Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-02-10

authorize 1t or direct m0QlncatlOn
of the plans, and may also provide for
di1posal of assets remaining in a just
and equitable manner. Such plan
may not be approved except by con.
sent of all the members of the COM
mission.
If the companies ace organized on
the fraternal plan the commission may
require the submission of the plan of
reinsurance to the members, to be
voted on at meetings called on thirty
days notice. a two-thirds vote OF the
members is necessary and no proxies
shall be voted. All expenses and costs
shall be paid by the company present
ing the petition. Any officer, director
or stakeholder violating or conspiring
to violate any provision of the law
shall be liable to fine of not less
than $1,000 or Imprisonment in the
county Jail not less than one year or
both
Interest in Drainage Bills.
The bills for drainage law have
been considered somewhat, but no re-
port made as yet. Among the bills
which have been introduced on this
subject is the one prepared by the
drainage convention, which recently
met at Ames, la. The interest in this
measure is great and there is no doubt
but bill will pass both houses soon.
Numerous petitions have been re-
ceived and bills have been introduced
in both houses providing for the re-
peal of the present road law. There
is, however, great diversity of opin-
ion among the members as to what
would be proper legislation on this
topic. The concensus seems to be not
to repeal the provision making the
tax payable in cash, but to modify in
some way the law in regard to the ex-
penditure of this money. The idea
seems to be almost unanimous among
those who favor a change that the
expenditure Of the money under a
township con. missioner should be
made optional with the old plan Of
district road supervisors. 1t is ar
gued that under the present system,
in case bridge or culvert located a
half dozen miles from the residence
of the commissioner should be dam
aged it would require a full days
time for him to repair what might pos
sibly cost no more than % cents for
material and labor, the balance of the
expense going to pay for the time re-
IN
place where the repairs were to be
made. Many believe that the smaller
the districts the better.
A bill introduced by Senator Lewis,
which, by the way, was prepared by
Rev. H. H. Abrams, of the State Anti
Saloon League, provides that after
saloons have been in operation in any
city or county for three years under
the provision of the mulct law, the
petitions of consent may be abrogated
upon TIE filing with the county aud
itor OF petition signed by 25 per
cent of the voters of the last general
election. it is argued that this will
provide a means of testing whether
there is a change of sentiment in re-
gard to the saloons. Mr.. Abrams says
25 per cent for the reason that he
spent two months last summer in a
county where he considered the condi-
tions most favorable, but was only
able to obtain the signatures of ~
per cent of the voters to petition
asking the revoking of the petition
of consent.
Among the bills introduced in both
houses is one to regulate child labor.
1t prohibits the employment in any
mine, quarry workshop or mercantile
institution of any child under fourteen
years of age and also imposes certain
restrictions, such IS the requirement
that children between fourteen and
sixteen must show certificate Of at
tendance at school the required length
of time each year, and also that they
shall not be required to work except
between the hours of 500 a. m. and
TOO D. m, and then only ten hours
per day. This bill is opposed by the
department stores and telegraph CON-
panies. who require the services of
children as messengers. cash boys,
etc.
Hits Labor Unions.
Senator Young of Calhoun is the au-
thor of a bill which will, If adopted,
hit labor organizations and practical
ly prevent them from successfully
carrying on strikes. 1t prohibits pick
citing places where strikes are in prog
ress and makes 1t misdemeanor to
boycott by oral solicitation or the dis
tribution of printed matter any firm
or other place of business. 1t also
prohibits employers of labor from
blacklisting their discharged or strik-
ing employees. The labor leaders in
this city protest against this bill very
strongly.
Another bill In reference to labor
provides that all employers shall Ie-
port full details Of all accidents hap
pening to their employees while on
duty, to the state bureau of labor sta
tistics within forty-eight hours of the
occurrence OF such accident.
The joint resolution passed by the
last general assembly, providing for a