Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-04-27
Most Important Acts.

AHIOuS tIe ulOSl dCth VI tue
session are the new insurance laws which
have been passed. In nearly every in
stance they are the result of recommen-
dations for reforms in the insurance
laws of the State made by the Governor
in his biennial message. Most important
perhaps is the bill designed to prevent
mergers without the approval Of the
State officials. The bill requiring all
forms of policies to be approved by these
officials before they can be issued is also
among the leading changes, as well as
the law providing for more strict exam
nations of insurance companies and the
turning of oil fees derived therefrom into
the State treasury. To this end sal
aricd examiner and also an actuary are
provided for.
The bill requiring the State Treasurer
to charge interest on State funds is an
other important measure. The policy out
lined by the Legislature in the adoption
of resolution favoring the election of
United States Senators by direct vote
of the people is another feature. Aside
from the juvenile court bill there is but
one new criminal law of especial note
This is the measure increasing the max
imum penalty for assault with intent to
commit murder from ten to thirty years.
The act defining bootlegger and pro-
yiding for the prosecution of such VIC
later by injunction and fine is also wor-
thy of comment.
The defeat of the indeterminate SEN
tence law resulted in the passage of bill
for the appointment of commission to
investigate this criminal procedure in 9TH
er States and report to the next Legis-
lature. Another similar step was taken
in the appointment Of commission to
Investigate the spread Of tuberculosis in
Iowa and report in the same manner.
This was the outcome OF the bill propos-
ing to appropriate large sum for the
erection of home for consumptives and
its defeat.
What 1t Failed to Pass.
From negative standpoint the Thir-
tiethf General Assembly also stands out
MS especially noteworthy. Several of the
most important measures introduced
were defeated. OF those. the need of
which was especially urged by the Gov
ernor in his biennial message, the primary
election bill is of paramount Importance.
Gov. Cummins urged at great length the
passage of Statewide primary election
bill. Strangely enough. scarcely more
than dozen ardent champions of such
law could be found in the two houses.
All members of both houses were perfect
" willing that Des Moines should have
primary law, but they did not desire
any for their own localities. They deem
ed the conditions in Des Moincs SO seri-
ous MS to demand some such law, but
would not concede that such conditions
existed elsewhere. Democrats opposed
the principal bills of this kind oil the
ground that it strengthened the majority
party to compel voter to state his par
ty allegiance when casting ballot. Bills
were introduced by Senator Crossley and
Representative English that were elab-
crate in detail. Two other bills. less
elaborate. were introduced. Under the
circumstances, Representative English
switched from his original purpose and
centralized his efforts toward obtaining
primary law for Des AToines. He
adopted the best features Of all the bills
that had been introduced and prepared n
bill applicable only to counties having
$4,000 population or more, which easily
passed both houses.
More was heard. probably, of the pro-
posed State marshal bill that was agi-
tated By the more ardent temperance pso-