Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-02-15
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DIES MONIES, Feb. IL. 1900.
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President johnson of the State Agri-
cultural society is here in the interests
of the Hartman bill, to establish q
department of agriculture. He says
the state ought to sell the coal rights
under the fair grounds; that there 10
at least 100 acres of coal there and
may be twice as much, worth about
$500 an acre for the mining rights
alone. He is of the opinion that if tho
state does not sell this right. mining
companies will ultimately steal all the
coal. In fact he is of the opinion
there Is good warrant now for a care
full investigation to determine whether
any of it Is now being taken out. The
money, he says, would put the fair
grounds in magnificent conditions; and
If the state was not willing to have IL
used in this way, it would be quite an
ornament to the interior Of the treas
ury.
Rev. j. c. George, of Cedar Falls,
state superintendent of the prison de-
partment of the American Homefind-
ing association, was given hearing
before the two house committees, those
on penitentiaries and on pardons. The
association is interested in finding
homes and employment for those dis
charged from Anamosa, Mitchelville
and other penal or reformatory insti-
buttons. Mr.. George urges that the
board of control take the matter up
and that department be created I'M
der the board, and fund placed at
the disposal of the department, to look
after those discharged from penal or
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members of these committees are in
clined to believe the state should take
the matter in hand. and make some
provision as suggested.
The Sioux. City Bar Association has
decided to ask the legislature to allow
one more judge for the Fourth judicial
district and to cut off Harrison county.
The lawyers will do all in their pow
err to get the measure passed by the
legislature.
Representative Boysen, of Audubon
county, has introduced in the house q
bill to provide that cities and counties
may, in the discretion of the board of
supervisors, subTtitute vote by bal
lot for the petition form of consent for
saloons. The law provides that in
cities of over 5000 the council may, by
majority vote, submit the question to
ballot by secret vote; in counties the
board of supervisors may submit IL
likewise.
Plans are being made for the erection
during the coming summer in Des
Moines of two of the largest wholesale
hardware houses in the west. One Of
them will be owned and operated BY
Messrs. G. J. and +. III. Luthe, who re-
Gently retired from the wholesale hard.
ware company of Patrick & Luthe, and
the other, If the present plans are con.
summated, will be owned by firm
from abroad, representative of which
visited the city for the purpose of in.
vestigating in regard to the removal OF
the wholesale hardware house now
owned by the firm in a western city to
Des Moines.
The Iowa Wholesale Butter and Egg
Dealers Association at it's annual
meeting reelected it's old officers, az
follows: President, A. Rhynsberger,
of Pella; secretary, w. NJ. Verhey, Of
Des Moines; treasurer, j. I. Davis, OF
Perry The association adjourned to
meet again in Des Moines, March %.
The house has passed bill repeating
the law taxing Iowa insurance COM
panies per cent on their gross receipts
The supreme court recently held that
the law making this tax in lieu of all
other taxes is unconstitutional. The
companies have been compelled to pay
local taxes and the present law is be.
lieved to be worthless. Some new
plan for taxing insurance companies is
likely to be adopted by this legislature.
The bill as passed relieves mutual or
assessment life insurance companies Of
all taxes, amounting to something over
$50, 900 year.
At meeting of the ways and means
committee of the senate it was decided
to recommend for passage the bill in
troduced by Senator Fitzpatrick pro-
viding for levy of one-tenth of a mill
tax for five years for building fund
for the State Agricultural College. The
favorable report was agreed upon
with the understanding that the col.
lege will not ask direct appropriation
for building. It has asked for $3.50, ZOO
for buildings, but IL the tax is voted
this may be withdrawn. or part of it at
least. The same rule applies to the
State University. The friends of the
College are very much
pleased with the action of the commit.
tee. The ways and means committee
of the house looks with favor, also, up
on this proposition and upon that OF
the State University, so that there now
seems little doubt Of the action of the
with respect to these two
great institutions