The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-28
new RAILROAD
BILLS IN IOWA
COMPANIES ARE A TARGET AT
THE OUTSET.
Stock Shippers Want Concessions of
an Important Character-Old Meas
ure for Increased Legislative Rep
resentation Returns-County Off
Gals Meet in State Convention.
spe cia1 to The Journal,

Special to The Journal.
Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. 2S.-The rail-
roads are the target for the first bills in
troduced in the Iowa legislature Two bills
require railways to issue free passes to
live stock shippers to and from the place
to which such stock is consigned. Rep
resentatiYes George w. Hanna and l.. l..
Delano are the authors of these measures.
Delano's bill is the most far-rea ching in
that 1T would compel all railways to fur
nish cars at any sidetrack where there is
a switch, promptly and without favor to
any one, to count all the stock before
shipped and assume the responsibility Of
transporting the same safely at the rate
of twenty miles an hour. 1t requires COM
Portable equipment for the stockmen and
assurance that they shall have the right
of way over all dead freight. Heavy
penalties are prescribed in the bill.
MI. Delano also introduced bill to COM
pei all railroads to furnish cars and trans
portation for any express company apply
ing for such privilege, regardless Of wheth-
er some other express company has al
ready leased the privileges Of that rail-
way. ..-. >...
Reform In Drainage Laws.
Senator Hartshorn has introduced a
drainage bill intended to meet the, popular
demand from certain sections Of the state
for reform of the drainage laws, by doing
away with the old long winded method of
presenting a monster petition to the
county auditor for investigation into the
alleged need Of ditch or drain.
Under this bill any Individual may apply,
if he gives a bond to cover the cost of the
investigation If it is proved the need is not
sufficient. ....-- -.
Old Bill Comes Back.
M. L. Temple, house member from
Clarke county, has introduced joint reso-
luton asking that the representative dis
tricts of the state be revised so as to give
each county at least one representative
and the more, populous ones an additional
member of the. lower body, the, total not
to exceed 115. This bill has been before
former legislatures, but never passed. =
There are fifty or sixty bills before eth
| err house and each day is adding more
| The committees are barely getting then
work organized so not much is accOmp-
lished on the floor Of the houses
A committee Of three on the part Of the
senate has been appointed under a con-
current resolution adopted by the upper
body to investigate the cause of the late
statehouse fire and recommend the re.
F.; pairs needed, together with the cost. The
committee consists of Senator Smith
Stuckslager of Linn and Stirton of Jones
| More Work for Legislators. =.
County treasurers, auditors, supervisors
and state veterinarians are all holding SEES
sions in Des Moines this week. The mos
important action taken by the treasurer:
is to instruct its legislative committee tt
draft bill asking for new and uniform
system Of recording taxes in the various
counties The measure is intended to di
away with taX-dodging. There ar,
seventy five treasurers in attendance.
The. county auditors will suggest, severa
changes in laws not yet agreed upon. The.
have re- elected Fred S. Cope, Polk county
f-6 10, ~,
vice president; Ed. Berger of Davenport
secretary, and John H. Weimer of Du
buque, treasurer. President Frank T. Nor
ris Of Polk county IS presiding over TIL
sessions of the supervisors:
Fifty delegates are attending the lows
State Veterinarians association owe
:; which President T. A. Shipley of Ceda
Rapids, is presiding. The program con
sists entirely of papers and discussions
Iinterspersed with clinics.
Iowa manufacturers holding their frs
annual convention, will undoubtedly form
a mutual insurance Organization. '.