Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-04

coded From its position demanding the
passage of its own bill, the one APP
proved by Mr.. Temple, and accepted the !
Hobart bill, which had passed the SEN
ate and which is believed to be in bet |
ter form. This bill was passed by the
house last Friday and will become law /
July 1. 1t is possible that it may be re-
Eisted in the courts by the Burlington
Relief association as being unconstitu- i
tional, because it interferes with the
right OF contract. The bill as passed
amends section 2,o71 of the code by add
ing at the end thereof the following:
Nor shall any contract of insurance. re-
lief. benefit or indemnity in case of injury
or death, entered into prior to the injury be-
tween the person SO injured and such cor
poration, or any other person or associa-
ton acting for such corporation. nor shall
the acceptance of any such insurance. re-
lief, benefit or indemnity by the person In
5ured, his widow. heirs or legal representa-
tives after the injury, from such corpora
ton, person or association, constitute any
bar or defense to any cause of action
brought under the provisions of this Sec
ton, but nothing contained herein shall be
construed to prevent or invalidate any set
Element for damages between the parties
VIII Keep His Seat.
Senator J. M. Emmert, democrat,
of Atlantic, Cass county, will retain
his seat in the senate. The committee
on elections spent several weeks in an
exhaustive examination into the facts
and the law in this case, and came to
the conclusion that the contestant, 7.
Il. Smith, of Shelby county, had been
fairly defeated at the polls. and so the
committee awarded the seat to the sit
ting member. On the question of bal
lots marked in the circle of one ticket
and in the squares in another both
sides lost votes, but the loss was about
equal. In q considerable number of
tickets counted for Mr.. Emmert the
voter had marked in the squares, In
Guiding the one opposite blank place
In the township ticket. 1t was claimed
that this was an Identification mark
and that these ballots should be thrown
out. If this had been done Mr.. Smith
would have been elected by three ma
jority, but the committee thought this
was not sufficient grounds upon which
to reverse the result of the election,
and held that the mark was not an iden-
LITIGATION mark.
Mortgage Taxation.
The senate ways and means commit
tee has reported favorably bill to re-
peal the section of the code allowing
the exemption from taxation of moneys
and credits to the extent of debts owed
by the taxpayer. The bill to tax mort
cages had been after considerable argu-
ment referred back to the committee
and unanimously reported for indefi-
mite postponement. This bill striking
out the exemption on moneys and cred
its is concession to the demand for
the law taxing mortgages, and has been
brought on by the abuse of the exemp-
ton, which offers convenient avenue
for escape from taxation.
The State Debt.
The total floating debt of the state
is now about $65o,OOo. A week ago IT
was $652,74s.SS. The total amount of
warrants outstanding was $s13, s67.22.
The cash in the treasury was $1e1, 124.34,
sc the net debt was something
over $650,000. This amount is constant
ly fuctuating, owing to the issuance Of
new warrants and the receipt of rev.
enue. It will be greatly reduced In
April, when the taxes begin to come in,
but 1t will be increased again up until
september, when more taxes are re-
ceived. The legislature is determined
to be exceedingly economical in ex-
penditures this session, hoping by maxi
ing an adequate provision for the next
! biennial period to bring the state out
/ Of debt in about three years.
His Claim Granted.
James Daily, of Algona, a private In
! the Iowa national guard who was ter
/. ribly injured while In the discharge OF
duty at regimental encampment at
Fort Dodge. has been granted his claim
!: of $1,000 by the house appropriations
committee, and it will undoubtedly pass
both houses. This man has lost the
use of an arm, and it is a matter in
which the members Of the guard are
deeply interested. They say that it will
be difficult to secure enlistments unless
it is certain that men who are injured
in the service will be taken care of.
| revenue lCSy1mAtSS,
i The ways and means committees IN
both houses have prepared estimates Of
the revenue for the next two years
showing that a levy Of three pills or
the valuation of 1898, to be collected
in 1899, would give little over 100000
surplus after paying all debts. For the
year 1900, the debt having been paid of
a levy made to yield $1,2oO,ooo would
meet expenses alone, not taking into
account extraordinary appropriations
made by the Twenty-eighth general as
sembly, The committees think tina
while three mills will be required II
1899, ga may suffice in 1900; but what
ever appropriations are made by thu
present legislature must be taken car.
of by levy probably in excess of tire,
mills, probably 3h mills for the frs
year. There will be some savings OF
account of reduction in support funds
IN the various state institutions ant
some other economies! The falling of
in assessed valuation on account of thu
operation of the new revenue law vii
not affect the state revenue, because
fixed sum is to be raised, and the lev.
must be large enough to produce tina
sum. The counties in large majorit,
of cases will find themselves with a re
] duced valuation, and the maximum
/ levies will hardly be sufficient to pro
, duce the needed revenue.
, F. W. BICKNELL.