Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-23
Bill to Do Away With Offices
Of Printer and Binder.
CONCERNS IOWA SALOONS
Supreme Court Will Soon Render an
Opinion Which May Close Every
Saloon In the State, or Again
AMay Legalize TheDa-

. Des Moines, Jan. 22.-(special.)-
Senator Lambert of jackson county
introduced bill in the senate Satur-
day. providing for the abolition of the
offices of state printer and binder. The
bill provides that all state printing and
binding shall be awarded to the lowest
and best bidder for the work. 1t also
provides that the executive council
shall be made a commission to let all
contracts. The bill does not in any
way interfere with the board OF con-
trolls printing and binding.
Senator Lambert's bill divides the
state work into three classes. The first
of these is the work done for the legis-
lature and includes bills, journals, and
all other matter used by the legisla-
ture. OF needed in connection with the
work of that body. The second class
includes session laws, reports from all
state departments, ETC., and provides
that these contracts shall be let sepa-
rately. The third class, which is al
SO to be contracted separately, includes
all circulars and blanks necessary to
the work in the various state depart
ments. The bill requires all contracts
shall be let for a period of four years,
and that each contractor shall furnish
$4,000 bond. Senator Lambert's bill
does not effect the existing scale OF
maximum prices for state work. This
is retained to do away with the possi-
biiity OF unreasonable charges, even
under the contract system.
b The new state printing and binding
bill is being pretty generally discuss
ed about the hotels and state house.
The friends of Messrs. Murphy and
Iedford say there is no doubt in their
minds but what it will be defeated.
There are a large number, however,
who now claim to believe the state
binding and printing plums will never
again be plucked. There has as vet
been no factional aldevelopments in the
matter TO sneak of, but these are look
ed for the moment the bill is reported.
It is confidently expected by those,
closely associated with the members
that the bill will be defeated. Altho
there has been nothing of direct ma
ture to warrant the belief, it is gen
orally expected the Eaton forces of
the house will poll with the democrats
against the measure. II this is done
the bill is doomed
There is considerable public senti-
ment mixed up in the state printing
and binding business. The members
are hearing from the subject from
nearly all parts OF the state, and the
sound that greets them more than
anything else is, The state printing
and binding snap must become a thing
of the past" The people generally
are waking up to realization of the
situation, and asking their members
to vote the present law down. In Des
Moines the matter is common conver-
sation and meets with the approval of
large majority. BUT there is another
feature connected with the state print
ing and binding law that receives its
share of attention, especially from
the members. Mr.. Register Clarkson's
persistent appeal for the privilege Of
doing the work for IS per cent of the
present cost is thought to come from
a feeling attained from having eaten
grapes which were not sweet One
prominent Bowen representative said
Yesterday: 81 think it pretty small in
Clarl son to now say he'll do the work
for Is per cent of what it costs, after
having held one of the jobs himself
for six years. 1t looks like case Of
sour grapes to me. He's had all there
| was in it, and had it at n time when
| it was real fat, and to make fight on
the other side just at present strikes
| me as beino rather SMALL"
An opinion is expected from the
! supreme court at its present session
which will either close, or unquestion-
ably establish, nearly every saloon in
the state of Iowa. 1t is the case which
was appealed from Judge Bishops
court in this district, and has to do
with the legality of the petitions of
consent obtained in Iowa before the
last amendment of the existing Iowa
liquor law. The original law said that
| before saloons could operate in city,
town or county. the written consent
of majority of the voters at the last
| preceding general election should have
been secured and filed with the coun-
| tv auditor. The amendment provided
| that the petition must not only be OBJ
tanned and filed with the county audi
tor, but must also be passed upon by
the board of supervisors. Very few OF
! the petitions under which Iowa sa-
looms are now operating have ever
been passed upon by the boards OF
supervisors of the various counties,
| having been secured before the enact
ment of the amendment. The Iowa
.Anti-Saloon League argues that be-
cause the saloons have not met the
new requirements they are operating
| Illegally and can be closed. On the
other hand the saloon men say they
compiled with the requirements of the
law as it was at the time they secured
! the petition, and cannot be compelled
to go thru the task of securing new
petitions. The case now pending was
| brought by the Des Moines branch of
| the Anti-Saloon League as a. test.
Judge Bishop decided tha, the old pc
4 tition. was sufficient. The league ap-
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