Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-04
OBJECTIONS 70 THE Bill.
The Board Of Control Question May
Proleng the Session of the
Iowa Legislature.
BIENNIAL ELECTIONS ARE IN FAVOR.
Opposition to Increased Representa-
ton in the House-Eaucators Dis
like the School Book Btll-Other
Measures of Importance In the SEN
ate and House.


Measures OF Importance In the Sem
ate and House.
Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. es.-Legislative
developments of the past week indicate
that the session will be prolonged prob
ably until APRIL. A preliminary skirm-
ish on the board of control question in
the senate disclosed the fact that there
is more opposition to the bill in the SEN
ate than has been expected. The pro-
nounced advocates of the measure have
been very confident of being able to
pass the bill easily by a strong majority
in the senate, but they were unable to
get the bill advanced two days on the
calendar, and in the midst of discuss
sion of the question withdrew the re-
quest, fearing it would not be granted.
About Is senator's are known to be more
or less opposed to the bill, and others
have not declared themselves. The
sentiment in favor of the bill is not
growing. 1t will be taken up in the
house tomorrow and in the senate the
next day and will probably occupy
week or ten days at least in each house.
Anti-Fusion Bill Defeated.
Political matters have received con-
siderable attention during the past
week. The bill to repeal the anti-fusion
law, which prohibits a candidate for
office from having his name on the bal
lot more than once, was defeated by
vote of Sc against A. Five republicans
voted for the bill, and no democrats
voted againstit.
Biennial Elections.
Senator Titus resolution proposing
an amendment to the constitution pro-
yiding for biennial elections was adopt
ed by the senate by a vote of As to 2. 1t
will meet with little opposition in the
house. If adopted by the next legisla-
ture and by the people in 1900 the terms
Of office of the next legislature will be
extended one year, and so would varl-
Gus state and county offices, so that
Observation-Disclosures beginning in 1902
would be held in the even numbered
years. 1t would make an extra session
of the legislature in 1901.
Oppose Representation Plan.
The Whelan resolution for a new
plan of representation in the house, Civ
ing each county representative, hav
ing passed the house is likely to have
trouble in the senate, as the committee
on constitutional amendments is op-
posed to it. The opposition to the
change comes from the large counties,
because their relative Importance would
be diminished by giving every county a
representative and allowing the largest
counties only two. 1t is likely, how
ever, to pass the senate, and will then
be submitted to the people, as it passed
the last legislature.
Taxing of Corporations.
The Cheshire amendment in regard
to the taxation of telegraph, telephone,
| express and sleeping car companies and
| fast freight lines has been discussed
by the senate committee on ways and
means. The author of the bill has been
heard i'll it's behalf and the companies
affected will be heard this week. The
bill proposes to adopt the Kentucky sys-
tenn of taxing these companies: adding
together their total value in the United
States, measured by the value Of their
stocks, bonds and real estate, and di:
viding the total value by the total NUM-
| Der of miles, and assessing each mile in
| the state on that basis, SO that mile In
Iowa would be assessed the same as q
mile in New York city. The same bill
was proposed last year and defeated
The constitutionality of the law is be
ing questioned in Kentucky and in
Ohio, where 1t Is also being tried, and
its adoption at this time is not prob
able. The house committee on ways
and means has reported fayorably 9
bill to raise the taxation of express com
panies from one per cent. to two pei
cent. on the gross receipts Of business
done in Iowa. This will undoubtedly
pass. The express companies last yea,
paid nearly $4,000 in taxes, and it was {
| light year for them. Their taxes fol
the present year will be considerabl,
more:
i. fhe school Book Question.
The Ray bill for state uniformity ans
state publication of school books cam,
up in the house last Thursday, and tn
author of the bill asked for more time
1t was sent back to the schools com
mittee, and after brief discussion ant
without further investigation 1t was re
| ported back to the house by vote o
six to seven to pass. Since then, how
ever, eight members Of the commits
have signed a minority report for TIL
indefinite postponement of the bill
Only four members Of the committee o
II are in favor of the bill. The other
say they will vote against 1t when !
comes up for passage, but out Of per
sonal consideration for Mr.. Ray the.
promised to help him get it reporte
from the committee. Mr. Ray says tina
his only object in introducing the bil
was to get cheaper text books, and h
does not expect the bill to pass tn
house. Its opponents claim they wi
have from IS to 80 votes against Il
During the past week many petition
; and letters have been received fror
school boards and lending farmers an