Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-04-16
STATE LEGISLATURE
LAST FEW DAYS OF THE TERM WE'RE
STRENUOUS IN THE EXTREME.
General Tax Levy Raised to Higher
Figure Than Had Been Predicted
Heavy Demands for Extraordinary
Appropriations.

DeS Moines. Ia, April 15.-The gen.
eral assembly has closed its work and
the members have nearly all left for
their homes in different sections of the
state. For two years the legislative
chambers will be deserted, unless by
some remote chance there should be
an extra session. 1t was late Friday
evening, April II, when the labors of
the assembly ended, amid the usual
closing scenes. The last few days of
the term were strenuous in the eX-
IRENE and the amount of legislation
and lawmaking that was compressed
into this brief period was remarkable.
The last work of the assembly was the
passing of the general tax levy bill
for 1902 and 1903 and disposition of
the appropriation bills. The levy had
to be raised to an even higher figure
than has been predicted. 1t was found
by the ways and means committee that
it was necessary for general purposes
to raise for the year 1902 the sum of
$2,300.000 and for the year 1908 $1,000
600. This means that the levy for
1902 will be mills and that for 1908
it will be 80 mills. This does not in
clude the half mill levy that is author
lied for the three great educational in
situations Of Iowa. Not since the state
was admitted has it been necessary to
make so large a levy, but after the
most careful and conscientious figur
ing the members of the assembly on
the committees entrusted with this
work, concluded there was no other
way out of the matter and that the
situation might as well be squarely
confronted. rather than TO adopt the
e I.,, 4;
over into the next biennial period and
thus shifting the burden to the next
general assembly without in any way
relieving the public At no legislative
session has there been such heavy de-
mands for extraordinary appropria-
tons and while many of these have
been turned down, there were large
numbers that seemingly called for ia
vOrable action.
st. Louis Given $125, 900.
One of the most troublesome appro-
priation bills to dispose of was the
measure fixing an allowance for the eX-
position at st. Louis. The bill orig
inally introduced on this subject pro.
vided for S250,000. The senate com
mittee on appropriations passed res
olution for an appropriation of S75.-
so that it provided for 100000. The
senate took the house bill. cut it to
$125000 and passed it. The house re-
fused to recede from its position and
1t became necessary for conference
committee to be appointed. This COM
mittee. after spending two nerve
wrecking hours. in which the house
members pulled one way and the SEN
ate members another compromised on
$4,000. This was done at the very
last of the session and ii was not until
a few hours of closing that compro-
mise was finally reached. The bill
provides for a commission of thirteen
members, one from each congressional
district and two from the state at
large to have charge of the exhibit
and of the Iowa building and of the
disposition of the funds. Eight of the
commission are to be Republicans AMI
five Democrats. They are to be APP
pointed before May j. An important
provision In connection with the eX-
position bill is contained i'm resolution
introduced by Smith of Mitchell to
turn the building erected at st. Louis
over to the board of control, after the
exposition lis over. Senator Smith
says the building will be worth at
least $4,000 to the board of control
for the lumber alone that is contained
in 1T and that he regards it as a sub
stantial saving to the state.
For Improvement of Capitol.
Inc bill for an appropriation of
S2oO.OOO for the Improvement of the
! state house was passed late in the SEES
sion. The first ST.. 800 of this is to be
available not earlier than June 30.
1903, and a similar amount yearly
thereafter, up to June 30. 1904. Provi-
sion is made for the appointment of
commission to carry out the provi-
sions OF the act. 1t is planned to fully
complete the capitol of Iowa by the
expenditure of this money and to do
it in a manner that will make the
building source of still greater pride
to the citizens of the state than it just
ly Is already. A large share of the ex-
traordinary appropriations that had to
be provided for went to the institutions
under the board of control. The total
appropriation for this purpose was
$T16,577.50. This was not inclusive of
$138,OO0 that was set apart for Chero-
kee hospital early in the session.
Throughout the entire session the law
makers treated the board of control
with the greatest consideration and
there was little disposition to cut down
appropriations recommended by that
body. Among other appropriations
made was one of $4,000 for the cree
ton of a stock pavilion on the state
fair grounds. This is measure great
ly demanded by the stock interests of
the state and II is believed it will mean
much in the way of enhancing the
merits of the annual exhibitions of
live stock at the state fair. In view of
the remarkable prominence taken by
Iowa of late i'm stock-raising the legis-
lature did not feel like ending the SEES
sion without taking this method of
promoting the stock industry The APP
preparations made for the educational
institutions, aside from the special
building fund tax levies, were: State
university, $4,000 annual additional
support and $4,000 general appro-
priation for the biennial period; state
normal school $4,000 annual addition
nj support and general appropriation
for the biennial period bringing the