Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-02-07

q womans suffrage bill or rather an
amendment to the constitution Of the
state of Iowa, striking out the word
"male" and providing that such amend
ment be referred to the general assem-
bly, Of 1902.
In the Senate bills were introduced
by Garst, making inmates of the state
institution "wards of the state'', and
one by Young of Lee, providing for
striking out the words "Poor House"
in the code and substituting the words
Home for the Friendless".
I notice that a letter in your con-
temporary from Des Moines states that
up to the 9th day of last month no
bill had received the approval of the
governor. This being quite different
from'what your correspondent stated
in former letter, have gone to some
trouble to look the matter up. / find
that my assertion was entirely correct.
The governor signed two bills on the
10th ult., and two more on the oath.
The first of the bills thus made laws
was the enc which ceded to the United
States jurisdiction sufficient ground in
the cities of Clinton, Oskaloosa and
Creston for the erection Of public build
ings thereon. The other signed that
day appropriated s., 800 for the payment
Of the extra help required during the
session of the general assembly. These
bills were signed on the twelfth day of
the session. 1t is twenty-eight wears
since any bill became law so early in
the session, and it is thirty-four years
since two bills got executive sanction
80 early in the sitting of the legislative
body. No bill has become law on an
earlier day in the session since 1860.
A letter has been received at the
governors office from A. Nuber, who
announces that he has been appointed
by His Majesty, Francis Joseph, En-
peror of Austria and Apostolic King of
Hungary, consul of that empire at Chi
cago, and as such acting consul-general
for district comprising Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming,
and that he has been recognized as
such by the president.
Plain Talk, of this city, has unearth-
ed bit of intelligence that seems to
have escaped the attention Of every
body who has ever written anything
concerning the history of Iowa. 1t ap-
pears therefrohl that while governor
Robert Lucas was the first governor OF
Iowa territory, he was not the first
person appointed to that distinction.
1t appears that brevet brigadier-general
Henry Atkinson has or had, that honor
His name was duly sent to the Senate
and it was confirmed. but he declined
or rather resigned, according to the
newspaper announcement of the ap
pointment OF governor Lucas as his sue
cessor. Gen. Atkinson had been in the
army for thirty years, having taker
part in the war of 1912, during which
he was made colonel of the Fourth and
shortly afterwards Of the Thirty-seventh
regiment of infantry. The following
year. which saw the army reduced to .
peace basis, he became colonel OF tn.
Sixth infantry, which he retained un
til his death in 1912. He was brevetet
brigadier more than twenty years be
fore his death. Fort Atkinson, il
Winneshiek county, and the town o
the same name in Wisconsin are re
minders of this brave soldier, who pre-
ferred to remain i'm the army to serving
in civil Office. Much of Gen. Atkin
sons later military career was in thu
vicinity of the upper Mississippi.
Mr. Otto Gunderson, of Ossian, spen
\ few days here last week, visiting hi
brother, Il. II. He returned home las
Monday. And by the way, II any on'
should ask how Burt Gunderson il
getting along, just tell them that Stat
Auditor Merriam says, he suits me al
right. But my letter is too long
Hoping to be able to take sleigh rid
, In Decorah next Saturday, will sa'
goodby.
IL THOMAS GRAHAM.