Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-02-20
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. Feb. IL. 1898

/ sued an ultlmatum to number Of the
| big foreign fire insurance companies
| that have paid to the treasurer of
state the 312 per cent tax required by
law but have done so under protest.
Unless their protests are withdrawn
the auditor has notified them they will
be refused certificates to transact
business in Iowa for the current year.
The companies that are affected are
the following all companies organized
or incorporated outside of the
United States: Liverpool and London
| and Globe, Prussian National Insur.
ance company, North British and Mer.
camille Insurance company of London
and Edinburgh, London Assurance
corporation of London. the Imperial
Insurance company, limited, of Eng
land. Lion Fire Insurance company OF
Hartford Omitted States branch),
Northern Assurance company. limited
Of London. Atlas Assurance company
limited, of London. Scottish company.
Norwich Union Fire Insurance society
of England
| Representative Sweeley, of Wood
curry county. has decided to divide his
telephone bill, which met an unfavor-
able reception in the committee on
municipal corporations. II will be
divided into three bills and he hopes
to be able to secure the passage of
one of them at least. The first bill
will be for municipal ownership. The
second will give cities the right to
| regulate prices charged for service.
This measure is likely to pass. Many
OF the members of the committee who
| NJ cd No oil -,
| of this one. A third bill will require
companies to connect with each other
for telephone service between towns.
1t is this part in which Mr.. Sweeley
Is most interested and this is also the
| portion that has met with the greatest
|, opposition from all the companies.
Mr.. Sweeley believes, however, that
he will be able to do more with the
different measures separated than
with them all embodied in one bill.
The most important measure of
railroad legislation which has been
introduced so far in this session is
the amendment to the present law Of
fered by Senator Hogue, which in eff.
feet compels railroads to furnish as
many freight cars to shippers in this
state as they may demand. Senator
Hogue declares that the purpose of
the bill Is this very thing, that is, to
force the railroads to furnish cars to
| every man who asks for them This
| is to say that il the railroad has not
the cars demanded, 1t must procure
them. II means that a refusal to
furnish cars cannot be made by a rail.
road company.
! Senator Crossley's bill for primary
elections Is attracting considerable at.
tention in the legislature and several
| members OF the committee on cleo
| lions have expressed themselves as In
favor of leaving 1t optional as the law
is at present. One great advantage
| OF the proposed law, however, is that
all political parties will be required
to hold their conventions the same
day.
The bill reported by the house COM
| mittee on schools for the consolida-
ton of independent school districts is
along practically the same lines as
suggestions made by State Superin
tendent Barrett. 1t provides for the
consolidation of Independent distrlcts
in the following manner: At the re-
quest of ten voters residing in each OF
the districts which 1t is proposed to
| join together an election is to be call
ed. and II at this election a majority
of the votes cast are in favor of unit
ing the districts another election is
to be called to choose board of di
rectors for the new district. If the
districts consolidated have a total pop
| ulation of less than 500 they are to
be governed by BOARD of directors
consisting of three members, and II
more than 500. by board consisting
of i've members. The bill also pro
vides that school townships and civil
townships may be organized as indie
pendent districts in the same manner.
This does not apply to cities and towns
which constitute districts OF them
selves. Another bill has been intro
duced providing for the Transports
ton Of pupils.
The senate committee on congress
sional and judicial districts killed the
Payne redistricting bill. without dis
senting vote. From the expressions
of members of the cor1rlittee other
redistricting bills are likely to meet
similar fate. The house committee
will probably hold a meeting now
and kill the same bill. which is be-
fore 1t.
The supreme court has decided the
famous Homestead" case involving
the big farm journal of that name
published in this city. AS result of
of the opinion, the Homestead" must
be sold, but not the wisconsin
Farmer" nor the Live Stock Journal"
Kansas City Journal. The order Of
the court is that Mr.. Stewart. who
brought the action. is not entitled to
compensation for his services while
with the company as partner. The
verdict in a measure was a victory
for each side of the case and both
Pierce and Stewart express them
selves as pleased.
The supreme court has unanimously
overruled the motion of the river front
adherents for a new trial in the Polk
county court house litigation. This
disposes of the whole matter and final
ly closes the litigation, it is thought.
wigg-"What beautiful nose she
has" Wagg-"Yes. that's her scent
er of attraction"
| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- -~~~~~<
| why do you call the fast bicycle rider
scoreher?' Because he goes at a hot
pace, makes pedestrians boiling mad,
warns up the police, gets roasted in
court, and then thinks the whole thing
burning shame"
Doesn't it make you the least bit en-
vious to see what elegant furniture Mrs.
Eyefy is putting into her house next
doorf" Not bit. My husband says it
win be sold by the sheriff within six
| months-and III be there to buy"