Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-12
ottumwa's Able Representative
Talks About Legislative Work.
MOST IMPORTANT OF THE NEW LAWS,
And Some Bills of Importance That
Failed = The Electors of WapeIlo
County Never More Faithfully
Represented
From Tuesdays Daily.

The Courier this morning sought an
interview with Hon. A. w. Buchanan,
Wapello county's able and popular rep
resentative in the legislature, as to the
most important work accomplished by
the session just closed. Mr. Buchanan
responded briefly with a most inter-
esting resume of the principal new
laws enacted which we give herewith.
In this connection the Courier wants
to give expression to the opinion which
we know is held universally thruout
the county, and that is that the elect
ors OF Wapello county have never been
better or more faithfully represented"
in the legislature than they have been
by Mr.. Buchanan. He has fulfilled ev-
cry expectation of his constituents,
and his name and services are connect
ed with much of the most important
legislation that was enacted into law
Among the members of the house Mr..
Buchanan was QUICKLY recognized as a
man of unusually sound, as well as
conservative judgment and one who
could be depended upon 10 take such
stand on every important measure as
he believed was right, and then main
tain 1t forcefully and consistently. In
fact at Des MOines, thruout the entire
session, Mr.. Buchanan was recognized
as one of the strong men of the house.
Ii the proposed constitutional amend-
ment in regard to biennial elections is
adopted by the people, Mr.. Buchanan
will serve another term in the legisla-
ture without reelection. If the
amendment is not adopted the people
will, with great unanimity, ask him
to serve them again either as Il MEM
Der of the house or senate. The inter
view above referred to follows here
with:
About $50 bills We're introduced in
the senate and house. OF this
number two hundred We're en-
acted into law. Probably the
one interesting the most people in the
state is the biennial election law. This
bill provides for general election ev-
cry two years and provides also that
officers elected last fall shall be con-
tinued in Office one year. This includes
state and county officers.
The bill providing for voting ma
chimes is of general interest. This bill
provides that boards of supervisors
may CONTRACT for one or more voting
machines for the purpose of expert
menting.
A bill for special assessments of cit
les and towns, was also enacted. This
{ bill provides that special assessments
can be made againt property at 25 per
cent of the value, ascertained by the
last assessment and in no case can the
assessment be larger than the accrued
benefits.
The Cheshire bill taxing express
companies, taxes on the real and in
tangeable value. This is an inno-
walton in Iowa and assessments will be
watched with considerable interest.
The Blanchard telegraph and tele-
phone tax bill is also important. The
stipulated insurance bill is another of
Importance; also bill exempting from
taxation beet sugar and the manufac-
ture thereof, for ten years. The val
ued policy bill has been before the leg
islature for the last twenty years;
sometimes passed the senate and failed
in the house, and other times passed
I'm the house and failed in
the senate. This time it be-
came a law as far as buildings are con-
cerned. The merchandise and house
hold goods clause was stricken from
the bill.
Bnfiding and Loan Measure.
This bill effects $13,oOO,OOo worth of
property in Iowa and is considered by
ZONE to be detrimental to the interests
of the building and loan companies.
1T was written and fostered by Attor-