Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-04-20

crdl tnlng the rallrOaO-rlpplnS Ollls
| were disposed of in the committees
f, and legislation on that subject was
very conservative. The most import
ant was a bill requiring railroad com
panies to issue passes to live stock
| shippers to point of destination and
| return, one pass for two or more cars
| of stock up to six. and one additional
| for more than six cars, such passes
| to be good to return within forty-eight
hours after reaching destination; also
| requiring railroad companies to equip
| cabooses used on stock trains with
| toilet rooms. 1t was estimated that
this provision in regard to transporta-
ton will save to the shippers of Iowa
at least 100000 per year. Another
| railroad bill was passed which pro-
| vides that where one railroad accepts
| goods for shipment to point on some
other connecting line any contract
limiting liability to d-mage incurred
on it's own line, shall not prevent suit
| being brought against it when damage
| occurs on connecting line, and judg-
| ment shall be rendered against line
that fails to show loss was not due to
| its fault.
Insurance Laws Amended.
The insurance laws were amended
| to provide for salaried examiner and
| actuary in connection with the aud
ltor's department and providing that
| all fees for examining companies
| shall be turned into the treasury.
Bills were also passed to prevent con-
solidation or reinsurance by compa-
mics without the approval of the aud
itor's department. Bills for the exam
ination of fraternals and regulating
the establishment of such companies
were passed; also a bill requiring ap-
prevail OF forms of policies of life in
surance written in the state.
The charging of the powers of
judges of the district courts to include
a system of juvenile courts was one
Of the most important bills adopted
An attempt was also made to adopt
the system of indeterminate SEN
fences. This failed, however but a
commission was appointed to investi-
gate this system and also that of the
Elmira reformatory and report to the
next general assembly.
Little Temperance Legislation.
Though number of bills were in
troduced and measures proposed on
that subject, but little was done in
the way of temperance legislat'o on
Perhaps the most important bill
passed in this line was that defining
a "bootlegger" and providing for in
junction proceedings against one vio-
lating the law in that respect. A bill
was also passed making it a misde-
meanor to place liquor or tobacco ad-
vertisements within 400 feet of any
school. The state marshal bill. which
was urged by the association formed
for that purpose, under the lead of
A. c. Rankin, was defeated in the COM
mittee, as was also the bill allowing
saloons to remain open an hour later
at night and be opened on certain
holidays.
Primary Election Law Defeated.
Among other important measures
which were defeated was the bill for
a state wide primary election law.
This matter was considered at length.
but no locality in the state seemed to
demand it except Des Moines, and so
the state wide bills were all defeated
and a bill enacted applying solely
to the capital city.
The attempts to amend the present
road laws failed. The Chassell bill,
making it optional with townships to
return to the old system of working
the roads, passed the house, but met
defeat in the senate.
The DeLano bills, which sought
among other things, to require the
railroad companies to transport stool,
at the rate of not less than twenty
miles an hour from point of shipment
to destination, were defeated in com
mittee.
Constitutional Amendments.
The joint resolutions providing for
the amendment of the constitution SO
as to permit every county to have
one member of the house of represent.
atives and limiting the total member
tship to 1OS; also providing for bien
NAL elections, were passed and 90 to
the people for ratification.
Another important measure which
was adopted permits the executive
council to survey, sell or lease mean.
dered lake beds that have become dry
The salaries of county recorders
were fixed at $1,000 in counties up to
$4,000 and $500 in counties of larger
population. Salaries of county aud.
itors were fixed at $1,40O in counties
of less than $4,000 population. Coun
ty supervisors are authorized to bond
outstanding indebtedness in excess OF
$4,000 on the first day of January
April, June or September. Counties
containing cities of the first class may
refund Indebtedness for building
bridges when it exceeds $4,000. Cities
and towns maintaining free public
Libraries may levy additional tax not
to exceed 3 mills for the purchase OF
real estate or erection of library
buildings. Cities are permitted to
condemn lands for sewer outlets and
garbage disposal plants.