Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-04-16

the appropriations Which the Assembly
did not grant. though hard pressed to
do so. was the one for 100000 for
completing the east wing of the state
historical building and the one for
100000 for n state arsenal and adju-
tant generals building. The appro-
priations for the monuments to Iowa
soldiers at Vicksburg and at Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge were
allowed. AS but small part of each
of these will be available this biennial
period the burden, however, will not
be great.
Molsberry Bill Meets Its Fate.
The Molsberry bill, which was so
large a feature of the session, final
ly met its quietus. This bill as first
introduced and passed by the assem-
bly, provided that railroads should be
allowed to incur unlimited indebted
ness. Governor Cummins vetoed the
bill and the veto was sustained by the
senate, though for a time efforts were
made to muster enough votes to pass
the measure over the veto. Then
new bill was introduced. 1t provided
that single track narrow guage roads
should be allowed to incur indebted
ness up to $4,000 a mile and that
double track roads should be allowed
to incur Indebtedness up to $4,000 per
mile. The bill i'm this form went
through the senate, receiving twenty
seven votes. 1t was then meSSaged to
the house and referred to the railroad
committee. That body postponed it in
definitely and the house Endorsed the
action of the committee. This closed
the incident. 1t was generally sup
posed the governor would not permit
the bill to become a law so far as he
was concerned. even in it's modified
form. The Hubbard bill providing that
Iowa railroads may own and control
the property and stocks Of connecting
lines in states not adjacent to Iowa.
as well as those adjoining, was passed
by both houses after much discussion
and amendment
Seven Pardons Recommended.
The senate concurred with the house
in Recommending seven conditional par
dons. The most important one of
these. or at least the one that because
OF it's unique character attracted most
attention was the case of Wesley FL
kins, the Clayton county boy who MUIR
dered his parents at the age of II
years and who for twelve years past
has been confined at Anamosa. After
hard contest between the friends and
enemies of pardon, it was finally de-
cided TO recommend him for parole
Others that We're recommended for eX-
ecutive clemency were: Otto Often Of
POcahontas county: Theodore Bush
lex and Joseph McCreary Of Mills
county; John Ballew of Fort
Dodge; George Stanley, of Story
county. and William Young of
Sioux City. The case of Ballew was
one that attracted no little notice be-
cause of an incident that occurred in
the senate. on the day when the par
don was being considered. Ballew, a
young man of Fort Dodge, was the
only support of his aged mother. She
came to Des Moines and worked hard
for his release. The senate while she
was present voted not to grant the
pardon. Mrs. Ballew broke down in
tears and tainted away. The scene
touched the hearts of the dignified
members of the upper house and they
yielded. The resolution for pardon was
reconsidered and was finally adopted.
District Judges Bill Passed.
One of the large measures of the
session that was passed in the last
days of it was the bill increasing the
salaries of the district judges. 1t pre-
vides their salaries shall be increased
from $500 to $500 This measure
it will be recalled, was the companion
bill to the bill to recognize the terms
of the supreme court. This measure
will also become a law. 1t increases
the salaries of the supreme court
judges from $4,000 TO $4,000 and pro-
vides there shall be practically con-
tinuous sessions of the court. The
judges will be compelled to live in Des
Moines. These two measures have at
tracted the utmost attention from the
bar and judiciary of the state. An eff
fort was made to pass bill making
the supreme court recorder an appoin-
tive officer, but this was defeated
The bill requiring shot examiners in
coal mines was passed by both houses.
The Trewin resolution, indOrsing the
Nelson-Corliss bill, now before con-
gress, to give added powers to the in
terstate commerce commission, was
passed.
The Bills of Most Importance.
Opinions differ as to the bills of most
Importance that have been passed by
l. 4, IL.