when
colleges are growing faster than
ever in attendance, and more and
higher paid instructors are essential
if the schools are to be kept Efficient,
how can such expenditures be kept
down? Iowa is in the lead in general
educational lines, and that fact is a
pride to her citizens. If you were a
member of the General Assembly
what would you do about it?
Talk of a combination of farmer
legislators against the rest of the
members is all bosh. Such talk is
a discredit to the farmer members
who are among the best of the
House and Senate personnel at this
session. They know very well what is
right and proper in legislation, and
it is unlikely that any such factions
will develop as has been reported.
Lobbyists Better Look Out.
The house rules committee present
ed some new rules to govern that
body the other day, and the Senate
rules also have some new sections.
The House rule relating to lobby
lists is as follows: "No person ad-
mitted to the floor of the House
shall, while the House is in session,
lobby or attempt to exercise any in
fuence with any members for or
against any matter then pending or
that hereafter may be considered by
the House. Any person violating this
rule shall be summarily dismissed
from the floor of the House and shall
forfeit his right of admission there
to-"
However, lobbyists, in a general
sense, are not conspicuous at the ses-
sions thus far, and danger from con-
taminaton from them is as great or
greater in hotel lobbies and other
places than in the House chamber
itself. Representative of various in
terests are present, trying TO help
their friends with legislation or as
sist in checking bad measures. The
Farm Bureau has three such re-
presentatives present, one lawyer
employed to remain right on the job
all the session. Railway employees
organizations and some of the labor
unions have several men present
watching their interests, especially IN
connection with the Kline industrial
court bill. Insurance men and school
men. and sometimes state depart
ments have representatives looking
after things. But they are quite
generally men of tact and good
Judgment and will hardly violate the
rule.
Double Election Boards.
Senator Rainbow, of Blackhawk
county has introduced his bill pro-
vidipg for two sets of election judges
and clerks 50 that ballots may be
counted continuously from the time
the polls open in the morning. he
rrovides that one set of judges VIII
,eceive the votes as cast, and wheh
100 have been cast the second set OIL
;,,5oes and clerks will take them OH
ii,to locked room and begin count
mo them. Then another hundred BAL
.lots will be taken in the same way
and counted, and so on, practlcaiiy
,,eoping up with the voting and per-
i,,ittino the returns to be ascertained
r.o. Tho polls close. Provisions