Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-25

WuclHiinS ndJoItbys Hldny democrats
voting with the speaker to send the bill
to this committee, which had not con-
sidered it This is understood to be q
move to kill the bill. and to prevent It
from being again considered on the
floor of the house. Neither party Is
very DESTROYS of bringing the matter up.
Biennial Elections.
The joint resolution by Senator Titus,
proposing constitutional amendment
to provide for biennial elections has
passed both houses by an almost unani-
nous vote. If it passes the next legisla-
ture the question will be submitted to
the people in 1900, and if it is adopted
an extra session of the legislature will
be held in 1901 to pass the necessary
laws to put the new plan in operation.
The first election under it will occur In
1902 and in the even numbered years
thereafter. The terms of various state
and county officers will be extended one
year, in order that they may all be elect
ed in the even numbered year. The plan
has met with universal popular APP
proval.
Sale of Cigarettes.
The bEl to license the sale OF Gig
arettes and to establish heavy penal
ties for selling to minors or for selling
adulterated cigarettes or giving away
pictures or buttons with cigarettes, has
been favorably reported by the house
committee on public health, and if the
bill can be reached it may pass the
house, as the members believe it would
produce considerable revenue and
would be enforced, while the present
law, fixing a mulct tax of $500 year,
is not enforced anywhere in the state.
School Librnries.
A concurrent resolution requesting
The state superintendent of public in-.
struction to investigate the practicable
ity of establishing school libraries in
every school district, was introduced in
the senate by Senator Trewin, and has
passed that body. 1t will undoubtedly
pass the house, and the next legislature
will be thoroughly informed on this
question. A bill making it mandatory
on the school boards to set aside ten
cents year for each pupil in attend
ance for the establishment of libraries
was introduced in the house by Mr..
Eaton, of Mitchell county, but owing to
lack of information on the subject IL
aroused considerable opposition, and 1t
has been thought best to postpone fur
Their action until the subject can be
carefully inquired into.
Habitual Criminal Act.
The senate has passed the habitual
crimial act by Senator Ellison. It pro-
vides as follows:
That whenever any person has been twice
convicted Of either OF the crimes Of bur-
glary robbery, forgery, counterfeiting or
larceny, where the value Of the property
stolen exceeds $40, or Of breaking and en-
tering with intent to commit q public Of
Tense any dwelling house, office, shop, store,
warehouse or building, railroad car, vessel
or boat, In which goods, merchandise or
valuable things are kept for use, sale or de-
post, and shall thereafter be convicted Of
any one of such crimes committed after
such conviction. he shall be Imprisoned In
the penitsntiary for not less than 15 years,
provided that such former judgments shall
be referred to in the indictment, stating the
court, place and date of rendition. It II
also provided that any person over the age
OF 10 years who has been three times con-
victed of larceny where the value Of the
being convicted fourth time upon such
an offense shall be imprisoned In the peni-
tertiary not to exceed three years, provid.
ing such former conviction shall be referred
to In the indictment. There are other pros
visions " the bill to make It effective.
VIII Not Be PardOned.
Wesley Elkins will not be pardoned
by this legislature. The people Of Clay
ton county are in such fear Of the boy.
and have made such vigorous protest
against his release, that his friends have
concluded to abandon the attempt, at
least for the present, in the hope that
by another two years good behavior he
Will be able to satisfy even the people
OF Clayton county thathe deserves to be
given chance in life. He was only II
years old when he committed the mur-
der, for which he is now serving q life
sentence. He is the librarian Of the
penitentiary at Anamosa.
The State to Pay.
The expense of caring for soldiers
orphans In the orphans home in Dayen-
port will hereafter be paid by the state
If bill to that effect which has passed
the senate becomes a law. Heretofore,
under the new code, all children cared
for IN this institution are charged to
the county from which they come. The
name orphans home" has also been
restored, taking the place Of the OBJ
noxious name "Home for INDECENT
Children" which the last legislature
gave to this institution.
Appropriations.
An appropriation of $4,000 for the
erection Of the first wing OF state his
torical building has passed the house,
and as the appropriation has little op.
position in the senate will doubtless be
passed by that body. The house also
appropriated 100000 for the TRANSMITS.
sissippi exposition at Omaha, but 1t Is
expected that the senate will vote for a
much smaller amount.
Changed the Method.
A bill has passed both houses chang
ing the manner of giving state aid to
county and district agricultural socie-
ties, SO that hereafter they will be paid
an amount equal to 40 per cent. of the
premiums paid by such societies, not In
Guiding amounts paid for races, games
or other attractions and the whole
amount in no case to exceed 5000.
: The prospect is that the session will
last about two weeks longer, and adj
journment will be somewhere from the
3D. to the 9th of April.
F. W. RIcKNEL1.
ALBION AND BRISTOL.
The frogs gave concert in the