Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-12

Authorizes an increase of the park
tax IN all cities to 3 mills, and in the
city OF Des Moines for the years 1900,
1901, 1902 and 1908 to 4 mills.
Act empowering cities which have
municipal lighting plants TO furnish
heat TO other than city buildings for
compensation.
authorizing the appointment Of as
SCISSORS in new towns and which under
the law as to Incorporation and town
elections, would be without assessors
during the first year if this act We're
not passed. The appointee serves only
until the first succeeding election.
Authorizing the levy of sewer taxes
for construction of water ways only
in sewer districts affected instead Of
on all cit. property.
Reducing the interest required ON
water works funds from four to three
per cent.
Allowing county boards of supervis-
ors and councils of cities and towns to-
adopt voting machines by majority
vote for use in one or more precincts.
Three commissioners are to be APP
pointed by the governor to examine
machines submitted for use, the man
ufacturers to pay the expense. Elab-
crate provision is made for the use of
the machines.
Providing that if voter writes a
name in blank without cross oppo-
site, or marks cross opposite blank,
or makes cross in a square below 4
| marked circle, it shall not invalidate
his ballot.
| Providing for special elections to fill
vacancies on school boards.
Requiring submission to popular
vote of constitutional amendments and
| other questions on a ballot separate
| from the regular ballot and of a differ
ent color.
Transferring Harrison county from
the fourth to the fifteenth judicial dis
trict.
Joint Resolution No. 1.-Provides for
the submission to popular vote of an
amendment to the constitution provid-
| ing for biennial elections, instead of
annual elections. This resolution pass
ed the twenty-seventh general assem-
submitted to vote this fall. There was
| ho opPOSlSlOu w 1llC ISSOluUlOll Ill llS
twenty-eighth general assembly.
Providing for the trial of election
contest cases to the judge, as in equity
cases, instead of to a jury, the court
determining anew all questions arising
in the contest.
Remedies a fancied defect in the law
relating to the election of presidential
electors. Under the law enacted when
the code was revised the electors
might be elected by congressional dis
tricts, it was feared, and this law
makes it certain that they are to be
elected by the state at large.
General Taxation.
Authorizes the certifcation to the
county treasurer for collection as 9th.
er taxes of special assessments for
building permanent sidewalks. This
act corrects an omission in the code.
4 Taxing telegraph and telephone
companies on the same plan that rail
way companies and telegraph and tele.
4 phone property have been taxed
heretofore, but providing for distri
button of the taxes collected in the va.
rious counties, towns, school districts
etc, thru which the lines run.
Taxing express companies on the
mileage unit plan, as proposed by Sen
ator Cheshire, tho in modified form
allowing exceptions and deductions t.
make the law conform to recent court
decisions.
| Authorizing the president of the sen.
ate and speaker of the house to APP.
point a commission of three members
of each house revise and codify the
special assessment laws to conform
with the recent court decisions and re
port to the next general assembly.
$4,000 to distribution and So 900 to en-.
Authorizing the executive council tt
re-assess and collect, under valid law
taxes held to be invalid.
Internal improvements.
| Authorizing notice to remove fence.
from highways to be served on thu
agent of the owner, as well as on the
owner of property. #
Il Changes the hour of closing ths
polls from p. m. to p. m. Manda
tory in all precincts.
4 Reducing the penalty or violation Of
the law requiring care in conducting
steam threshers thru the highway!
such as laying planks across culverts
! ana bridges Tor tne WneelS TO run OF
to $1oo fine OF thirty days in Jail. This
is to bring the defense within the jur
isdiction of justice courts insuring bet
ter observances of the law.
/ Appropriating $4,000 for the fisl
and game. commission. OF this 5,Oo(
goes to restocking rivers and lakes
$4,000 to distribution and $500 to en-
forcement of the law.
| Requiring weeds in the public high
way TO be cut at the expense of the
township.
Giving the Des Moines park commits
sioners control of the Des Moines river
bed and banks between Raccoon Forl
and the upper limits of Union park
The board is authorized to use its
funds to improve and beautify the
banks for use and pleasure, to straigh
ten and fill in the banks and preserve
the same by walls, piling, etc, to con.
strnct bridges, build dam and have
] exclusive control of the water between
the two dams when the lower one j.
n cfrn iol IL.