Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-06
UPHOLDS
The Law .
Senate Promptly Defeats Bill
to Abolish Precedence Of
Mechanics Lien.
THE CHESHIRE BILLS.
Great Dimculty Experienced in Getting
Them Outof Committee-Governo
Salary Bill Will Probably Pass
Senate-Other Capitol News

Des Moines, March Especial Cor
respond 1.-The senate held long
debate at the afternoon session yester-
day on a bill by Healy to change the
mechanics lien laws. The present law
provides that claim for labor shall
have precedence Ito any other claim,
and Senator Healy's bill proposed to
modify this in some cases, so that a
legally executed and recorded instru-
ment should have precedence. He
made a strong fight for his measure.
Senators Hubbard, Porter and one or
two Others took ground against him,
declaring that the present law is in
tended to protect the working man in
his right to his wages; that it has been
on the statute books for many years,
and is universally recognized as only a
fair assurance to labor of it's share of
its product. Healy had most of the
lawyers on his side, but when the bill
went to a vote it was defeated, receiv-
ing eighteen votes, with twenty-six in
the negative. It is possible that mo-
ton to reconsider will be filed, and
that the matter will be fought over
again.
The Cheshire Bills.
The Cheshire bills, to establish the
unit OF use basis of taxing telegraph,
express, telephone and like companies
were reported to the senate this morn
ing, for passage. These bills have been
opposed with great yigor from the be-
ginning of the session, and their
friends had the greatest difficulty in
getting them out of the committee.
Considerable hard feeling had devel-
oped among members of the commit
tee because of the charges that have
been made as to the motives of mem.
bers in the matter. However, the
bills, in considerably mutilated form
were alt last reported for passage.
Whether minority report will be
made is not certainly known, but it is
expected this course will be taken by
the opposition. The bills will go or
the calendar, and will probably be
made special order for some time
next week, after the Cherokee trip.
The members OF the committee are all
prepared to speak, on one side or the
other. Senator Cheshire is expected tic
make the great speech of the session
in advocating the bills, of which he ha:
been the sponsor for three sessions,
always heretofore meeting defeat. Ht
will probably talk three or four hours
The debate will be the oratorical event
of the session, if the opposition makes
the fight now expected.
The Governors salary.
The governors salary seems certain
to be raised $4,000 and perquisites.
Representative Santee's bill, to in
crease the salary from $4,000 to $4,000
had hard fight to get thru the house
but it finally reached the senate, will
prospects of more liberal reception.
The senate committee has reported it
for passage without dissent. With The
j 81, 100 allowed for service on the exec
utive council and for house rent, tn,
governor will receive a salary of Sc,
100, which is considered IA very digni
Z fled amount.
The house will consider the anti-pass
measure on Wednesday next. TIL,
motion to reconsider, filed by Putnam
will be called up on that day, and it i
expected the matter will be disposed
of in short order. Mr.. Hughes, auth
or OF the measure, gave notice of hi
intention to call it up then. If TIN
members don'b leave town or take to
the cloak room to avoid voting, it will
probably pass. Some Of the democrats
( WHO VOlSui dSdluSU IL DeIOFe dTe now re-
4 ported in line for it, and as it only
failed by one vote, it would seem t,
have q good chance of passage.
The woman suffrage resolution ha.
been fixed as a special order for Thurs
day next.
The house judiciary committee ha
recommended for passage the bill b,
Blake, of Webster, exempting sugar
I beet plants from taxation for ten years
Tt is understood the promoters of SUI
gar beet industry are back of this
measure and will work hard for its
( passage. 1t now lookssas tho the house
would spread its protecting palm owe:
the new institutions, and father them
till past the infancy stage and int.
manhood and able to care for them
selves.
Several House Hills.
In the house this morning the com
mittee on agriculture reported TIL
Kirkwood drainage bill for passage
Whnnf|1n RInnd.