The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-02-16
FROM THE STATE CAPITAL.
what Our w.Mnkcrs Are Doing
nru M.rxeu E.l.

what Our I.asv.Mnkcrs Are Doing
Dgs MoISEs, Feb ,.
The Legislative Solons move slowly, but
sure. There arc surface indications OF short
session. Only about onc-half the number Of
bills have been presented A. at the same period
Of the last session. A. more than two-thirds
Of the bills presented go under the table ut tho
day OF adjournment, and arc never reached,
tho number Of laws that will be enacted this
session will bc lcss than last scsson. There h
disposition to devote tho time to the consider
alton OF more important measures,
OF which several are on file. No gen.
cral law Of any importance has yet
bccn passed. There il regular influx ol
bills Oh school text- t-books, which indicates that
hoOl-book agents are busy somewhere. That
there Ii great need Of = change y true. There
should bc uniformity Of books throughout the
entire State and frequent changes prohibited.
The tax for school books il very heavy, and
books once purchased should be- good through
ont the State. book agents will tight such
law, of course, but 1t should be enacted. Tho
interest OIL sch0ol-fund loans will bo reduced.
although the senate IL half-incllned to reduce
the securities required instead Of the interest.
II is well known that large amount OF this
fund Ii unused and refused ~ counties because
they cannot loan 1t at the terms required. Loan
agencies will furnish money cheaper. II u
proposed to reduce tho interest TO . per cent.
10 the borrower. vile the county will pay the
State per cent.
The bin to provide for scmi-annual payment
OF taxes has passed the SENATE aud IL before
the House.
The bill to repeal tho FisLway law has got
into JAM Tie Hcnato has passed one; the
House has also passed the same bill, but It was
its own bill. So the same hill has not yet
.tau hAp
IL hitch in II. Tho farmers IN the House arc
asking why the lawyers IN the Senate should be
50 ANXIOUS and prompt to pass bill which is
70 much in the interest Of the masses instead
OF the mill.rs. Perhaps they will find out.
Both houses have adopted tho memorial 70
Congress in favor Of the Hennepin canal and
the Improvement Of the Missouri river, aud
against the increase of tariff on steel blooms
and wire rods Of which barbcd wire ~ made,
and have instructed Iowa Congressman 10 vote
in accordance with the memorials.
The Committee on Agriculture Of both houses
are dcyising 4 bill u protect sheep growing.
Tho great difficulty they have to contend with
ls tho inevitable dog. Wha. to do with him il
what's the matter. Every farmer wants 10 keep
. dog, and not pay tax on him; bnt he \
willing TO tax all other dogs, and especially town
dogs. The Vermont law Will probably be agreed
upon, or nearly that.
special election will be provided for tho
Il has been recommended by the state Temper
ance Association that the date be fixed at satur-
day, Sept 2, bnt II has been discovered that
saturday il observed by several classes OF peo,--
ole as religious day, and 10 some change will
be made to suit this element.
Tue Board Of Railroad Cummis saoners
| rather sat down on Charley Aldfich's bill 10
abolish railroad passes to public officers. IA
reply to the request from tho House, m to
advisability 81 such 4 law, the board say:
Complimentary tickets are given to the officers
not the men. and public oiticer who would be-
Influenced by such ticket h mot tit 10 hold y
| public office. Half-fare tickets are sold to
clergymen, because they are largely engaged IN
charitable works FOR the public good. Editors
pay more than their passes aro worth IN adver-
tising Granting reduced rates to conventions
ard large gatherings, IL \ purely business mat
ter, with which the Legislature has nothing TO
| do The substance of tho opinion OF the
board il, that the Legislature had better lot
| the matter alone, unless II prohibits passes TO
| ANYBODY, and that would not amount to much,
! AZ il would affect only the state, and scarce =
! road Is there in the State which il not owned
| and operated outside Of the State. II Il
| probable Mr.. Aldlich's bill will not become =
!, law.
| A strong effort was made in the House this
/ morning TO change the law 40 as to allow School
| Directors pay at the rate of sl.5O per day for
| not exceeding i've days each Year Tor services,
/ hut it was finally defeated.
| The Road laws have not yet come up. aud
| are evidently troubling the committees.
There is vast amount Of figuring heins.
| done in redistricting the State. and some very
| curious combinations are formed. There Il
| going to be good deal OF lighting over that
matter, especially in what are now close dis
| trets, or whore one or two counties desire e
! control a district.
Tho Department. Of Industry project IL IN.
Il ia.,I al aud will 6nA time.
| have heard the name OF Col. John Scott iaens
I toned in connection with the Secretary Of the
Department. should the law le passed. IL.
! wOnld make n good one. JullN.