Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-11
NEW LAWS FOR IOWA.
MANY MEASURES BECOME EFF.
FEcTivE JULY FOURTH.
Half the Lave Passed by the Last
Legislature Go Into Operation Upon
Nation's Birthday Changes In Stat
.utes Governing Elections and Cities.

" "
Des Molnes correspondence:
Over 100 laws passed by the last Gen
eral Assembly of Iowa went into effect
July 4. This is about 30 per cent Of the
number enacted by the Legislature, the
other half having become effective upon
publication.
From the fourth day Of July the iowa
State Agricultural Society is merged into
the State bureau of agriculture, with all
the agricultural interests of the State UNI
der it.
Several new commissions created by
the last General Assembly assumed their
duties with the Fourth of July. One of
these is the municipal code commission,
which has charge Of the recodiication of
all the laws affecting the municipalities
of the State. 1t will report to the next
General Assembly. The capital improve
ment commission, that to examine voting
machines, the veterinary commission, and
the one to locate monuments to Iowa
troops upon the field of Vicksburg on the
date above mentioned took up their du-
ties.
There is nm important change which
affects the State library interests the
new State library commission, which
became operative at that time.
There are also n number Of changes
which affect the voting laws of the State.
The one changing the time of closing the
polls from q to Z O'Clock p. m. became eff
fective on publication The bill authoriz-
ing the use of the voting machine in the
State became effective July 4, and the
members of the voting machine commits
sion will begin at once their work Of
examining the various machines which
have applied for Endorsements. An inn
portant provision affecting the ballot is
that the writing Of cross opposite a
blank space on the ballot without writ
ing in the name of a candidate, or writing
the name without the cross opposite it, or
any marking in the squares below the
circle on the ticket shall not invalidate
the ballot of the voter, Heretofore the
provisions regarding invalidation of the
Australian ballot have been more strict.
There is also II provision for registration
| of voters Mt all city or special elections,
| SO that any voter not coming In since the
last general election may vote. Another
important provision is not requiring votes
upon constitutional amendments or 9TH
err public measures to be by separate bal
lot. This will affect the vote on the
Titus biennial elections proposition which
goes before the people this fall for rnti-
fication or rejection.
More than dozen new laws affect the
government of the cities of the State. The
most important of these, including the
one limiting the Indebtedness of cities to
one and one-fourth Of the actual value
Of the property returned by the last as.
sessment list, md the other providing
that special assessments in cities shall
not exceed the benefits accruing to abut-
ting property, and in no case shall exceed
% per cent Of the value of the property,
have already become effective. By the
terms of one Of the laws which became
effective July 4 the park commissioners
of all cities of the first class in the State
are authorized to increase the tax levy
for park purposes from to 8 mills an
nually and grants to boards of supervis-
ors the right to levy an additional tax in
the years 1900, 1901, 1902 and 1903 This
measure was introduced in the interests
of the city of Des Moines and its river
front improvements. Another new meas
ure extends the use of free public libra
ries in cities and towns to residents of the
rural districts. Since July cities may
build sidewalks Of any material they
choose, providing the cost does not exceed
40 per cent per lineal foot.
There are few changes in the school
laws Of the State, but none of far-reacll-
ing Importance, except the one changing
the laws governing the issuance of certi-
ficates of graduates of the State Normal
School. 1t does away 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
ngitation by the normal departments Of
the UNCONVENTIONAL schools Of the State
during the past session of the Legisla-
ture The law requiring teachers to pass
an examination in vocal music also be-
came effective at that time.