Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-05
NEW LAWS IN FORCE
Over One Hundred Became Opera
tive duly Fourth.
MANY CHANGES In CITY GOVERNMENT
Two Hundred and Seventeen Laws
Were Passed by the Last General As
sembly-About One Hundred and
Seventeen Became Effective.

The session laws of the Twenty
eighth general assembly left the hands
of the printer this week and show that
PIT measures were enacted, 100 of
which become operative July a.
the remainder becoming effective upon
publication, which includes the new
building and lean law, altho it is the
same as imperative at the present time,
the associations having until July Is
to comply with its provisions. This law
promises to attract more attention
thruout the state than any other pass
ed this year., it being altogether prob
Bile that large number of its proyis-
ions will be contested in the courts.
Already, in many cases, the building
and loan people have indicated that
they will resist it, particularly on the
ground of unconstitutionality and that
it operates to invaEdate contracts al
ready made at the time of its passage.
Changes in City Government.
More than a dozen new laws effect
the government of the cities of the
state. The most important of these in
GLIDING the one limiting the indebted
ness of cities to one-fourth of the ac-
tnal value of property, returned by the
last assessment list, and the other pro-
viding that special assessment in cities
shall not exceed the benefits accruing
to AUDITING property and in no case
shall exceed 25 per cent of the value
of the property, have already become
effective. By the terms of one of the
laws which becomes effective now the
park commissioners of all cities of the
first class in the state are authorized
to increase the tax levy for park pur-
poses from 2 to mills annually, and
grants. to boards of supervisors the
right to levy an additional tax in the
years 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1908. This
measure was introduced in the inter-
ests of the city of Des Moines and its
river, front improvements. Another
new measure extends the use of free
public libraries in cities and towns to
residents of the rural districts. After
July / cities may build sidewalks of any
material they chose, providing the cost
does not exceed 40 per cent per linear
foot.
Several appropriations become avail
able at this time, but chiefly those of
minor Importance, as the largest APP
preparations were made available at
once. Many of the salaries which have
been raised go into effect now, includ-
Ing the Adlutant generals, which is in
( creased $500 annually. There are a few
changes in the school laws of the state,
but none of far-reaching Importance,
except the one changing the laws
governing the issuance of certificates
to graduates of the state Normal
school 1t does away with the prefer
ence now given to graduates of the
normal schools, and with the
power to issue certificates or diplomas
to teachers from another state on the
standing there. This is the bill which
resulted from the agitation by the nor
NAL departments of the UNCONVENTIONAL
schools of the state during the past ses-
curing teachers to pass an examina-
-tion in vocal music also becomes eff
fective at this time.
Coal Miners and Other Workers.
Several measures effecting the coal
mining interests of the state will be-
come laws at this time also. Among
them is the one requiring moneys
earned by miners in the first half of
the month to be paid them by the
first Saturday after the twentieth of
the month, and that earned in the last
half to be paid not later than the first
Saturday after the fifth of the next
month. The Titus anti-convict' labor
law, prohibiting the making of pearl
buttons or butter tubs in the state pen
itentiaries, after present contracts are
exhausted, also becomes law. The
measure giving the state dairy commits
sioner a new assistant is also effective
now, as well as large number of le-
CALLING acts, and other miscellaneous
provisions of greater or less impor-
tance. Dhe bill which carries the in
grease in the adjutant generals salary,
Hlso provides for doing away with the
bld brigade organizations of the guard
Ind raising the standard of physical
examinations.
Relating to the Ballot.
There. are also number of changes
ut this time which effect the voting
laws of the state. The one changing
the time of closing the polls from to
o'clock p. m. became effective on
publication. The bill authorizing the
use of the voting machine in the state
be ONES effective now, and the mem
bers of the voting machine commission
will begin at once their work of ex-
aiming the various machines which
have applied for endorsements. An
important. provision affecting the bal
lot is that the writing of a cross oppo-
site blank space on the ballot with
out writing in the name of the candi-
date, or the writing of the name
without the cross opposite it,
or any marking in the squares
below the circle on the ticket, shall not
inyalidate the ballot of the voter. Here
tofore the provisions regarding inval-
idation of the Australian ballot have
been more strict. There is also new
provision for registration of voters at
all city or special elections. SO that any
voter coming in since the last general
election may vote. Another important
provision is that requiring votes upon
Y constitutional amendments or other
public measures to be by separate bal
wv a