Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-05
It Provides for the Creation of
q State Building and
Loan Department.
GOOD WORK OF AUTHOR
Bill is One of the Most Important Meas-
ures of the SessIon-A Capitol Com.
mission is Created-The County
Insane = Appropriation.

Des Moines, April A. Especial Core
spondence.) The building and loan
measures passed the house yesterday.
One is the senate building and loan
committee bill passed by the upper
body last week. 1t has been described
by your correspondent before, and in
brief provides greater restriction upon
this class of business than have ever
existed in the state before. The meas
ure passed without amendment, SO
will become law without further ac-
tion OF the assembly.
n The other bill is the one by Buchan-
an, which provides for the creation cf
building and loan department. in
Iowa. This bill was up before che
house some days ago. but was referred
to the committee and only reported
again last Saturday. Its chief provis-
ion is for the appointment of an in
spector by the governor, and one dep
uty, tooversee the building and loan
business of the state. The bill carries
no appropriation with it, and is eX-
pected to pass the senate without oppo-
sition. 1t is one of the most important
measures of the session, and its pass
age is the result of personal effort of
its author, Representative Buchanan.
The vote on the final passage Of the
measure was SO to II.
Capitol Commission Created.
Yesterday Senator Smiths bill went
thru the senate, the one for the crea-
ton of a capitol commission, which is
70 be appointed by the governor, three
in. number, to investigate needed re-
pairs and Improvements to the state
capitol building. The bill carries an
appropriation OF $500 to defray the ac-
Tual expenses of the commission, which
as to report to the governor not later
than December. /, 1901, a full list of re-
pairs, improvements, alterations, deco
rations, ETC., needed to put the build
ing in good condition.
Appropriations Passed.
The sum of $4,000 was also appro-
priated for the collection and distribu-
ton OF fish by the state fish and game
warden. Two hundred and eighty-tive
! dollars were appropriated to reimburse
Jones county for, the return of es-
capped convicts. For the completion OF
the state historical building $21 900
was appropriated, and for the return
of the Fifty-frst Iowa regiment, $4O.-
600.
In both houses the bulk of the sps-
cial appropriations was introduced in
two large bills, one providing for $780,
f 194.93 for the; state board of control
{ to ,defray the expenses of the institu-
tions under it, and SAL, 800 for the
state educational institutions. These
are expected to be taken up today or
tomorrow. The remainder, Of the APP
preparations will be brought in in an
omnibus bill the last day of the ses-
sion.
Amendatory Act Passed.
The senate yesterday afternoon pass
ed the amendatory act introduced by
Trewin Monday to cure the defect dis.
covered in the insurance bill, whereby
the state would without this ac1 have
been deprived of from $4,000 to $4,000.
Fight ON Benedict Home
There was a lengthy discussion in
the senate yesterday over the question
OF allowing $4,000 for the support
of the Benedict home at Des Moines.
This institution is a private one, but
has been receiving state aid ever since
established. 1t has never before mad
more than $4,000, however, and the
movement to increase the sum this year
has not met with favor. In fact there
was decided opposition to anything be-
ing appropriated for. a private institu-
tion, many members holding that I'M.
der such rule any private institution
in the state might come in and ask the
state for aid. But the friends of the
measure argued that the Benedict home
is doing a state work, that girls from
all parts of the state, and many from
the best families, who have been
Wronged, come to this institution and
are cared for, without their friends
knowing of their disgrace. They argue
also, that if the Benedict home is not
! helped by the state, in time state in
stitution of the same kind will have
TO be established. Senator Nolan, of
Dubuque, tried to get the amount re-
duced to $4,000, and have $4,000 OF
that appropriated. for the Rescue home
at Dubuque, which is of a similar char
acter to the Benedict home. But after
a lengthy discussion his effort failed
and the bill passed as originally pro-
posed. There will unquestionably lie
fight on it in the house, however.
Libel Laws Not TO be Revised.
"A joint meeting of the house and
senate judiciary committees was held
at the close of the session Monday. 1t
was for the purpose of giving the
newspaper men of the, state a hearing
on the subject of revision of the libel
laws. From outside of the city, those
before the committee were G. ID. Ham
OF the Dubuque Herald j.. L. Waite
and G. i. Poor, of the Burlington
Hawkeye, and b. n. Tilinghasr of the
Davenport Gazette. There was Il good
attendance at the meeting, but the de-
cision OF the committee was adverse to
undertaking any legislation on the
subject az this session. 1t was the de-
sire of the newspaper men to have the
judiciary committee of house and SEN
ate frame a BILL modelled after the
laws ON libel now in force in the state
of New Jersey.
AT a session held last evening the
senate passed the bill placing all pri-