The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-07

ing in charge the expenditure of the
money raised by road taxes. The
principal advantage of the proposed
measures is to secure the payment
of road taxes in cash, which may be
expended under county or town
ship system, and which will result
in systematic improvement of the
road, instead of the present system
of haphazard improvement, which is
of such temporary nature as to be
absolutely valueless.
Scheme Defeated.
The scheme to subject ten per cent.
of the wages of the wage-earn-
ers to execution on Judgment
for debt has been defeated
by the committee of the house to
which it was referred, and the SEN
ate itself has discouraged the propo-
sition, although the merchants of
the state support the measure. The
opposition to it was very strong and
extremely bitter. 1t was regarded
as a serious assault upon the rights
of labor, not being regarded as in
the line of collection of honest debt,
but it being assumed that the meas
ure would be used to harass wage
earners to collect illegitimate bills.
Another measure which has been
practically defeated is that relating
to the adjustment of establishments
which sell trading stamps to bust
ness houses and sell their wares in
this way.
Land Titles.
| A proposition will be submitted to
the legislature providing for the APP
| pointmcnt of commission to inves-
| tigate the Torrens system of regis
tering land titles. The bill was of
such great length when it came be-
fore the committee of the legislature
that it was decided not to attempt to
go into the merits of the enactment
of this proposed measure at this ses-
sion, but it was suggested that a
commission might well be appointed
to advise upon the advantages of
the system and the proposition for
it's enactment into law in this state,
and this may be provided for at this
session.
Will Visit Boy Murderer.
It has been planned to send a COM
mittee to the penitentiary at Ana
mosa to visit Wesley Elkins, the ~
year-old boy who was convicted of
numbering his father and mother and
who confessed to the crime. A large
number of people have urged the
legislature to issue a pardon to this
young man, who is now about %
years of age. On the other hand, the
residents of Clayton county, in which
the crime was committed, are nearly
all opposed to the pardon and have
protested to the legislature against
it. The pardon committees have
planned to send committee to Ana
mosa to interview Elkins and decide
for themselves whether he is fit
subject for legislative favor.
Primary Election Bill.
Considerable attention is now be-
ing paid to the Crossley primary
election bill. This bill provides for
the nomination of all officers from
state to township at a primary held
by all parties on the same day. 1t
will do away with all conventions of
every kind so far as the choice of
nominees of parties is concerned. At
tie primary election, under this bill,
whoever secures the most votes as
nominee for governor or constable
will be the nominee whose name will
go upon the official ballot without
the intervention of any convention.
This measure is said to have been
the one which is proposed by Gov.
LaFollette, of Wisconsin, and which
was almost adopted by the legisla-
ture of that state.
State Funds.
1t now appears that the state will
have about $1,39O,OOO in available
funds for appropriation by this legis-
lature. The ways and means COM
mittee have decided that the availa-
BILE surplus is nearer $S25,O0O than
100000, as reported by the auditor
and treasurer of state. 1t is esti-
mated that the tax ferrets will pro-
duce during the next two years at
least 100000. The Spanish war
claims amount to $4,000 and will be
allowed during the next two years.
The civil war claims amount to $780,
900, and at least $4,000 of this will
be recovered during this biennial
period. This makes the $1,39o,ooo
which is now in sight for appropria-
ton and to which amount, practical
ly, the $3,5Oo,oOo asked for must be
scaled.
Insurance Department.
The most important legislation in.
PRODUCED into the assembly within
the last week has been the bill to
provide for the establishment of a
| department of insurance in connec.
ton with the state government. The
business of superintendent of insu.
rance is now in the hands of the al.
ditor of state, and it is proposed to
| take it out of his hands and place
it in the hands of commissioner
| of insurance tO ba nnDOinfa1 hy the