Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-03-12

an effort will now be made to have
the buildings there, which for two
years have been unoccupied, utilized
for an industrial reformatory for wom-
Ell. The prison apartments for wom-
EN- ut Anamosa, where women are now
kept. are not at all fitted for reforma-
tory purposes. and the board of con-
troll strongly favOrs the establishment
of the reformatory at Knoxville.
The senate committee on compensa
ton of public officers has reported
for passage the Cummings bill relat-
ing to the supreme court in its origin
al form. The two houses threaten to
come squarely to issue over this meas
ure. AS first drawn it provided for
an increase of the salaries of the
judges from $1,000 to $4,000. required
the judges to live in Des Moines, and
provided for three terms, amounting
to practically a continuous session of
the court except during the hot
months. The house passed the bill aft
er striking out every feature but the
one increasing salaries and modifying
this so as to make the increase to
5000 instead of $4,000. The senate
committee on compensation of public
officers has reported the bill for pas
sage in its original form. and promi-
nent senators say the bill will have
to go through in this form or not at
all. They say there is no wisdom in
increasing the salaries of the judges
unless they are required to live in Des
Moines and compelled to put in the
greater part of their time attending
court sessions.
Favors Biennial Elections.
The house committee on cOnstitu-
tional amendments has reported for
passage without opposition the joint
resolution for an amendment to the
constitution providing for biennial
elections. Senator Harper, the author
of the resolution, and the active
friends of the measure are more con-
fident than ever the house will pass it,
the senate having done so already.
The same committee has reported for
passage another important joint reso-
luton. This is the one for an amend
ment to the constitution increasing
the number of representatives from
every county, with two in nine of the
larger counties. 1t Is not anticipated
the two houses will have any trouble
in agreeing over the terms of the res
Olution.
The congressional redistricting move
ment appears utterly dead. No men
ton of ii is made any more except mt
rare Intervals. The Hubbard bill for
senatorial redistricting has been re-
ported for passage, with amendments,
in the senate, and it appears likely
there will he an Overhauling of the
senatorial districts.
The woman suffrage movement has
been marked by no recent develop
ments, further than the influx of
scores of petitions from many parts
of Iowa and the indefatigable work
of the suffragist lobby among the
house members. This measure has
been made special order for Thurs
day of this week.
Nothing for Historical Building.
The senate committee on apprOpria-
tons has dashed the hopes of Cura-
tor Charles Aldrich of the historical
department, in his quest for a $780,
600 appropriation for the completion
of the historical building. This com
mittee has recommended the measure
for indefinite postpOnement. 1t seems
improbable anything will be done to-
ward completing the building by this
assembly, though Mr.. Aldrich, State
Librarian Bregham and others are la
boring with the house appropriations
committee to recommend the bill, so
amended that unless the state receives
the claim ii is pressing against the
federal government for interest on
war bonds and war warrants the APP
preparation shall not be utilized.
At the same time the senate apprO-
priations committee killed the histOr-
zeal building measure, 1t recommend
ed for passage the bill to appropriate
$500 900 for the Improvement of the
state house on the lines laid down by
the capitol Improvement commission.
The subject of appropriations is be-
coming more and more engrOssing as
the end of the session approaches. The
appropriations committees are cOnsid-
ering the omnibus bill for appropria-
lions for the board of control institu-
tons. The total of the items exceeds
$S00,O00 and follows the recommends
lions of the board of control In its BIZ
ennal report. save that ii is planned
to allow the soldiers home mt Mar
shalltown $4,000 instead of half of
that sum for putting up new hos
pital
Prominent members Of the apprO-
priatiOns committees In both houses
express the belief the levy will have
to be increased from the present sum
of 30 mills and the trend of opinion
seems To indicate a 3 mill levy.
Railroad Assessment Affairs.
The railroad assessment question is
expected to be the principal one be-
fore the senate this week. 1t was sup
posed the subcommittee bill for re-
vision of the railroad assessment laws
would come up earlier and 1t was
made IL special order for Thursday of
last week, but owing to the entangle-
| ment on the state university levy i'm
the senate, consideration was deferred
| until the middle of this week. There
| is much speculation as to the fate of
| the bill, which viii encounter strong
opposition I'm the senate. where 1t does
not meet the approval of many of the
| more radical adherents Of the stocks
and bonds system Of determining val
uations
The house has passed the Alexan-
der bill. already carried through the
senate. to permit savings banks to re-
ceive deposits up to twenty times their
capital stock The law now makes
ten times the capital the limit.
Pure Food BiIl Meets with Favor.
The Secor pure food bill has met
with unexpected favor In the house
committee on agriculture. 1t was re-