Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/150

 them under obligation to the corporations. The bill encountered most determined opposition as all of the legislators were recipients of these free passes. The discussion extended throughout the State, among the people and in the press. There was a strong public sentiment aroused against the practice but the favors were so liberally extended and the evil so strongly entrenched in the lawmaking powers that the bill was defeated.

Another important measure which met a similar fate was a bill prepared and introduced into the Senate by Pliny Nichols of Muscatine County. It provided for the establishment of a Department of Agriculture and Industrial Arts whose object was to provide a department of State which should be under competent direction to promote the agricultural and industrial interests of Iowa.

Under the census of 1880, Iowa was entitled to eleven representatives in Congress and the Legislature therefore apportioned the State into eleven Congressional Districts at this session.

After a spirited contest in both branches, a joint resolution was finally passed proposing an amendment to the State Constitution granting suffrage to women.

A joint resolution was passed agreeing to the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the last General Assembly, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors. An act was passed providing for the holding of a special election on the 27th of June, 1882, to enable the voters of the State to cast their ballots for or against the proposed constitutional amendment. At this election there were 155,436 votes cast for the amendment and 125,677 against it, whereupon Governor Sherman issued his proclamation declaring the amendment adopted by a majority of 29,759 and therefore a valid part of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.

The friends of prohibition held a convention at Des Moines on the 27th of July for the purpose of taking such steps as were practicable for the enforcement of the