Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-02-03

providing that the cost Snall De au-
judged by the state railway commits
sion, and 'apportioned to the railways
and to the primary road funds as
seems equitable; also providing that
IL the railways plead poverty and in
ability to get the money, the state
may loan them the money out of the
primary road fund at SO interest,
the deferred payments extending ov-
er ten years. Finance has been the
greatest obstacle to securing vital
laws in the elimination of railroad
crossings heretofore; now this i'm
portant detail seems to be provided
for it is hoped people who drive the
highways may finally be protected.
1t is said that any question of ex-
pense and accounting OF the automo-
bile license funds will be met square,
ly by the highway commission, and
that they will welcome an investiga-
tion of this matter, so that all the
people of the state may be satisfied
regarding it. As one of the biggest
departments in the state at this time
the investigation ought to be made,
fairly and without spite or incrimi-
nation, and the report published as
WiuOiy 40 pOoSlplS III NhS hC"SPoPSiS
of the state.
For Constitutional Convention
A very comprehensive bill provid-
ing for holding a constitutional con-
vention in 1923 has been introduced
by Senator Wichman of Hancock
county When the voters declared
last fall in favor of holding conven-
ton to revise the constitution of the
state, they put up bigger job on
the Legislators than they perhaps re-
allied. All the details and plans and
machinery for such a convention
must be supplied by the 39th General
Assembly. Representative Calhoun
has introduced a bill in the House
also dealing with this constitutional
convention Which one will get
through and become law is hard to
say. The Wichman bill, Senate file
343, provides that at the primary
election in 1922 all candidates for
the position of delegate to the con-
stitutional convention shall secure
petitions emitting them to go on the
ballot, then the voters shall vote for
two delegates for each one to be fin
ally elected. The primary and gem
eral election Of delegates will be abb
solutely non-partisan, and the two
highest at the primary election shall
60 on the ballot for each district at
the general election, where one dele
gate will be chosen from each sem
atorial district in the state and one
additional for each such district hav-
ing more than $4,000 population.
This will make so delegates to be
aho.zx Sor 4ha oopsfituffop oonvap
ton and they will meet in May, 1928,
and revise the constitution OF the
state as intended by the organizers
of the state may be done every ten
years II the voters say so.
Senator Duthcher of Johnson coun-
ty has similar bill, with the same
number of delegates provided for,
and stating that women shall be ell
igible to serve. The bill provides
that delegates shall be paid SIS per
tday, but not to exceed $500 each.
Now, all who want to assist in the
grand and glorious work, start your
campaigns.
Educational Institution Wants
A total support and improvement
fund of something over $500, 900 a
year is, asked for by the several state
educational institutions from this
General Assembly, and on this sum
the legislators are looking with UNI
friendly eyes. But the colleges will
probably get 1t, as they usually have
shown that they absolutely need ev-
cry dollar of their askings IL they
are to keep up with the enrolment Of
students and the higher costs for fac
hui "a
included, of course, but larger sup
port fund must come with more
buildings and more students. Iowa
State University asks about $4,000
more than the college at Ames, and
the State Teachers College at Cedar
Falls much less than either
The state board of control hav-
ing to deal with the penitentiaries
and all charitable institutions of the
state, are also asking an immense in
crease, based on the higher cost of
everything. We are told they will
get pairing down based on the view
of legislators that supplies and up
keep will not be so high the next two
| years as now.
And the new temple of justice for
which about million dollars was APP
propriated two years ago, must now
cost two millions, according to the
boosters for a magnificent temple of
that kind on the northeast corner of
the extended capitol grounds. Some
quiet lobbying has been and is being
| done to secure such desired action
| by the General Assembly, but we
have 1t by underground telegraph
| that If the boosters think they are
going to get it, they better arrange
to secure a two-thirds majority in
| both houses to put it over veto
vote.
Senator Banta of Delaware county
has prepared voluminous bill that
would make the present primary law
combination of convention and pri-
mary. His bill provides that state
convention shall be held forty days
before the date of the primary cleo
ton, and at such convention candi-
dates for the offices to be filled
shall be voted on, the four highest
| being declared eligible to go on the
primary ballot at the election. This
| is to do away with the present 80
per cent clause, and is calculated TO
provide for better selection of candi-
dates by men and women who are in
convention and can see and hear the
candidates they are to choose from.
Senator Banta thinks he will recon-
struct the bill to provide for much
later primary election than the one
at present observed.
Several other bills are in, or will
be, seeking to change or improve the
present primary law, not counting
the one by Representative Mayne to
repeal it altogether.
G. l.. Caswell.