Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-06

every county institution that is not
well conducted. Inc board can make
any regulation it chooses, and will be
close up any Objectionable institution.
County and private asylums which are
conducted on satisfactory basis can
continue; but the number that will
be able to do so will be small, Tor the
patients is certain to be larger when
the number is small than when it is
large. County asylums operated on as
state will soon be found more eXpen-
the private institutions, which are all
til.ue their existence. This substitute
bill was discussed at length, and altho
it was not reported out, the sentiment
to it. Hearings were granted to Dav-
men. Those present and speaking
of Davenport, John NJ. Calvin, j. NJ.
Council b.uls, and j. j. Mccarthy, OF
Dubuque.
Library Consolidation.
1t was rather curious coincidence
by which the house and senate at al
most exactly the same lime passed the
library cons ,lidation bill, late in YES
terday afternoons session, and made
the bill read in one house exactly as
it read in the other. The bill, introduce
ed early in the session in both houses,
provides that the miscellaneous depart
ment of the state library shall be con-
solidated with the historical depart
ment and library; that the new con
solidated library shall be removed to
the hall of history, recently built;
and that the law library shall remain
in the present quarters of the state
library at the capitol. The salary of
the state librarian is fixed at So 1000,
and he has general charge of both de-
partments; the curator's salary is plac-
ed at 81, 1000, and the assistant librarian
will receive $1,000. At present Librarian
Brigham receives $1,000, curator Al
drich $1,000 and Assistant librarian
Small $720. Both houses fixed the fig
ures alike, acting independently. 1t
means that in a few more years the
Iowa library will be one of the finest
in the west, and that the law library
will continue to be one of the best
in the country.
Convict Labor Bill.
The Titus Hubbard convict labor bill
has at last been reported for passage
in the upper house. Whether it will
pass the senate is close question.
Lobbies for the manufacturing con-
Germs which hold contracts for convict
labor have been working diligently on
the ground in the effort to prevent
passage. The bill provides that convict
labor shall not be contracted, but must
be employed exclusively in public
works, OF making articles for use in
the institutions. The board of control
favors the contract plan. Warden
Jones of the Anamosa pententiary has
spent good deal of time here, work
ing against the Titus-Hubbard bill.
The first time he came to town Sena-
tor Titus, after learning what he was
doing, went to Judge Kline and asked
that he be sent home. Senator Titus
didn't believe it should lie in the
mouth of a superintendent of an in
| stitution to talk quite, so much against
a piece of proposed legislation. Judge
Kline sent Warden Jones home. A
week later Warden Jones appeared
again, and again Mr.. Titus complained.
Again the warden was sent home. A
third time Warden Jones came to town
and again he was found to be lobbying
against the bill; and again, on com
plant of Senator Titus, ne was sent
home by Judge Kline. 1t is rumored
that some pretty plain language was
used by Judge Kline the last time, a
day or two ago. Mr.. Jones may be
entirely warranted in his remarlla BILE
interest in this matter, but inasmuch
as he has been working in enthusiastic
Incorporation with one of the most ear
nest lobbies of the session, he is I'M
der suspicion of taking undue interest.
The bill is now reported for passage,
having got out of the senate commit
tee by vote of seven to six. Those
voting to report is were Senators Ches-
hire, Blanchard. Trewin, Hobart, Titus,
Hubbard and Ball; those opposing the
report were Finch, Lewis, Mullan, Nc
Arthur, Hazelton and Bolter. The
Shouse committee at the same time re-
lported it with only one opposing
vote. 1t will pass the house without
much trouble, but whether it will fare
as well in the senate is uncertain.
Rural school Libraries.
The senate has passed the bill to
provide for the establishment of Ii
brary in every rural school district in
the state. This bill provides that each
year from 5 to Is cents per capita Of
lths school population shall be invested
in books, to be selected from a list pre-
pared by the state superintendent
of public instruction. The school sec
rotary shall be librarian. The library
shall. be. held for general circulation,
and not particularly for school pur-
poses.
The Saloon Petitions.
There. is beginning to be opposition
to the measures for legislating the sa-