Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-01

| luoIlC lies SuCn DlllS as nave merl1
sufficient to justify discussion and tc
throw out all else. 1t is fact that
the files are numbered with bills which
have but little value, and that an ener
getic and conscientious committee can
reduce them within the limits OF
speedy work On the part of the law
making body.
Treatment of Dipsomaniacs.
Only two bills were passed by the
house at its forenoon session yester.
day One of these is an act to pro.
vide department in one of the hos.
pitfalls for the insane, for the detention
and treatment of dipsomaniacs, inebri
ates and those addicted to the exces,
slVe use of narcotics. 1t places the du-
ty upon the board of control to provide
ward in one of the hospitals for the
treatment of such afflicted persons
Such persons as may fall under these
classes shallbe brought before the dis
trlct court or judge of the county for
examination and commitment, under
the same statutes as apply to the eX-
animation of incorrigible children. The
term of commitment for the first time
not less than one nor more than three
years, and for the second not less than
two nor more than five years. If after
thirty days of such treatment and de.
tention the physician in charge shall
Lso recommend the superintendent of
the institution may parole said patient,
provided that such patient shall pledge
to refrain from the use of intoXicants
or narcotics, as the case may be, dur
ing the remaining part of the term OF
commitment, and shall avoid the fire.
quenting of places and the association
OF people tending to lead them back to
their old habits. Such paroled patient
shall also report on the first day of
each month to the superintendent of
the institution, which report shall be
inquired into and approved by the
clerk of the court in the county where
the patient resides. If at any time the
patient fails to make such report the
Sheriff shall without further writ or
warrant return such person to the hos
pltal and he shall be kept there during
the full period OF his commitment. The
expense OF trial commitment and treat
ment OF such persons shall be paid in
the same manner and out of the same
fund as those of insane persons, and
the estates of such patients shall he
ilable therefor in like manner. The
house also passed Trewin's bill, which
went through the senate some time
ago. relating to the support of families
OF persons adjudged to be insane. This
simply changes the phraseology of the
present statute
Tax Ferrets.
At the afternoon session the house
took up the bill by Maservey, which
was dropped yesterday at adjourn
ment. This relates to tax ferrets. and
is entitled an act relating to the time
IN which actions or proceedings may
De brought for the recovery of taxes al.
legged to be due on personal property
omitted, not listed or withheld. 1t
provides that no action, proceeding or
assessment shall be brought, made or
levied for the recovery of taxes alleg-
ed to be due on personal property
omitted, not listed or withheld or over
looked unless brought or assessed with
in the calendar year in which said
property should be assessed. The act
Is retroactive and shall apply to all
cases in which taxes have not been ac-
tually paid before the passage of the
act.
Roads and Highways.
The senate again struggled all day
with house file No. 2S6, being the bill
introduced by Anderson in the house,
MADE committee measure by the com
mlttee on roads and highways and
passed by the lower body. There are
but few measures which have received
such consideration and been drawn
with such care. In the senate it was
attempted Tuesday and again yester-
day to interject all kinds of amend
ments, but in vain. 1t relates to pub.
TIC roads and provides that the board
OF trustees at its regular meeting in
April shall consolidate the road dis.
trlcts OF the townships into one dis.
trIct, and the funds belonging to the
several districts shall at once become
a general township road fund, out of
which all unsettled claims for work
done or material furnished for road
purposes in the various districts prior
to the change shall first be paid. All
authority belonging to the road super
visor by statute is hereby transferred
to and conferred upon the board of
trustees. 1t was sought to amend by
dividing the funds between the town.
ship and the original districts. and this
was the only one feared, but after long
discussion was finally voted down. The
final roll call resulted in passage of
the bill A to 5.
Supervisors Must Give Bond.
The house during the afternoon SEES.
sion passed the Sweeley bill amending
the code so as to require county super.
visors to give official bonds and pro.
viding for the approval thereof. The
main section of the bill provides that
the bonds of county supervisors shall
be in penal sum to be fixed by the
district court of the county by order
duly made and entered of record, but
such sum shall not be less than $4,000.
Chairman Hughes of the house appro-
prlat1ons committee believes that
much has been gained by the joint
session of the two houses which met
Wednesday evening, at which time the
members of the board of control ap.
peared and stated the needs of the
state institutions, and the necessity for
pushing the appropriations The finan-
,lal conditions were gone over and the
board agreed to defer amounts aggre.