Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-03-02

were to change the hours that saloons
may be open so as to permit them to
remain open unit! II o'clock at night
and also to permit them to be open on
Labor day New Years day and Wash.
ington's birthday and on school and
special election days. The senate
bill, by Newberry, to provide for the
county auditor as well as the treas
urer keeping account of the mulct
tax paid was recommended for pas
sage.
To Repeal Tax Ferret Law.
Bills have been introduced in both
houses providing for the repeal of the
tax ferret law. The sentiment seems
to be decidedly in favor of repeating
this law. 1t is charged with having
been used as the vehicle of oppression
on the part of itinerant "ferrets" who
have made it their business to try to
harass widows and orphans, while the
been able to get away with reason.
ably whole skin.
In the house the bill providing that
boards of supervisors may publish the
official proceedings in papers other
than those printed in the English lam
guage was defeated.
The senate passed, after consider
able discussion, the bill by Crossley
providing that county superintend-
ents may be of either sex, but that
they must hold five-year state certifi-
Gates or diploma, and during their
term of office nay not be eligible as
member of the board of school direct
ors or of the board of supervisors.
They are to be allowed to appoint a
deputy, who may discharge the duties
of the superintendent. except in visit
ing schools and trying appeals.
A bill of considerable interest
which has passed the senate is by
Durham and provides that action on
lost bills. bonds, promissory notes or
instruments in writing may be by or
binary proceedings, but if the instru.
ment sued on is negotiable, the plain
| tiff, before entering upon trial. must
give an indemnifying bond to make
| good the defendant against any sub
| sequent proceedings should the lost
| instrument turn up in the hands of a
third party.
The house passed the bill by Che
ney, providing that when action is
brought on contract outside the coun.
| ty of defendants residence anu he at
| tends on day of trial. and the case is
| dismissed by pl intiff the defendant
shall be allowed SIS attorney fee and
the costs taxed to plaintiff.
The bill prohibiting discharge of
| firearms across or along public high
ways was defeated in the senate.
Senator Garst has introduced bill
providing that when property passes
il shall be taxed 20 per cent Of its true
value, except when the nonresident
alien heirs are brother or sister. then
the tax shall be only 10 per cent
Regulation of Railroads.
Senator Bruce has introduced a bill
in Iowa, upon notice to their agents
of a proposed shipment Of freight, to
furnish cars and to provide at all reg
ular stopping places means for the
safe and prompt handling of all kinds
of freight, to transport all freight
promptly to its destination and to re-
ceive and transport eXpeditiously all
freight including loaded OF empty
cars furnished by any connecting road
and not demand any unreasonable
compensation therefor. Failure to
furnish cars for shipment of all kinds
of freight within twelve hours after
notice or failure to start transports
ton of any freight within twelve
hours after it is delivered at any sta
ton, or failure to transport any
freight at an average rate of not less
than twenty miles an hour to destina-
ton, shall be prima facie evidence OF
neglect and violation of the act, and
the company shall be liable to the
party injured for all damages and a
penalty of 10 per cent. II claims for
such damages are not settled within
thirty days after being presented the
company shall be liable for double the
amount Of actual damages and penal.
ty. and, if suit is commenced, an at.
| torney fee not to exceed $25 per day.
| II shall be competent, however. for
the companies to show that injury
and loss was occasioned by act of
God or cause beyond their control.
Representative Chassell has intro
duced a bill in the house that is Of
| considerable interest to coal dealers
and others. It provides that on or be-
| fore Jan. 1, 1905. every railroad in the
state shall be required to put in track
scales of capacity to weigh a carload
of coal, grain, cattle, merchandise or
any kind of property. having at least
one such scale on every division of
fifty miles of their road. On request
of any owner, consignor or consignee
of any property shipped in carload
| lots the railroads shall weigh such
shipment and give certificate Of the
weight. Roads may be required to
weigh property in transit and shall
weigh It and give certificate showing
| gross and net weights. Such certif-
cate of weight shall be admissible