Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-03-12
STATE LEGISLATURE
SolONS BEGINNING TO LOOK AHEAD
TO CLOSE OF SESSION,
Necrly All the Bills Have Been In
troduced-Roer Sympathy Resolu-
tion Tabled-No Additional Normal
School-Other Subjects.

legislature is beginning to look ahead
to the close of the session and ad-
journment April 1 is the date that
most of the members have in mind
as the approximate time for the wind
ing up of business. Nearly all the bills
have been introduced. A few scatter
ing measures are proposed from day
to day, nearly all of minor Importance.
The appropriation bills of importance
are all I'm the hands of the committees.
The committee work is well along in
both houses and from now on the time
will be largely devoted to the work of
disposing of bills and clearing up the
business accumulated on the calendar.
Senator Garst has given it as his opin-
ion that the session will close about
April /. AS chairman of the senate
appropriations committee he is in per-
haps as good position to judge OF
this matter correctly as any one Of
the lawmakers. While the session is
SO far advanced, there still remains
the most important measures that
have been proposed to be disposed of.
These include the railway taxation
bill, the big appropriation measures,
educational bills of large import, in
Guiding the bills for the increase of
levies for the institutions at Ames and
Iowa City, and wide range of 9th
ers.
Levy for State University.
One of the greatest questions Of the
session, not only in itself, but also be-
cause of the matters that hinge upon
it, has been occupying the attention
of the senate and house the past week.
This is the bill to increase from one
tenth of mill the building fund levy
for the state university. 1t has been
the cause of the most strenuous and
prolonged debate of the year in the
senate. The opposition to the bill
started in the house, where, when it
first came up, it was defeated, lack
ing nine votes of receiving consti-
tutional majority. In the senate 1t
was attacked front, flank and rear.
There was opposition on the ground
the period of five years over which the
levy would extend was too long and
because it was contended it meant the
placing of nearly million dollars in
the hands of the regents, including
other appropriations asked, over which
the legislature would have absolutely
no control BY some, extravaganza in
the management was charged. After
a debate that extended over nearly
three DAYS. the bill was finally passed
by the senate and the expectation now
is the house will reconsider and pass
it. The state agricultural college Is
asking for a similar levy and recently
q bill has been presented for one-tenth
mill building fund levy for the state
normal school at Cedar Falls. One of
the arguments used against the in
creased levy for Iowa City is the fact
that II this was allowed it would also
be necessary to make like concessions
TO the other two educational institu-
tiops.
In the senate debate the feeling in
favor of placing the educational insti-
Z tutions under single board OF con-
troll was partly brought out. 1t is not
yet certain a bill of this kind will be
introduced. owing to the lateness of
the session. though one has been pre-
pared and has been expected for sew
eral days. In the house Hawk of Jas
per has presented "a resolution express
ing the view the educational institu-
lions should be placed under a single
management. In order to secure har-
moniOus cooperation and efficiency.
Many of the lawmakers object to the
strife among the three educational
boards for large appropriations and
this more than anything also has pro-
NOTED the agitation for an education
al board of control.
Did Not Sympathize with Beers.
resolution of sympathy for the
Beers made its appearance in the
house last week. 1t was introduced
by Donahue of O'Brien. In the resolu-
ton Mr.. Donahue voiced the hope the
Valley Forge Afrikanders might soon
be turned into Yorktown. The resO-
luton was opposed by many of the Re
publican members on the ground it
was an implied thrust at the federal
administration. 1t was finally tabled
by vote of 81 to 3S.
There was pleasant exchange of
courtesies between Iowans and Mis-
sourians recently, when strong dele
cation from ST. Louis visited the leg
islature in behalf of a liberal appro-
priation for the st. Louis exposition.
The delegation was headed by ex-
Governor Francis of Missouri, +. r.
Lehman. formerly distinguished Des
Moines attorney, and Private John AL
len of Mississippi. a member of the
national exposition commission The
members had hearing before joint
meeting of the appropriations commit
tees and urged large appropriation
The legislative committee of the Iowa
Louisiana Purchase commission was
at the meeting also. Senator W.
II. Berry of Indianola and Major Sam
uel Mahon of Ottumwa spoke on the
part of the commission. The sum
asked by the commission is a quarter
Of a million. While the appropriations
committees have not acted, there is a
feeling among the members of these
committees that the exposition will be
generously dealt with
No Additional Normal school.
The legislature has practically dis
posed of the question of an addition
al normal school. The house took up
this burden by defeating by a heavy
vote the bill to convert the Industrial
home for the blind at Knoxville into a
state normal school 1t is thought
this is the end of the agitation for an
additional normal school at this SEES
sion, though the Pipher bill in the
house for another normal Is pending
and may come TO vote. A feature of
~ IA a. II.