Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-04-16
LAWMAKERS LAY OFF
IOWA LEGISLATURE AOJouRNS TO
MEET m EXTRA SESSION JAN. 10.
Appropriations For siste Installations
Passed by Both Houlss--kevenue BIZ
Goes Over-Importsnt Bills That We're
Passcd-Richsrds' Legislative Chances.

Observation-Disclosures Legislative Chances.
Dies MONIES, April 1.-The 26th Gen.
eral Assembly, which adjourned at noon
last Saturday, convened on the 18th Of
January, and counting out the Sundays
and days vacation, there was II days
during which the legislature was in ses-
sion. The expense of the session as
shown by the vouchers on file in the
Office of the auditor of state, amounted
to $130,53235. This sum includes the
salaries of members, their mileage and
the salaries of officers and employees,
but does not include the item Of station
cry or codes purchased for the members
by the state.
At several times during the session
the treasury was nearly empty, but by
careful management on the part OF the
state officers the trouble was tided over,
and at no time was it found necessary
to mark warrants not paid for want Of
funds. The result, however, proved
that it was impossible TO run the state
on levy of less than 2l3 mills on dol
lar, accordingly the committees recon-
mended the passage of bill providing
for the raising of 81, 400, 900 for 1896, and
a like sum for 1897 for state revenue.
This amount was decided upon after the
appropriations for the state institutions
had been made, and was based upon a
report from the state auditor of which
the following is a synopsis:
State Revenue aud Expenditures.
Equalized assessed value of the state
FOR 1895, amounted to $3.50, 65O,S24 On
this amount a 2h mill levy would give
annually 81, 800, 1877, or for the biennial
period, s2,79S,254 In addition to this
the revenue which it is estimated will be
derived from all other sources is put
at 81, 1873, 030, or total state
revenue from all sources during
the next two years of 1886, 284. The
estimated expenditures for the biennial
period under the general law and the
regular appropriations amount to 3d.
S55, 1859. Deducting this from the esti-
mated receipts, leaves s5S0,925. The
auditor estimates that there are $343,-
B79 in the hands of the county treasur-
ers, which may reasonably be counted
as among the receipts, giving total Of
1924, 3O4, which amount the auditor says
is the maximum amount available for
extraordinary appropriations based upon
a ~ mill levy for each year of the
period. As the extraordinary and spe-
cial appropriations made aggregate about
$500 900, it will be seen that nothing was
left for the Legislature except to decide
upon the raising Of the full amount
from 2Ii mill levy. The legislature
does not fix the levy, but simply passes
the bill calling for revenue in the lump
sum of 81, 500, 900 for the biennial period
and the executive council will certify
the levy required.
Important Bills That Were Passed.
During the session there were about
l 900 bills introduced in the two houses,
of which number not more than 200 be-
came laws, and very large proportion
of these laws are legalizing acts and
bills of local character. But few i'm
portant laws Of general nature were
adopted. The most important perhaps,
was the law regulating building and
loan associations, q full synopsis Of
which was printed at the time of it's
passage. Another important law was
the amendment to the code, providing
for the selection and drawing of jurors.
It follows quite closely the old plan Of
selecting jurors, though different in
some important particulars. The judges
Of election are required to certify the
names of 75 persons in each county
from which grand jurors are to be selec-
ted, and 400 persons in each county hav-
ing 10000 population or less, and 800 in
Of more than 10000 popula-
ton from which petit jurors are to be
selected. Also in counties having 90.
600 or less population, $50 persons are to
be reported, and 800 in counties Of more
than 10000 population from which tales
men are to be selected. These talesmen
are to be selected from persons residing
in the city or town in which the court is
held and in the township, unless there
are less than 1000 inhabitants in the
territory designated, in such case the
residents OF the township next nearest
10 the court house, shall be drawn upon.
Revenue Bill Goes Over.
The revised bill for providing for .
general revenue which occupied the at.
tention of the joint committee on ways
and means for many weeks was reported
to the two houses at such late hour
that it was found impossible to give it
any consideration. The bill was one of
the most thorough that has ever been
devised by any committee of an Iowa
legislature. 1t provided that assessment
should be upon the actual cash value of
all property, and that the tax levy should
b made upon 80 per cent of such assess
ment. The provisions for obtaining cor.
yect results were very stringent, and
gave the boards Of supervisors the right
20 call the assessors before them and in.
Quire into the methods Of their assess.
ments. II also provided that the as
SCISSORS should make oath to the accuracy
Of their returns. The bill further pro.
vided for abolishing boards of equaliza-
hon and in their places providing that
the same boards should act as boards of
Il