Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-19

maze Tor many years. Inc ieNleS III
recent years have been as follows:
In 1850, 30 mills; in 1896, the same;
in 1897, 2.S mills; in 1898. 90 mills:
in 1899, 3 mills; in 1900, 80 mills; i'll
1901, 2.S mills; in 1902, 90 mills.
Dark Prospects for Equal suffragists.
Things are looking dismal for the
woman suffragists. They have not
been able to arouse 1.-THE OF the in
tereSt that was stirred up two years
ago. There is almost no hope for their
joint resolution for an amendment to
the constitution that will permit equal
suffrage This resolution has been in
troduced only in the senate. The house
Will not be invaded until it is ascer-
tanned what the senate will do. The
resolution has been reported for pas
sage by the senate committee on con-
stitutional amendments, but will be
defeated on the floor
The measure may come up for final
action i'm the senate at any time, but
the friends of suffrage are not willing
to try it just yet They are represent.
ed in the assembly by Miss Daisy
leighton Of Shenandoah. Miss Deigh-
ton is doing hard, faithful work for
thC NuCSC. DuI tuc SuIIdSlstS dIC hOt
satisfied with the situation and have
sent for Mrs. Evelyn Belden of Sioux
City to return and lead the fray. Mrs.
Belden is the eX-president of the Iowa
State Equal Suffrage association, and
two years ago was at the head of the
legislative committee of that Organlza-
ton. She is regarded by the friends of
equal suffrage among the senators as
the one woman in Iowa who can save
the day or can come anywhere near
it, and they have urged her to make
the sacrifice.
Will Clash with Railroad Legislation.
There is imminent a clash over the
railway assessment question. For
years, since before the days of LARA
bee, this problem has arisen to trouble
the dreams of lawmakers. Agitation
for revisions in the railway assess
nlent laws has become acute. The sen
ate subcommittee named to inveSti-
gate the question is working aSidu-
ously and is expected to report in a
short time. The subcommittee con-
sists of Senators Healy, Junkin, Lew
is and Porter. This committee is look
ing the field over carefully and 1t is
expected to report bill that will take
radical hold of present evils. There
are many supporters of the plan of as
certaining the values of railway prop
erty from the market values of their
stocks and bonds. 1t is said the sub
committee looks with much favor on
this plan and it is known to be exam
ming into its workings in other states.
In his inaugural Governor Cummins
put himself on record as in favor of
reforms in railway assessments, but
he said he did not perceive the merits
of the plans proposed for taking the
subject entirely away from the dis
erection of the executive council. Many
OF the members of the legislature take
the governors view; many demand
radical action and q system that will
leave the executive council nothing but
the working out of prescribed mathe-
NAUTICAL formulas; others still hold up
their hands in horror at the mention
of any change in existing railway as
sessment laws. Concerning the con-
fiicting views, there is certain to be
bitter fighting and debating in large
quantities if a bill with any radical
features is formulated by the senate
subcommittee.
a
attorneys on the ground seeking to pre-
vent any legislation Of importance on
railway assessments and also looking
after several other measures in which
the roads are Interested.
The Hughes anti-pass bill will be
disposed of by the house this week
1t has been reported out of the judo
iary committee by a vote Of 8 to 3.
a in hA
committee to smother it, but Chairman
Clarke of Dallas county was friendly
to 1t and prevented it from being killed.
Representative Hughes is very much
In earnest in support of the measure
which he vainly tried to have enacted
two years ago. He is being made the
object of bitter attacks in many quar-
tiers. some of them extremely scurril-
Gus on account of his attitude. He
has had the bill made a special order
for Wednesday this week. The debate
over it is expected to be one OF the
most exciting of the session.
Another measure attracting much
attention is the Clarke bill to repeal
the tax ferret law Healy in the SEN
ate has a bill of the same Import and
there are one or two others. The
Clarke bill has been reported for pas
sage by the house ways and means
committee. The lawyers of the assem-
bly, are generally against the law. al
though it has many warm friends on
account of the results it has accom-
plished and the large volume of taxes
it has brought to the counties and the
state. ~
In the house the Barker bill to strike
the circle from the Australian ballot
has been reported for passage by the
elections committee. This bill is an
other that will be the subject of acri-
monious DEBATE.
Knotty Questions for Pardons Committee.
The legislature has some hard prob
lens in the way of pardons to solve
this session. More than dozen life
convicts have asked the general assem-
bly, to recommend their release. The
house committee on pardons has be-
gun its work by taking up the eases
of Byron Quinn. who Is serving life
sentence for the murder Of Liberty
Shocks of Lucas county, and Wesley
Elkins. the notorious boy murderer of
Clayton county, now at Anamosa pris-
on. The committee has listened to
long arguments in behalf Of these con-
yicts. There are also strong remon-
~4..,.anc from ,itizanS IF IuoaS and