Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-04-13
Drainage BILL IS PASSED
Measure Goes Through Both
Houses Without Opposition.
NO STATE BOARD OF REGENTS
House Kills Bill After a Spirited
Discussion-Senate Passes Bill Pro-
mation-To Repair the Capitol.

mation-To Repair the Capitol.
Des Moines, April 12.-The closing
week of the Thirtieth general assem-
bly, of Iowa has been remarkable fol-
the number of bills which were killed,
as well as for the number adopted.
In all, there were introduced during
the session more than 500 bills. OF
these, when the final roundup is made
it will be found that not much more
than 200 have become laws. That is
a smaller number than has been
passed by recent assemblies, but is
equal to the number anticipated as
passing by the experienced legislators
who have controlled the work of the
assembly to large extent.
The members of the legislature
have buckled down to work the past
few days and have transacted a large
amount of business. This has been
due to a large extent because many
of the legislators were anxious to
make a record for early adjournment,
and largely because of the bright sun
shine of the opening days of April,
which turned the thoughts of the
farmers to their spring work, and the
thoughts of wives of the members
who have spent the winter here with
their husbands to spring house clean
ing and the many things which have
been neglected while the work OF the
efo
State Drainage Law.
The most remarkable work of the
week was the adoption, practically
without opposition in either house, Of
the state drainage law. This law is
considered by the legislators as the
most important piSce of legislation
placed upon the statute books Of the
state in many years. Its effect Will
be seen in the retaining to the farm
ers of the state of hundreds of thou
sands of acres of swamp and lowlands
which are now practically useless.
1t will add millions to the wealth OF
Iowa. 1t is said nearly every county
in the state will feel the effect of
the law, and that fully forty-five of
the ninety nine counties will be most
materially benefited by it,
Under the provisions of the bill the
boards of supervisors will have super
vision over all drainage work and
will have authority to create drainage
districts, construct levees, build
bitches and drains and carry forward
all plans to reclaim the lands af-
fected The bill is the most lengthy
law introduced in the session, cover
ing twenty-five large pages. and is
complete and comprehensive in all its
details. While it was not actually UNI
der consideration in both houses more
than a total of three hours, its prepa-
ration represents the labor of the
best legal minds of both branches Of
the assembly for period of several
weeks. In order to assure no doubt
as to the constitutionality of the
measure, which had been questioned
by reason of some decisions of the SUI
preme court, along with the bill the
senate and house have passed a con-
current resolution amending the con-
stitution giving the state the right of
eminent domain.
Juvenile Court Bill Is Passed.
The juvenile court bill is another
measure the finishing touches of
which were put on in the house the
past week This measure has been
before the legislature since the early
days of the session and passed the
senate more than a week ago, but
the house delayed action on it until
Thursday Of the past week. 1t is con-
sidered a great step forward in the
salvation OF young people who may
get started out on career of crime.
The bill is copied to considerable
extent after the Illinois law.
The large appropriation bills were
all hurried through during the week.
The board OF control secures under
the bill covering the state penal and
charitable institutions sS9,9S9. and
the state educational institutions will
secure close to $650,000, besides the
regular millage support taxes which
come to them. There was consider
able of a contest before the commit
tees by the representatives Of the
State university at Iowa City and the
state college of agriculture and me-
chanic arts at Ames, each asking for
vastly greater sums than the legis-
lators felt they could give. In the
final bill the college at Ames received
s36S. 900. the university nearly $780,
600 and the state normal at Cedar
Falls $4,000.
No State Board of Regents.
Two measures of statewide import
ance and interest which were passed
by the senate failed to find approval
in the house. One of these was the
bill doing away with the present
boards of regents and trustees for the
educational institutions and creating
a state board of regents, to consist OF
three members, having supervision
over the schools at Ames, Iowa City
and Cedar Falls, and also the school
for the blind at Vinton and the school
for the deaf at Council Bluffs. In the
senate this bill created the warmest
debate of the session. 1t was pat
termed after the bill creating and gov