Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-29
STATUE FOR EX-GOv. HARDWOOD.
Bill Favored Place One in National Hall of Fame
in Observation-Disclosures of Taxation Not in Favor
Hostility to Commissions and Bureaus
Other Notes of General Interest.
Especial Correspondence. ]

Especial Co,
Des Moines, Ia, March 21.-The house
committee on appropriations has rec
commended the passage of the bill set
ting aside $4,000 for the erection of
statue to former Gov. Samuel ]. Kirk
wood in the national hall of fame at the
federal capitol. Representative Koontz,
OF Iowa City, introduced the bill, and it
has met with such favor that it seems
probable that it will pass the legislature
this winter No other name has been
suggested in the form of bill before the
legislature, but number of prominent
sons of Iowa have been proposed for the
honor of association with Kirkwood
in that hall Each state is entitled to
two. Gov. Grimes, Justice Samuel F.
Miller and James Harlan, are among
those who have been mentioned. 1t is
unlikely that the second choice will be
made by this legislature. Friends of
the idea regret that not more money is
appropriated for the Kirkwood statue.
Taxes Kept Down.
The only bill so far passed by the leg
islature which permits the increase Of
taxation in the country is one which al
lows the bridge fund in counties to be
Increased from three to four mills. At
present but three may be levied. 1t was
shown that large number of counties
have an overdrawn bridge fund. The
theory of the law is to relieve this stu
pro oil nf
schemes to increase taxation in the rural
districts have failed. Several have been
adopted for cities and towns because
their members asked it. The farmers in
the legislature are the real conserva-
hves.
Down on Commissions.
The bill for the creation of a state
board of examiners to inspect the books
Of county treasurers in Iowa annually,
under supervision of the auditor of state,
having been defeated Senator New
berry has offered bill requiring coun-
ties to have the books of their treasur-
ers inspected by experts annually. This
will be at county expense. The bill was
recommended for passage by the senate
judiciary committee as quick as it was
referred to it. The legislature has ex-
pressed it's great hostility to all of the
schemes for creating humane bureau,
the one to- provide for board to license
stationary engineers, the one to license
mind and hand healers, and the one to
supervise construction of good roads.
To Teach Agriculture.
Thesenate committee on olsquick-
ly recommended the bill to require the
rudiments and fundamentals of agricul-
ture to be taught in the public schools
of the state. Superintendent S. H.
Sheakley, of Des Moines, appeared be-
fore the committee and argued for the
measure, effectively. 1t provides that
In each of the schools of the state the
fundamental facts about agriculture or
farming be taught to the children. The
schools have been spending enormous
sums of money teaching nature studies.
etc. But the most fascinating and prof
table Of all nature studies, farming
how things grow-has been neglected
The new law will not add to the expense
Of the maintenance of the schools moi
tothe requirementswhich should be made
Of teacher. 1t will be useful thing
u the schools. In the language of one
educator, it will provide an essential
; where fad might be.
To Prevent Boycotting.
The bill to prevent picketing, boycott
, ting and blacklisting in the prosecution
!, Of strikes in this state, which Senate
Young, of Calhoun, introduced, wa
killed by senate committee, but ha
. been revived by Representative Hea
!. In the house, who has reintroduced II
> The measure is designed to proven
. strikers circulating literature in whic
business houses are called unfair" an
to prevent them stationing pickets t
interfere with nonunion laborers VIII
have taken their places in case of strike
!, It also as severely Furnishes the employ
: ers who blacklist employees who ma
have engaged in strike.
= To Limit Hours Of Work.
g Representative Emory English, G
g Polk county, has introduced a bill in th
g lower house of the legislature limitin
J. the hours of work of railroad employs
). The bill applies to trainmen and switch
+ men. 1t provides that they shall not /
r required to work in excess of 16 hour
;. In each "a. The bill specifically name
9 the trainmen who are affected, and ais
= names the officials of the railroad VIII
y are to be punished for violation OF Il
c law. The punishment is made a fine
from 500 to 5000 for each offense.
State Insurance Department.
The legislature has passed the bi
establishing state department of ii
y Burance. 1t is placed within the juri
diction of the auditor of state, who hi
- had general supervision of insuran,
matters. The auditor is empowered
employ an actuary and assistants to e.
= anime insurance companies. These en-
). ployes are paid salary by the stat
,. The law requires all fees collected |
:. them from insurance concerns to be Co
cred into the state treasury. This wi
!. avoid any possibility of scandal as f,
- rs overcharging companies or chargil
- them without performing examination
. Is concerned.
:. Single Board of Control.
l.. A very strong movement for sing
d board of control for the Iowa institute
developed week ago in the legislator
1t was given great emphasis and In
betus by the appearance before the joi
appropriations committee of James
. Berryhill, of Des Moines, one of the mo
:, - prominent of the 1000 alumni of tt
- state university, in an argument for Il
: adjustment of the educational boar