Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-07
EXPRESS COMPANIES ESCAPE
Bill for Their Regulation in Iowa is
Rendered of No Avail.
SENATE COMMITTEE FIXES THE MATTER
Measure Passed by the House so
Amended as 10 Defeat Its
Purpose U~ttrrlg+The
Revenue Bn,t.

DIES MONIES, April 6.-(Special)-The
practical defeat of the Wells bill, providing
for the regulation of express companies,
which has been accomplished by the senate
committee, is provoking much comment in
Legislative circles. AS the bill passed the
house the Board of Railroad Commissioners
was empowered and directed to establish a
schedule of charges which should be prima
facie evidence of a reasonable rate, and
all charges in excess of this schedule are de-
clared extortionate and unlawful. The SEN
ate committee struck out the mandatory
provision and inserted the qualifying clause
$50 far as they may deem 1t expedient and
practicable in conformity with existing
statutes.' The minority of the committee,
Senators Berry and Hobart, will oppose the
committee substitute on the floor of the
senate, and endeavor to secure the passage of
the original Wells bill. The demand for this
legislation comes largely from fine stock
shippers and wholesale dealers, who object
to the conditions imposed on shippers, as
well as the excessive rates.
The proposed change in revenue laws will
provoke a warm debate in both hous2s and
may extend the session over to next week.
The members are In a quendary whether to
endeavor to reduce the appropriations so that
the total will conform to the estimated reve-
iiues or provide for the 5000, 900 excess by in
crea sing the Assessment on taxable property.
The plan as adopted by the joint mi
of the two houses ~contemplates the assess
ment of all property actual cash value, so per
cent of which will be taken as the basis of
assessment. This does not include the rail-
roads or any of that class of property now
listed by the executive council. The leading
friends Of economy in the lower house do not
take kindly to this exception, as they feel
certain that whatever the rate may be 1t will
result in a visible increase in taxation and
ought to apply to corporations as well as to
farmers and other property owners. The
provision of the. bill requiring an itemized
list of all notes owned by or held by bankers
and others, and Of moneys and credits that
are available, and which may be offset by
debts, will also meet with stubborn opposi-
ton.
The morning session of the house was de-
voted to clearing the calendar and in passing
legalizing acts. The house passed the bill
limiting the term of school directors in sub
districts to one year and the bill extending
the time for beginning suits against !nsur-
ance companies from ninetyedays to two
| years. ,Icl
The senate spent the morning session in
an effort to perfect the amended jury bill
and remove the objections of numerous sem
ators 20 the provisions relative to talesmen.
The exempt classes are, as, follows. All
persons holding offices under the laws of the
Shi'Su Sto'SS " th-s o'atS' Oil p'oStiSiiS oN
torneys, physicians, registered pharmacists
and clergymen; all acting professors or
teachers Of any college, school. or other in
stitution of learning, and all' persons disabled
by bodily infrmity, CT over 65 years of age.
and active members of any fire company,
and any person who is conscientiously OPP
pcsed to acting as a juror BECAUSE of his re-
ligious saith. w+t
Seventy-ive persons shall be returned from
each county, from which, the grand Jurors
shall be selected. In counties having less
than 20, 900 inhabitants; 499,rand in those
having an excess of the stalia population, 600
persons shall be returned for trial Jurors;
and $50 and 900 respectively shall be sent
in for talesman. all to be divided among
the precincts in proportion to the population.
These lists shall be made up according to the
old system-by the judges CT election, but
no person shall be returned who served on
the panel the preceding year or who may
directly or indirectly prefer such a request.
The Jurors shall be selected from the whole
list, returned by lot, drawing to be made by
the sheriff, recorder and clerk of the district
court.
The senate spent the afternoon session
discussing the ACCESSIBILITY Of taking up the
amended revenue bill. 1t was finally set
for special order tomorrow.