Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-12
WORK OF ASSEMBLY
SENATE PASSES THE TROLLEY
TAX MEASURE.
Treasurer and Auditor Report Show
ing That Available Funds of the
State Are Not So Large as Was
Supposed by Legislators.

Supposed by Legislators.
Des Moines, Feb. 10.--The Blanch-
ard bill, granting communities the
power to vote a 5 per cent tax in aid
of trolley lines, which met strong op-
position in the Senate Friday, was
passed by that body Saturday by a
vote of 80 to II. The bill was amend
ed to permit those paying the tax to
hold stock in the corporation and to
prohibit electric railroads receiving
the, benefits of this act from watering
their stock. .lasr
A1etter received by Governor Cum
minis from Senator Allison and SUBJ
mitted to the ways and means commit
tee of the senate states that it is pos
sible that Iowa may be able to recover
the,$4b6,0O0 interest on the war debt of
the, government to Iowa during this
session of congress. All that is ,neces-
sary, he declares, is to properly file
the statement with the auditor of the
war department and have it placed in
theN general appropriation BILL 7i+Ft
insurance Bill Passes House..
Theahouse passed the bin by Dun
ham which requires that all notes
given in payment of policies of insur-
anoe are payable in the counties in
which given. The jerks bill to give
banks and loan and trust companies
the right to act as trustees, executors,
administrators, receivers and as
signees, was called up by jerks. 1t
was ready to go to vote and the vote
had been called when by consent de-
bate was opened up and Durham and
Lewis advised caution in passing such
radical measure. In order to give
time for further consideration the bill
was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee.
Little Money Is Available.
The treasurer of state and auditor
of state submitted to the appropria-
tons committees of the both houses
a communication which carried con-
sternation to those who have regarded
the states finances as in a condition
favorable to the securing of large ap-
preparations by this legislature. The
communication was in response to a
request for statement of the esti-
mated available revenue for the bien-
NAL fiscal period ending on June 80,
1903, upon which the committees must
base the extraordinary appropria-
lions.
The treasurer and auditor say the
grand total revenue for the period
named will hardly exceed $5,777,7 1888,
and that the expenditures for the
same period will reach $5,080116,
leaving balance available of $685.
672. ~, ~ s,~,--.-
The statement causes wonder as to
where the money is to some from for
the st. Louis exposition exhibit,
which, it is estimated, will cost $780,
900, for the new historical building to
cost 100000, the additional Normal
school, the vicksburg park commits
sion, and the many other things for
which large appropriations are being
asked.
The treasurer and auditor warn the
legislature that 1t would be unwise
to count upon a larger balance than
they have indicated.
Days of Grace Kept in Force.
The bill by Calderwood of Scott to
abolish days of grace caused hot de-
bate in the house and was finally de-
feated by vote of 81 to AZ. 1t was
the warmest debate that the house
has had this session, and although
none of the leaders took part in it to
any extent, there was great interest.
Notice was given later that the vote
on the bill would be reconsidered.
The bill appropriating $13S,O00 for
the completion of the Cherokee hos
pital, which had previously passed
the senate, was passed by the house.
Pharmacy Commissioner.
The governor has commissioned
Fletcher Howard of Sheldon a mem
Der OF the board of pharmacy to sue
coed himself. Howard is a Democrat
and a number of other Democrats
sought to displace him, but in vain.
Measure to Enforce School Attendance.
Representative Durham has intro
duced another compulsory education
bill. This will take the place of the
one already introduced by him and is
a little more sweeping in it's provis
ions. 1t gives the members of the
boards of education authority to pun
ish truants and to exercise more
rigid supervision over the attendance
of children at school. Speaking OF the
bill, Mr.. Durham said: Il believe that
this measure will obviate the necessi-
ty of child labor law. If the bill
which | have introduced passes the
legislature and is enforced there will
be no necessity of passing law pre-
venting the employment of children
under IA years of age when they
should be in school. 1t is possible that
a child labor law may be passed also,
but | hardly think that one would be
necessary"
Sweeley Bill Practically Killed.
The house committee on municipal
corporations practically killed the
Sweeley bill providing for the munich
pal ownership of telephones. 1t was
referred to subcommittee, the ma
jority of which is against municipal