Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-01-29


here he indicated further his purpose
not to simply give an endorsement tc
these principles, but to give them an
aggressive support. Senator DolliveI
has also partially agreed to take ur
another matter in an aggressive way
A committee representing the recent
interstate commerce law convention
has asked him to introduce and urge in
the senate a bill giving to the inter
state commerce commission the power
to make and enforce a schedule OF
maximum interstate freight rates
Such a bill has been introduced in the
house by Congressman Corliss OF
Michigan. Senator Dolliver has prom
Used to give a definite reply to the
committee within a few days.
Dedicate University Hall.
The Hall of Liberal Arts for the
State university, in the dedicatory
exercises of which, on Thursday last
Senator Dolliver. Governor Cummins
Speaker Eaton and others participated
and which were attended by practical
ly the entire membership of the legis-
lature, cost 1888, 692.06, but as w. l.
Babb of Mt Pleasant, chairman of the
building committee of the board of
regents, explained, the materials were
purchased for % per cent less than
they could be purchased now, hence 1t
is accounted a quarter of a million
dollar structure. 1t will furnish a
home for the following departments:
English, French, German, Latin,
Greek, history, political science, ped
agogy, government and administra-
ton, psychology and mathematics. The
medical department of the university
now asks for building of the same
proportions, and it was to impress
upon the members of the assembly its
necessity that they were invited to
the dedicatory exercises.
Redistricting Problem.
According to the constitution the
state must be redistricted into con-
stitutional and senatorial, as well as
congressional, districts this winter.
The problem as to representative dis
tricts is difficult; in fact, little con-
sideration is sufficient to show that
it will be impossible if the constitu-
ton is to be followed. This instru-
ment requires that there be not to ex-
coed 100 representatives the ratio of
representation must be fixed by law;
any county having more than half this
ratio number of population must be
given a representative, and county
that has one and one-half times the
number must be given two representa-
tives. There are 80 counties in the
state. The plan worked well when
there were a considerable number of
sparsely settled counties contiguous.
Now it will not work With a state
population of 2,231,S5O the ratio for
representatives is 22,31S. Every coun-
ty with 11,160 or more must be given
representative. There are 95 such
counties. OF the four counties not en-
titled to a representative each, three
are in a bunch-Dickinson, Emmett
and Osceola-constituting at present
a district If either two are linked
to have a representative regardless of
population. Then there is Worth, sur
rounded by counties, each entitled to
a representative, which, unless it is
to have taxation without representa-
ton, must have member of the house.
This leaves but two members to go to
counties with two representatives.
The most populous counties are Polk,
and Dubuque Other counties whicS
now have two members of the house
are Woodbury., Linn, Pottawattamie
Lee, Des Moines and Clinton. OF
course, this is mere speculation, for
since the constitution will have to be
fractured in making a redistricting
one may not be made and If made the
arrangement will depend upon many
questions.
Vote on Senators.
The final formalities connected
with the election of Senators Allison
and Dolliver took place Wednesday
when the assembly in joint convention
declared the vote taken the preceding
DAY III LH6 lWO nOuoSo, Which was.
House-Allison, 50; Thayer, 16; alb
sent, 2; Dolliver, SO; Seerley, 16; alb
sent, 1.
Senate-Allison, SO; Thayer, 10; alb
sent, 4 Dolliver. So; Seerley, 10; alb
sent, 4.
The vote was on strictly party lines
Two educational bills of first i'm
portance have already been intro
duced. One is compulsory free text
book bill by Senator Hazleton, which is
backed by the labor interests of the
state. The present law makes the
furnishing of text books free optional
with voters. The other is the house
bill, by Powers, providing that schoo
districts may give free transportation
to pupils when it is deemed best tC
close the home schools and send them
to other districts. There is also a
clause compelling the closing OF
schools and the sending of pupils to
adjacent districts when the attendance
of pupils falls below ten for period OF
ten days. State Superintendent Bar
rett and educational leaders generally
favor a bill along the lines OF that OF
fered by Powers, but they wcrt Il