Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-04-09
STATE LEGISLATURE
GENEROUS TREATMENT OF THE BIG
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
House Votes to Pardon Wesley Elkins
RESOLUTIONS in Honor of the Late
Senator Gear-Railway Legislation
Other Matters.

Des Moines Ia, April S.-The gen.
sral assembly has gone on record in
favor of most generous treatment of
the three great educational institutions
Of the state. 1t has passed through
both houses the bills providing spe-
cial building fund levies for the state
university, the state agricultural col
lege and the state normal schools.
These levies met with pronounced OPP
position in both bodies at the outset
Of the session, but have finally been
passed with but little opposition. They
amount to total levy of half mill
and extend over a period of five years.
The university is allowed a fifth of a
mill, the agricultural college a like
sum and the state normal One-tenth
of mill. In the five-year period these
levies will raise over S1,375,000 All
of this is to be expended in buildings
for the educational institutions and
will make possible not only the replac-
ing of those structures that have been
destroyed by fire with modern, fire.
proof buildings, but will also enable
the regents and trustees to erect q
number of other needed improvements.
In addition to these levies the educa-
tional institutions will receive the reg
ular appropriations for support and
other purposes.
The willingness Of the legislature to
pass the tax levy bills is taken as an
additional indication of material in
crease i'm the levy for state purposes.
In the opinion of many the legislature
will determine on 3-mill levy for
general state purposes. This would
bring the total levy. including those
for the educational institutions. up to
3R mills. While this would be I'M
precedentedly large. many of the mem
bers feel the public will not object, in
view of the large proportion that is
to go for educational purposes.
Numerous Pardon Cases.
Much of the time of the house and
senate has recently been devoted to
the consideration of pardon cases. The
one of greatest interest has been the
case of Wesley Elkins of Clayton cOun-
ty, now serving a life sentence at An
amosa prison. When mere child Of
IL years. he shot and killed his father
and beat his stepmother to death with
a club. For the past three sessions
he and his friends have been trying
10 secure pardon. and this session has
witnessed the climax of the effort. No
stone has been left unturned to Gre
ate sentiment i'm his behalf. The SEN
ate spent day in debate over the
question of pardOning him and finally
voted to recommend clemency by 81
ayes to 20 nays. The matter was then
taken up by the house. Here another
day was spent i'm heated debate. AS
in the senate, the contest called out
some of the most moving oratory Of
the session. BY vote of AZ to 46 the
house decided not to grant the resOlu-
ton recommending pardon. Still I'M
dismayed, the friends of Elkins went
to work to remove the obstacle of a
single vote that stood between the
young man and liberty. A motion was
filed to reconsider and in the end was
carried and pardon was recommended
by 4S to 30. The house has recon-
mended the pardons of the following:
Otto Often of PocahOntas county. Theo-
dore Bushick of Mills county, Joseph
McCreary of Mills county, John Bal
lew of Webster county and William
Young, cOlOred man, of Sioux City.
All are confined on life sentences for
murder The senate has voted to par
don Bushick and is likely to act IA
vorably on nearly all the cases recon-
mended by the house.
Resolutions in Honor of Gear.
A fitting tribute to the memory Of
Hon. John III. Gear has been paid by
the adoption of resolutions in both
houses in his honor. The resolutions
were drafted by joint committee con-
sisting of Senators Blanchard, Mardis
and Ball and Representatives LARA
bee. Carter and Rarkley. They set
forth something Of the history Of this
remarkable man and statesman. He
was one of Iowa's pioneers, having
been a resident of Burlington since
1913. In 1863 his political career be-
gan with his election as mayor of Bur-
lington. In 1871 he was elected as
representative In the Fourteenth gen.
eral assembly and served several terms
i'm the legislature. He was elected
governor of the state in 1877 and again
I'm 1870. serving four years. He was
in. the Fiftieth, Fifty-first and Fifty
third congresses and In 1892 served for
short time as assistant secretary of
the treasury under President Harri-
SOIL. he WAS ticCttu u tie OIllttu
States senate in 1894 and held this
high position until his death, July ii.
1900. BY way Of tribute to another
one of Iowa's great men. Colonel s. A
Moore of Davis county has introduced
q resolution for the appointment Of a
Joint committee to examine the oil
portrait of Senator Harlan. now on ex-
hibition in the historical building, with
n view to purchasing
Developments in Railway Legislation.
Railroad measures have occrnied n
large share of the attention OF the AS
sembly for the last week y great
furry was caused by the Introduction
OF railway assessment hill by ] ar
rabee few days ago. 1t consisted OF
one section of the original railway as
sessment bill as prepared i'm the senate
ways and means subcommittee. 1t
merely provided the executive couii-
ell should make complete report
showing I'm detail its proceedings on
railway assessments. When the bill
was introduced Iarrabee arose and
said the governor wanted the measure
and asked that the rules be suspend
ed and the bin be passed mt once in
Difference to his wishes This was