Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-13
SPRING NEW SYSTEM
Board Of Cortrol for Schools is
Proposed.
IDEA IS A RADICAL DEPARTURE
Exposition Appropriation Is Before
the Committee-Suffrage Bill Thurs
playhouse Passes Bill for Support
of Children in Soldiers Home.

OF Children in Soldiers Home.
Des Moines, March S.
The secret has leaked out that a bill
Is in preparation for the institution OF
an educational board, modelled on the
board OF control. This was made
known to me some weeks ago and the
same sent out as a special letter I'M
der release at that time. The need of
some such governing body has been
accumulated by the matters brought
out in the senate debate on university
needs and shortcomings. Whereas the
other state institutions have been
carefully and Effectively managed. the
slip-shod methods of the schools have
shown the worse by contrast. The
bringing in Of such a proposal will
bring here d lot of men who will scent
danger to present place and influence.
There is still another explanation to
this proposed bill. 1t is fair to say
that | sot it from n of the minority:
1t is a part OF factional fight. The
anti-Cummins men see in the measure
an opportunity to get out of place a
lot of henchmen who have been re-
warded for past services. | do not
think it will go through. The state
university may not be a very great po-
htlcal power, and, of course, Cedar
Falls is not regarded as a factor, but
the Ames crowd have a lot of strings
to pull and they understand the ma
nipulation.''
Give Aid to Universities.
The debate on the bill to increase
the stat' university levy from one
tenth to one-fifth mill was concluded
in the senate yesterday, and the same
passed by a good vote. Immediately
after the bill giving a similar tax to
the agricultural coulege at Ames was
taken up and passed without opposi.
ton. Trewin's amendment which
would take away the power of ex-
pending money for the university
from the board of regents and vest
the same in the legislature was de
feated.
Railroad Assessments.
The railroad assessment bill, which
has been deferred from day to day
while the university tax debate was
going on, was postponed until next
Tuesday. The vote by which this
postponement was taken is being
quoted as a straw to guage the
strength of the railroad forces, and i
properly estimated indicated defea
of the assessment even in the uppe
house. Every day has been to tn
advantage of the men who are againsr
Herriott and his ideas.
In Interest of Exposition.
The house yesterday afternoon wa
treated to some outside e~loquence, tn
occasion being the visit of the mem
bers of the st. Louis exposition com
mission. The visitors were invited t
seats beside the speaker and wer
then called upon to address the mem
bers and visitors. Ex-Governor Fran
els of Missouri was the first. His rer
utation as an orator was alread,
known, many having previously hear
him before the joint committee on az
preparations. He was followed b
Congressman Allen of Mississippi an
Fred Lehman renewed his acquaint
ance with lowans as an advocate TO
the great exposition. They were toll
how great and prosperous and happ
was their commonwealth, that the yer
success of the show hinge tpo tn
iberality of Iowa. and tina he chic
jewel would be dilnmcd if The logisls
ture failed to pass the full appropris
ton called for n the bill-$250,O0
Allen said he would not threaten. BIT
if any part of the louisiana t~erritor
should fail to be properly representa-
the country would. after the ~expositio
pick a quarrel with France, whip hi
and then force that country to tai
back the state which had proved la
gard, which cruel fate he believe
would be about the fit punishment.
Suffrage Bill Thursday.
The woman suffrage bill has a plat
on the floor of the house, and has bee
made a special order for next Thur
day. Very few of the members belie'
it has a show of passing, but maj
would prefer not to be put on recol
on this subject and the vote may
surprising.
A ,e Bill.
Townscnd's re bill has bee
made a special for Tuesda
This measure i portancc to ow
ers of lands VIII i'll be affected
drainage DITCH" t under authorl
of the county yisors.
To Support Children in Soldiers Hon
ne house yesterday passed the b
introduced by Calderwood of SEQ
relating to the support of children
the Iowa Soldiers orphans home. TT
is q measure of general interest, pl
viding that children admitted to the
stitution from the different count
shall be wards of the state instead
the counties, as at present. AS p
yiously explained in these letters, the
is a considerable abuse of the unfor'
nate little ones in some of the counti'
which are unduly economical. The
orphaned or destitute children 6
placed in the poor houses or sent
the reformatory institutions. T
passage of Mr.. Calderwood's bill "
remedy this disgrace. Another
closely related to this will soon follc
giving the board of control power
take from poor houses anywhere in
state S1ch children as may be inma