Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-26
ARE SHARPENING PRUNING KNIVES
Legislative Appropriation Committees win
Neither Raise Taxes Nor Allow Deficit
legislature Adjourns to Januery
26-Other Notes of Interest.
Especial Correspondence


Des Moines, Ia, Jan. 1S.-Gov. Cum.
minis in his annual message declared
that the legislature could appropriate
not to exceed $1,400,0o0 for extraordi-
nary appropriations to be expended dur
Ing the ensuing two years, without in
wiling deficit or causing an increase in
taxes. The three state educational in
situations alone are asking for about
$1,500, 900; the other state institutions
are asking for about $1,250,0O0; other
appropriations asked foot up to about
$1,260,00O. So that the appropriations
committees of the legislature are sharp
enfng their pruning knives, being de-
termined neither to raise taxes nor to
cause deficit at the end Of the next BIZ
ennium
Legislature Adjourns.
Many members of the legislature OPP
posed the idea of adjourning from Jan
uary IA to January &c, thinking it alto
gether too long. 1t had been talked
among the members that they would
agree, probably, on an adjournment to
January 20, but when the senate started
the movement to let the session go over
until January 26, the house fell in with
It The temporary repairs made neces-
sary by reason of the fire were we'll I'M
der way, and the capitol commission in
formed the legislators that while the
house could meet in its own chamber by
Monday Of this week, the chamber would
be much improved in appearance by an
other weeks work. The house had con-
vened in the senate chamber while the
senate occupied one of its own commit
tee rooms. 1t was so evident that no
business could properly be transacted
IN the inconvenient quarters thus ar
ranged, that the assembly decided it
better not to return to the capitol until
1t was absolutely certain that the house
could occupy it's own quarters.
Will Visit st. Louis.
A legislative committee composed Of
three senator's and three representatives
has been authorized by the general as
sembly to visit st. Louis, at state ex-
pense, and inspect the work done by the
Iowa commission in charge of the ex-
hibit of this state at the world S fair the
coming summer. The purpose is to ar
rive at some definite information as to
the manner In which the commission
has expended its $125,O0O appropriation,
over half of which is now in contracts,
and to arrive at decision as to whether
additional funds should be appropriated.
Senator's Maytag, Lewis and Lambert
and Representatives Teachout, Skinner
and Frudden form the committee. SEN
ator Maytag was the man who prevented
q $4,000 appropriation instead of one
for $125,000 being made by the last as
sembly.
Wants the Law Revised.
Gov. Cummins, during his first two
years as governor, paroled only $50 pris-
oners. Gov. Shaw, during his last two
years, paroled 259. Gov. Cummins has
urged the legislature to revise the law
relating to parole and pardons, and to
establish an indeterminate sentence
law in the state. He believes that the
present popular impression about pa
roles and pardons is an error. but since
it exists the legislature should pass law
which will make the sentence of the
court carry with 1t the parole, under
certain conditions; then the people will
not gain the idea which they unques-
tionably entertain that every time the
executive exercises the power of parole
or pardon he is counteracting or acting
in conflict with the courts. The gov
ernor does not believe in pardon board,
but suggests juvenile court.
The Capitol Fire.
M. e. Bell, the architect who built the
capitol. hurried to the state from Chi
cago when he heard of the fire in the at
tic of the state house. He was much in
terested in inspecting the place where
the fire did it's chief damage. He was
not surprised at the inability to put out
the fire, and was not surprised when it
was discovered that the fire had burned
several days after it was supposed to be
out, eating away the wooden ribs be-
tween the steel Orders in the attic floor
in one of the domes. The difficulty Of
extinguishing the fire, while there was
no danger of Its widespread, he regarded
as compliment to the skill ofthe build
ers in using the f1reproofing materials
that were possible 80 years ago. Mr..
Bell believes that the total damage will
not exceed $150.0O0, although the first
estimates were from 100000 to $780,
600. and one newspaper gave the damage
at 81, 100000.
An,HHiioAs About Pay,
T2wnship trustees all through the
9tate are beginning to wonder where
they are gatne to get their SAL
aries. Formerly they were paid two
dollars day for work done, the county
supervisors allowing the bills. They had
nothing to do except in cases of emer-
gency, and drew very little money. The
last legislature. however, passed new
road law, and this law required the truss
tees to take charge OF the road funds
and pay them eHt. This business has
taken most Of the time of the trustees,
and recently they filed with the super
visors, all over the state, at the meetings
of the board to organize, in January,
COrDulent hills which astonich tho oil.