Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-02-26

Iowa Legislature.


The Senate on Thursday passed the
Hartman resolution to amend the consti-
tuition and increase the number of Repre-
sentatives to ITO. 1t also provided for
reapportionment of the senatorial dis
tricts of the State. This resolution has
been introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative Temple. The original resolu-
ton as presented in both houses provid-
ed for the increase of the number of Rep
resentatves to 1l5 il the population Of
the State ever warranted. but Senator
Hartman consented to changing the
number to ITO. Every county is to have
one Representative, and those with
population equal to one and three-fifths
times the average are to have two. The
Senate committee on constitutional
amendments reported the woman suffrage
amendment for passage. There was prac-
tically no opposition to it in the commit
tee, only one vote being against the meas
ure. 1t will probably meet with opposi-
ton in both the Senate and House, how
| ever. The House committee on ways and
means decided to report for passage the
bill granting an additional one-tenth mill
| levy to the State University for building
purposes. AT present the university re.
| ceiyes one-tenth, and this increases the
levy to one-fiftb mill. The Senate COM
| mittee has already recommended the
same bill for passage. and there is little
| doubt but that it will pass both houses.
The House Friday put in the greater
| part of the session in discussing and yot-
ing upon the bill of Langau of Clinton,
to amend the code relating to insurance
! other than life. The special provision
affected by this measure is that provid-
ing Tor arbitration and appraisement. To
the clause which provides that mo arbi-
tration shall take place except where the
property was situated at the time of loss"
the words were intended to be added:
Ana SAID arbitrators or appraisers shall
be chosen from the county wherein the
property was situated at the time of
loss. The argument brought against
this measure was that it would in many
cases be impossible to secure competent
appraisers within the county. Wise Of
blackhawk offered substitute which
excepted from the provisions of this
amendment and special and manufactur-
ing institutions. This, however, was nor
accepted, on the ground that it would
then constitute class legislation and be
invalid. Mr.. Langan is not disposed to
accept his defeat as final. Little was
done in the Senate beyond discussion
of Senator Harper's bill providing for
biennial elections. This is nothing more
or less than the Titus amendment, with
the features which were before objection
able or doubtful eliminated. The bill was
fayorably reported from the committee
on constitutional amendments, and after
some talk referred to the committee OH
judiciary for careful consideration The
sentiment is favorable to the plan, but
it is intended to make it as near perfect
as possible before placing it upon pas
sage.
-Four bills We're passed by the House
Saturday morning. The most important
was that Of Wilson Of Buena Vista pro-
yiding for the removal of the $4,000
limit to the fees to be paid for filing
articles of interpretations or renewals.
The measure was introduced at the sug-
gestion of Secretary of State Martin at
ter the filing of the articles of the Bur-
lington system, capitalized ut $1O0,00O,-
OOO. Under the provisions of the amend
ment to the present law the cost to the
road would have exceeded 100000. The
Burlington saved over S0S,0O0 by getting
in when it did. Other bills We're passed
as follows: BY Fields, prohibiting the
seining of fish in the Big Sioux river; by
Anderson, legalizng and correcting a
land grant to John and w. A. Noble of
Warren County; by Wright. relative to
the time Of settlement of the State Au-
ditor with the State Treasurer Both
branches took action looking toward the
eradication of the smallpox epidemic in
Iowa. The action of the House was in
the form of concurrent resolution to
adjourn Legislature on account of the
disease in this city. This was offered
more for the purpose of squirting the Off
Gals OIL to take some action to enforce
quarantine than with the hope of secur-
ing its passage, the latter being conceded
impossible. The Senate took up the bill
recommended by the board of health aud
drawn by Attorney General Mullan for
the purpose of increasing the powers OF
the State board. The bill has special ref
erence to the smallpox situation and it
was made n special order for next
Tuesday.
AhS Seuutc ulu DuSllleSS WIFI
barely quorum present, but six legaliz-
ing acts We're passed, including one to
legalize acts of all cities where the city
councils have neglected to regard the
Mayor as member of the City Council
and have done business without counting
his vote. The other acts were to legalize
work of two notaries public in Warren
County, the ordinances of the town of
Conway, the Dallas County Court house
bonds, the acts of Allcrton school district
and acts of Howard County notary
public. The bill increasing the salary of
the Supreme judge from 1000 to $4,000
year, and providing for a continual SEES
sion of the Supreme Court, passed the
Senate. 1t had previously passed the
House. The House did no business Of,
particular Importance.