Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-03

been recommended for indefinite post
ment. The only bill Of general n {
favored was one to authorize Des l-..-~s
to turn over to the local water company
the fund raised to build another water
works plant. This was approved. because
nobody appeared 10 say anything against Il.
But re committee finds itself with forty
seven Of the 147 bills introduced, all re-
ferred to this committee, and the DISPOSE
tion Of members is to get rid Of the bills
in some way as quickly as possible.
Educationa Matters.
Thus far the most important bills be-
fore either house relate to educational
affairs. There are two normal school bills
introduced. Warren Of Marion county has
a bill to provide for converting the build
ings at Knoxville owned by the state into
a normal school. These buildings we're
erected by the state for an Industrial in
stitution for the blind. 1t was believed
that many blind persons Of the state would
be glad to live in the institution. to con-
slider It their permanent home, to engage
in such industries as blind persons may
follow. and there TO earn a living. instead
Of being charges on their friends. The
institution was operated for a year nr two.
Many blind persons lived there. But 1t
was found too expensive, could not be
managed with economy or profit, and the
blind people would not remain permanently.
The buildings were abandoned and are now
idle. The Warren bill appropriates t35. 900
to place the buildings in shape to be used
for a normal school, and places the school
under the control of the present board OF
trustees Of the Normal school at Cedar
Falls. The journey Of the legislature to
Cedar Falls last week. where the mem
bers were greeted by nearly 1900 students,
was sufficient to prove to the legislature
that the institution at Cedar Falls is over
crowded and another school is needed. A
report Of the state architect is to the
effect that the buildings at Knoxville can
be got ready for occupancy by fall and the
school there could be opened at that time.
The other bill relating to normal schools
is by DR.. Pipher OF Cass county, and pro-
vides In general terms for the establish
ment OF another state normal school and
appropriates 800, 900 therefor. The bill pro-
vides that after the. school is decided upon
the general assembly shall determine in
Joint convention where the school should be
located. II the bill should pass, then At
lantic would become a candidate for the
location and make a strong effort to induce
the legislature to place the school there;
but Knoxvill would also be a candidate, as
also several other cities Of the state.
Compulsory Education.
The bills for compulsory education Of
children are fairly before the houses and
will be considered by the committees. The
Dunbar bill is the one favored generally
by teachers. 1t aims to compel parents and
guardians to send children to school be-
tween the ages Of 6 and IA years, and pro-
vides punishment for persons having GUS
tody Of children who refuse to do this. II
also provides for a truancy school and tru-
ancy officers, whose business 1t will be to
keep the boys on the streets. A bill to
provide for transportation Of pupils in cases
where the schools are small or weak will
also be pushed. This aims at the township
system OF school management in rural dis
tricts. 'H
Election Reforms.
Bills introduced into both houses provid-
ing for a primary election law in Iowa are
receiving a great deal OF consideration
among the members. Cheese bills provide
for a complete system OF making nomina-
tions at the primaries. On certain days
the primaries will be held-all the parties
holding at the same time-and persons who
are legal voters and whose names are on
the registry books will be privileged to cast
their votes. In this way 1t will be impcs-
sible for anyone to take part in the pri-
maries of more than one party, and none
but legal voters can have a voice In the
nomination OF candidates. The registration
boards will be in session at the same time
and every person who desires to take part
in the primaries must see to 1t that he is
properly registered for the general election.
A great many of the counties in Iowa have
the primary system In use in the republican
party. II is believed that the democrats
have never made use Of 1t, or any other
than the republican party, but each year
a number OF counties adopt It for repub-
lican nominations. The rules are not uni
form and are generally defective. The bill
would put into legal operation q set OF fair
rules.
Taxation Bills.
Substantially nothing has as yet been
done in regard to taxation measures or
bills to change the assessment laws Of the
state. A large number of bills of minor
Importance have been introduced. The bill
which has received greatest consideration
is one to change the time for the making OF
the assessment on railroad property OF the
state. AS the law now stands the state ex-
ecutive council takes up the matter OF
railroad assessments in March and makes
the assessment solely on which
has been received from the railroad officials,
Much OF this information is necessarily I'M
certain in character. The council can only
compare different lines Of railroad and has
not before II at that time any information
regarding the valuation Of other property.
The bill before the legislature now would
change the time Of making the railroad as
sessment to July, when the council Is en-
gagged in considering the valuation OF real
estate and personal property.
Appropriation Measures.
The only appropriation measures yet pre-
sented are those which have been generally
discussed in advance. The appropriations
committees have done nothing. One thing
has been decided on by the members Of the
committees and that is a thorough investi-
cation Of the finances OF the state SO tina
they will know what there is to appropriate.
There is some discrepancy between the
statements of different ~oficials. The COM
mittees will try to avoid causing a dehcit
in state finances, though this may be dim
cult to do In view of the demands being
made for money.
The Coming Week.
II is expected that the coming week in
the legislature will be given over almost en-
tirely to committee work. There are no