Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-06

OAo VI tAc AoSI LII PoA touc " " -.
and the question upon which
it seems some certain radical action
will be taken, will probably be consld-
cred the especial privilege of the upper
body. It is altogether likely the senate
will scorn the house measure, should 1T
pass, and takes upon itself the creation
of measure along this line, or that
it will amend or substitute the Bu-
chanan bill until it retains few of its
original provisions.
The bill was reported by the judi
ciary committee without change, and
the vote upon it in committee was
unanimous. This is strong recon-
mendation, and the lawyers of the
house say it is good measure. 1t
takes the building and loan interests
of the state out of the state auditors
Office, and places them in a separate
department, under the direction of an
inspector or examiner, who has practl-
cally absolute control. 1t is not
thought there will be any opposition
to the measure from the auditors of
fee, as the department is not very
pleasant or profitable one to that Of
fee. The inspector is to be appointed
by the governor, and may appoint an
assistant when necessary. Either the
inspector or the assistant must exam
inc every building and loan and saw
ings and loan association in the state
at least once each year, and oftener if
requested by the boards of directors.
The inspector is to receive a salary of
$1,s00 annually, and the assistant,
81, 200. If the inspector suspects any
building and loan association is not
fully complying with the law he so
notifies the board of directors. If the
trouble is not remedied within twenty
days he steps in and assumes control.
From that on he is responsible for the
association. He appoints liqiduating
committee, which is given eighteen
months in which to wind up the affairs
of the association. Each month it is
required to report to the inspector.
1t is thought eighteen months is not
enough time for this purpose, and an
amendment providing an extension
will probably be offered on the floor
of the house. Mr.. Buchanan favors
the eighteen month limit, as that
would do away entirely with the slow
process of steal indulged in at present
by most court-appointed receivers. The
bill also provides that two or more as
sociations may consolidate. At pres
ent there is no such provision on the
|statute books, and it is often necessary
for one association to dissolve before
consolidation can be effected. The
building and loan people are radically
opposed to the Buchanan bill, and will
put up a hard fight against it. The
vote on the measure is sur, % be close.
In the Senate.
In the senate several important
measures will be considered within a
few days. OF these the most impor-
tant are the Cheshire bills, providing
for a change in the method of assess
ment and taxation of telegraph, tele-
phone and express companies. The
bills have been reported out of the SEN
ate ways and means committee so
amended as to leave but few OF the
original provisions. A minority report
however, asks the passage of the orig
inal bills, and hard fight is ahead
on the issue.
The senate has not yet taken action
on any of the special assessment bills,
and this is one of the matters of inn
portance TO be considered soon. 1t is
expected the system of taxation for
special purposes will be entirely chang
ed, and a great deal of time will be
consumed in the discussions. The
most important consideration under
this head is the proposed change in
| the paving laws. contained in a bill
by Senator Hazelton, of Council Bluffs.
The present method of assessing for
WV, OF,
front foot has been held unconstitu-
tional in a lower court, and is so con-
sidered by several of the lawyers and
older senators. The necessity of a
change is recognized. The Hazelton
lbill provides that property shall be as
sessed for paving according to its val
ue and the benefits accruing.
Another senate measure which will
occupy considerable time, and will
come up for consideration this week
or early next, is the Titus convict la
lbor bill. The senate committee on iu-
dietary has reported the bill for pas
sage, but the vote in committee was
but seven to six. Sentiment in the
senate is about equally divided on the
question of convict labor. In the
house a counterpart of the Titus bill
has been introduced by Representative
Theunen, of Scott county. The COM
mittee on labor has reported the bill
for passage, and it will probably come
up in a few days. The bills provide
that convict labor shall be directed to
making articles for use in state and
county institutions. Representatives
of the labor industries at TT. Madison
and Anamosa have been in the city
several weeks working against the IL
tus and Theunen bills. It is thought
the measure will pass the house but
that it will meet defeat in the senate.
O. P. Newman.
| Honor for an Iowan.
Cedar Rapids, March ESPECIALLY "