Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-15


judge in the Sixth district has also been
favorably reported. In some districts
the judges are overrun with work,
while in others they are idle part of the
time, and some members think there
should be another rearrangemento of the
judicial districts of the state, and that
1T would result in abolishing six or
eight judges at least.
Town Appropriations.
Under the present law all incorpo-
rated towns as we'll as cities are COM
published every time they desire to APP
propriate money. Mr.. Ladd, of Butler
county, has introduced bill and it has
passed the house and been fayorably re-
ported in the senate to allow towns of |
less than 1000 population to appropri-
nte money by resolution, as the amounts
are small, the proceedings are pub
lished, and the delay and expense of
passing an ordinance are unnecessary.
Care of the Insane.
The question of caring for incurable
insane in county asylums instead of
state hospitals was discussed in the SEN
ate last week, when the Malloy bill to
increase the levy for county insane
from half a mill to one mill was up for
discussion. The argument in favor of
this bill was that incurable insane could
be cared for just as well and much
cheaper in county asylums than in the
state hospitals. Amendments making
the authorized levy ia mills or two
mills were defeated, and the bill passed
authorizing one mill.
County Court System.
Some demand is being made for the
establishment of the county court sys-
tenn to have the jurisdiction over all
| probate matters and civil actions for
| more than $l00 and less than $500. A
bill to this effect has been introduced
by Mr.. Clark, of Hamilton county, and
is likely to be favorably reported. The
adoption of this system would, it is
claimed, greatly expedite business and
/ save litigants and those interested in
probate matters much veNatious and
expensive delay. The court would be
open for business all the year round,
though the county Judge would not be
required to give all his time to the work.
Il e would be paid a salary ranging from
$500 to $1,000, according to the popula-
ton of the county.
New Pure Food Bill.
The Van Houten pure food bill, which
aroused state wide opposition, because
it virtually prohibited the sale of patent
medicines, has been indefinitely post
poned and substitute prepared by
. Blume, of Crawford, has been intro
duced. 1t makes the adulteration Of
food or the sale or attempt to sell sucf
adulterated food q misdemeanor, pun
, ishable by fine of from $50 to $500
: The term food" includes every article
, used for food or drink by man. TIL,
j enforcement is to be made by the statt
. dairy commissioner, assisted by thu
. county attorney, the latter receiving a.
: compensation 25 per cent. of the fine
|, collected.
t New Taxation Scheme.
= Senator Cheshire presented his argu
o plent to the ways and means commit
e tee in behalf of his bill for new schem
: of taxing telegraph, telephone, express
i, sleeping car and fast freight lines. Sew
a eral of the companies affected by tn
e proposed law have also been heard
e The bill is not being pressed with tn
J. same energy that it was last year, on az
. count of some doubt as to it's constitr
j tionality. Cases are pending in tn
courts of Kentucky and Ohio which wi
determine the matter.
VIII Plant More Fish.
The fish and game law will be nue.
= better enforced during the coming tw
.. years than it ever was before, and NOR
i fish will be planted in Iowa streams
70 The appropriation for the state fish an
Il game warden has been raised from Sc
n. 600 to $4,000 for the biennial period
IA order that he may better enforce til
n law and extend his work of propaga
70 ing and distributing game and fist
II state fish and game warden, and he is
o. very energetic and efficient official.
he Seeking Pardon.
s. The pardon of Wesley Elllins, the be
is murderer of Clayton county, who lsille
i'd his father and mother eight years ag
O. at the age of II years, is not improb
ed BILE. The house committee was event
n divided on the question, but the boy
to case has been gaining strength in bot
lg houses since some members have take
lg the trouble to investigate it. If he
|e- relased it will be upon the conditic
ry that Prof. Harlan, of Cornell colleg
he Mount Vernon, takes charge of him fl
en- five years and becomes responsible Fl
or his actions. The boy will be on paro
Sc during that time. He is a remarkab
ed youth, of unusual intellectual powe
though he has had no instruction ash,
ed. from that gained for himself duriI
ooo leisure hours while in prison.
The Historical Building.
v gUo There is now little doubt that the a
900 preparation of $4,000 asked for to col
s sSS plete the first wing of the historic
~ building will be granted by the leg
200 lature. The demand for the cstabiis
900 ment of home for this department
,oo general all over the state and it w
''00 probably be the only building erect
100 by the legislature. The appropriate
$50 committees have decided that no buil
.. ings shall be erected during the prese
'''' biennial period at any state instit
500 tions, owing to the existence of the sta
1850 debt.
'''' Fw. R1cKNELL
800 ri ca IA N