The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-02-09
FROM THE CAPITAL.
From Our Own Correspondent
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have gone on to get o good supper at some
state institution. They will come back ~ their
predecessors have always, impressed with tho
marvellous fitness Of things. A man with
well. filled stomach IL In poor condition 70 bo
ccnsorio,ls. Az a rule, these investigating yis-
iting committees don't investigate. It 10 only
necessary, 10 prove it, to refer to the Ft. Mad
ison penitentiary business. These Legislative
committees always found everything lovely ana
exemplary. Butso soon as the Governor brought
to bear his business tact aud practical knowl-
edge on that institution 1t was discovered the
State was being plundered by the wholesale. 4
cannot recall one instance where one OF these
committees has ever discovered any wrong
ID the management Of State institutions.
II u ! little singular that the most important
measures for the benefit of farmers should
originate this session In the Senate. That
body has already passed : bill for the semi
annual payment OF taxes II has also originated
bill for the establishment Of Department Of
Industry to have control Of agricultural mat
ters also bill for the prevention OF conta-
gious diseases among cattle and glanders
among horses. These are al-important meas
ures It would be supposed tho House, COM
posed largely OF farmers, would be frst TO
advance their own interests. but the fact is,
the House ID made up OF new members with
little experience in legislation, and they are
Of member OF the lower house ii to tinker tho
Road law, School law or County Government,
and there 10 no end Of bills on those sub
jects. There are now on file In tho House
nearly $50 bills, and the large majority arc upon
these subjects, The bill for the Department
basis or tho law IL one Is enacted, was drawn
by ex-State Auditor John Russell, OF Jones, and
is eminently practical. II provides for Secre.
tary OF Industry, to be elected BY tho people,
who shall have charge Of all matters pertaining
now to the Secretary OF the State Agricultural
Society, and, with the advice Of the Executive
Council aud Governor, Of epidemic diseases
among domestic animals when they prevail.
He il to be located at the Capitol, and devote
his time and talent to agricultural interests.
The largo number OF bills on roads and high.
wayg indicates that the farmers have become
satisfied that what Iowa needs 10 better roads.
The loss to them during the last fall WAS Inn
mense. There is no reason why there should
be such thing Is mud embargo, making u
impossible for farmers to get to market.
radical change in the road laws is needed.
Both houses have passed bill for the repeal
OF the fish-wny laws. Both are alike, so one
will be dropped and the Senate bill will pass
the House.
The Senate has passed bill to reduce tho
penalty on delinquent taxes from 20 to ~ cents.
Charles Aldrlch, or Hamilton county. has
or use Of railroad passes by any State, county,
city or town officer, or officer Of any court,
under heavy penalty and IL such presents .
pass the railroad conductor must take it up and
collect fare or pay u heavy penalty. The bill
may pass the House, but probfbly will not tho
senate, which has very digniied manner OF
doing just as it pleases, which is mighty good
thing for the House. sometimes for when It
dislikes bill, but really does not like to 20 on
record against it. it is only necessary to vote for
it and get the Senate to vote against It.
The following is the text OF Aldrch's bill:
SECTION /. BE 1t enacted by the General As
se1nbiy Of lhe STATE cf Io,co, That, hereafter.
| it shall be unlawful for any railroad corpora
ton, operating railroad within this State. 10
Issue passes, tickets or other permission, either
oral, In writing, or IN printing, for the Tree
| transportation OF persons or property, to any
| Of the following persons, viz:
/. To any one holding any Office, Federal or
State, either legislative, executive or judicial.
| 2. To any person holding any county Or
township office.
8. TO any person holding any municipal Office
in any city or town.
4. 10 any person summoned az juror or
serving as such in any court held in this State.
5. To any person acting AZ ballin or other
[ officer Of any court in this State.
4 6. To any other person when such pass,
ticket, or permission Is used att ndins any po-
| litical convention for the nomination OF offi-
GERS to DO voted for by the people.
SEC. q. It shall be unlawful for any Of tho
persons or officers named in the preceding sec
ton to accept or use any such passes or per-
NILSSON for free transportation OF persons or
property, nor shall any person be allowed to
! Ask or solicit such passes or transportation OF
persons or property for himself or any other
person.
SEC 8. It shall be unlawful for any con-
road train. 10 permit any OF the persons speci-
fed in Sec. 2 hereof to travel upon his trains
upon any pass ticket or permission for free
transportation, without the payment to him Of
lawful fare.
SEC. 1. ANY person violating the provisions
Of tins act shall be liable to fine OF not less
than $50 nor more than 800, to be recovered
by information prosecuted as provided by law
before Justice of the Peace one-half such
fine shall be paid to the person filing such III
formation.
SEC. S. Proceedings to recover the fines pro-
vided for by this act may be commenced in the
county wherein the passes, tickets, or permis-
sion are issued or wherein they are received, OF
wherein they are used.
SEc. 6. On and after the taking effect OF this
act, the rates OF passenger fares on all the
railroads III this State shall be reduced one-half
cent per mile below the rate now liked by
law.
There is still q vacancy OF one seat from Dn-
buque county owing to the refusal Of MIR.
Dausherty, who was elected, to qualify. The
JHulClHIy OOufilllttee TeDOTteu tilat W. y. hIipul
holds over from the last session. There are
three members from that county. O'Bsien and
Ehls were reelected. The question is whether
or not they succeed themselves. Ii so, then
the vacancy goes to the successor OF Knight,
and under the facts he IL his own successor
The matter will come np again when MIR. Knight
comes mp to take his seat. There il very little
doubt he will be seated, though the strongest
opposition to him comes from his own district
A bill ID before tho House providing the earn
ings OF . convict in the State penitentiary
above the cost Of his keeping, shall be given t
OF family, or had others dependent on him
for support. The theory is that the State hal
no right IN justice to speculate on the labor o.
convlcts; that whom the good OF society do
mands the imprisonment OF q man, 1t has M
right to force his family to become beggars, o.
thieves, or almoners on tho charity OF the pub
lc. or to force them into pOor-houses 70 b
supported " public expense. It u good bill
and ought to become law.
BARBED WIRE.
The Farmers' Protective Association has pur
chased the right to use newly-natented barb
ing machine, and are making wire at the 81,
rates. They will soon have ten machines in op
Grafton with capacity OF "a, 900 pounds per day
The wire will be sold to farmers at u and 8 y
cents per pound, while the monopoly ask l
and II cents. OF this price the association Sc
!, , apart s4 cent as ROYALTY fund, 10 pay roy
aities in case the monopoly should bring sui
and gains il, and one-fourth cent il used I
nay the expenses Of the association. The q
ISOLATION has the business now 90 fixed tha
tho monopoly cannot bribe nor buy them, an
II IL beats them it must be in fair fight !
court. The association is determined to fore
! the monopoly to final decision in the court
In this matter. JOHN.
Legislative IrOceeifmgs.
Bills were introduced in the Senate, on til
27th nlt.: BY Mr.. Harmon, authorizing tn
il location Of highways across lands belonging I
d the State OF Iowa by MIR. Grber, to resnlat