Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-01-20
WITH THE LAWMAKERS.
Comments on the Proceedings of
the Iowa Legislature.
Both Houses Now Ready for business
Party Lines Ignored - Extracts
from Gov. Shaw's Message and
Other Notes of Interest.
Especial Correspondence

lSpeclal Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Jan. 1.-THE legisla-
ture is now organized, the committees
appointed and ready for business. A
few bills have been introduced, but the
real flood of proposed legislation will
commence this week when the members
get back from their over Sunday visit
at home ard begin to let it be known
what they want. Though it was gener-
ally understood that both the presiding
officers favored short session and were
doing what they could to bring it about
by announcing their committees as
early as possible and getting down to
work earlier than ever before, the ad-
journment over Sunday indicates that
the members as a rule are not in much
more of a hurry than they have been
heretofore, and it is generally predicted
by the most experienced observers that
the session will last anywhere from 70
to 90 days. The usual delay to give time
for committees to visit the state institu-
lions will be avoided, because there is
no necessity for such investiga tion. The
joint committee appointed by the last
legislature has put in the better part
of the summer and fall in that work and
will, file a report of its very thorough in
vestigatons this week. This report will
be the principal basis of operations for
the legislature this winter. Upon it will
be based the arguments for and against
the proposed board of control for all
state institutions.
Less Partisnnship.
There seems to be less partisan ship in
this legislature than usual, notwith-
standing the fact that the minority has
made large gains in both houses. The
democrats in the house Endorsed J. II.
Funk, of Hardin county, for speaker,
and joined with the republicans in Civ
ing him unanimous election. This ac-
ton resulted in the appointment of
three democrats to chairmanships of
committees in the house, namely: Por-
ter, of Appanoose, on rules; Lambert,
of Jackson, on industrial schools, and
Jackson, of Tama, on federal relations.
In the senate the democrats joined with
the republicans in electing Senator A.
B. Funk, of Dickinson county, as presi-
dent pro TEN. Lieut. Gov. Milliman
gave a committee chairmanship-tha
on public librares-to Senator Ranck,
of Johnson county. These things pro-
duce good feeling and reduce friction,
making the work of the session easier
and more expeditions. The leaders Of
both parties hope that these conditions
may prevail throughout the session.
Gov. Shaw's Inaugural.
Leslie M. Shaw was inaugurated gov
ernor and J. C. Milliman lieutenant gov
ernor last Thursday. Almost unstinted
praise has been accorded the inaugural
address of the new governor. 1t is pro-
nounced by men of both parties to be
the ablest state paper delivered in Iowa
in many years. A considerable part of
1T is devoted to the currency question, in
which Mr.. Shaw continues to advocate
the gold standard with great ability,
which is recognized by all, whether they
agree with him or not.
Educational Questions.
Gov. Shaw devoted good share of his
address to educational questions. He
an advocate of better country schools,
and in his own town of Denison he has
been endeavoring for many years,
through a local academy, to supply
what he believes to be the greatest need
of our educational system, namely,
connecting link between the common.
district school and the high school or
college. His criticism of the public
school system is that it does not give
the country boys and girls the chance
that they are entitled to have in Sc
curing an education. He wants to see
the country schools improved, and every
effort that he is capable of will be d.
rected to this end
State Expenditures.
On the question of state expenditures
Gov. Shaw advocates the idea that the
state cannot afford to be stingy or
spend a dollar less than is necessary in
maintaining its institutions as they
should be maintained. lie proposes to
insist upon economical and improved
business methods, but he says he can
not promise that the state levy shall be
reduced to 21s mills, and he points out
the fact that such reduction would
save but 36 cents to the man whose an
nual tax is $50, and that increasing it to
three mills would add but 90 cents to his
annual tax. In connection with state
taxes the governor says:
The Tax Question.
at is doubtful If the state levy can be
appreciably reduced; certainly not If the
custom shall continue of annually lowering
the assessed valuation of the property of
the state That this expedient for reducing
taxes has been resorted to in the past is
most apparent. In 1871 the cattle of the
state bore an average assessment Of 1887
This has been gradually decreased until in
1895 it reached 4.96. Horses in 1874 were
assessed 4267 and in 1897 at $11.S1. The live
stock in Iowa was assessed 100000 less in
1897 than in 1882 A state levy of 21a mills
even upon this amount would have yielded
$4,000 per annum. The assessed valuation
of live stock has been reduced q per cent.
since 1898: other property fraction over
one per cent. Assessed valuations must be
maintained or increased levies must follow.
The expenses of state administrations do
not decrease simply because property is
undervalued by the assessors. On the con-
trary, the expense of the state has grown
constantly, and in some items rapidly. The
number of inmates of all our state insti-
t,,tia hos rio llxyi por nd