Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-03
LEGISLATURE Is
READY TO OPEN
Fortieth Iowa General Assembly
Will Begin Next Monday
Morning.
HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP
FIGHT WARM ONE
Gov. Kendall Will Read Bulk of his
Legislative Recommendation
Next Tuesday.

Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 2--All
advance indications point to an un-
troubled beginning for the Fortieth
Iowa General Assembly next Monday
morning. The session comes in diff
ficult times, that follow upon times
still more difficult. 1t would not have
been surprising if these anxieties
were reflected already in clear-cur
factional divisions among the legis-
lators. Such things have happened
before, and not so long ago either,
when there seemingly was less 20
cause them. The house of the Thirty
Seventh General Assembly six years
ago had been permanently split into
two camps by the time the session
opened. The result of this division
was to hinder and check Legislative
action factional tactics rather than
unprejudiced consideration; hot ana
bitter debates instead Of persuasive
argument.
There is none of that apparent this
winter. Despite the fact that there
is an unusually strong and closely
balanced field Of candidates for
speaker of the house, the speakership
campaign up TO this time has not
developed either personal bitterness
es or factional grouping upon legis-
lative issues. Each of the speaker
shin aspirants-J. H. Anderson of
Winnebago county, E. p. Harrison of
Pottawattamie county, c. +. Clark,
of Linn county, w. c. Edison of
Buena Vista county, A. o. Hauge or
Polk county, j. c. Mcclure or
Mahaska county and j. M. Rankin OF
Lee county, has conducted straight
out campaign for support, without
personal attack upon anyone else,
and without any pounding OF the
war drums to rally the faithful
around him as the chosen chaNpiou
al asgy siculszs eassse. .-Gs.z<>l.4. X
The happy result of this topper
ateness is that members of the as
segnbly viii go into the session UNI
preiudiced in advance upon questions
that are grave enough, in truth, to
merit an unprejudiced hearing.
The speakership of the house viii
be determined at a caucus or the
house Republicans, ninety-one IN all,
held next Saturday morning. To WIN
the contest, one candidate must Sc
cure the votes of a majority OF the
caucus-forty-six votes. The caucus
also will select the chief clerk OF
the house and his various assistants.
The sixteen democrats and the one
independent who are members OF the
coming house do not count IN thls
proceeding. They caucus separatety,
and nominate their own candidate
for speaker, which in Iowa is OF
course lust honorary, except that the
person so chosen becomes the demo
cratic floor leader in the house dur
ing the session. Z
Following the speakership caucu>
on Saturday, and at the same time
a meeting of the senate republican
at when the president pro tenn OF
the upper house and its clerical forcs
will be chosen, both houses Will con-
vene for the first time at 10 a. IN
next Monday. Through the. years a
set routine has been developed II
the organization Of the assembly thai
consumes about ten days before both
houses are entirely ready Tor ousl'
ness.
The first day will be devoted tc
formal ratifcations of the various
caucus actions; examination OF cred
entails and swearing in of members
assisgnment of seats, and setting II
motion plans for sessions to recelV'
the message of the retiring governor
and TO inaugurate the new one.
Governor Kendall will read the
bulk of his Legislative recommends
tions at a Joint convocation OF botf
houses next Tuesday afternoon. Inn
mediately afterward the JOINT session
will publicly canvass the vote cas-
last November for governor ah'
lieutenant governor
On Wednesday both houses WI
mark time. awaiting the Inaugural
ceremonies on Thursday afternoon
which will take place in the pre-
sanca of both houses and at Whici
Covernor Kendall will read a briel
;nauCural address supplementlng hii
message of Tuesday. The lnaugurd
hall. according to custom, propao.S
,y;u he held Thursday evening II
the 1otunda of the capitol.
Following the inaugural session !
is the usual custom loi Oot, Ootii ,,,,o+
40 adjourn over the week END, meet meet
mo again on the Tuesday tohoWlhg
when the speaker of the house ane
nc lieutenant governor in the sen
ete will have completed their ditileui'
taeke of assigning members 10 stai1 u,
;ng committees. Both houses VIII
then be completely organized s'h'
ready to go. - A.,
Roth house and senate, but 'ent M
house particularly, this session rar ars
ike football teams starting a new I,
season after most OF the Ola s's ~.
have been graduated; flfty OF ,,,;th th'
los members Of the house ale ea.n sace .
out previous legislative 60 eApet psteran,
hnuo anu I been in more than one earlie'
nase;on nav Among those who are gon'
are such legislative standpys
arc fCnntinucd on page sevenl