Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-16
HARPER'S ELECTION BILL
ottumwa Senator Thinks the Measure
Which Bears His Name Will Be
Adopted by the House, and Will Poll
That Body soon-JudiciaI Districts.
[BY LEON BRoWN.1
Des Moines Bureau of the Courier.

down to business when it reconvenes
here tomorrow. Up to this time bust.
ness has run along a little bit slack.
The first adjournment rather demoral-
ICES things. The bills have not come
in as rapidly as was expected, but
there are many yet to be introduced
Some of the most important ones re-,
main to come. For instance, the state
university has to determine yet
whether to join with the state agricul.
tural college in asking for mileage
tax for the support fund or to ask for
extraordinary appropriations again.
The removal of the school for the deaf
and dumb from Council Bluffs to some
more centrally located place has yet
to come before the legislature. So far
1t has been given absolutely no consid-
Grafton. Not all the other state institu-
ton appropriation bills are in. Up to
date the railroad ripper bills have been
the only ones, which have attracted
attention of any kind The prevailing
sentiment is that, these; measures will
not pass. 80 d rs 8 X;
t5 Biennial Election Bill. ID,
Senator Harper expects to poll the
house of representatives early this
week on the subject Of his biennial
elections amendment If he is able to
do SO he will secure action on the bill
from the house committee on constitu-
tional amendments early in the week,
also, and expects before next Sunday
to have the resolution through the
house. Then there would remain but
the Affirmative vote of the peaple to eff
feet the abolition of the elections in
the odd-numbered years in Iowa.
Will 1t be Ratified?
There is come speculation as to
whether the people would vote for the
amendment. is true that it was
adopted when submitted once before,
but shat was only by very narrow
margin and there was no fight on the
amendment. One of the best informed
public men in Iowa said today that in
his Judgment the amendment this time
will be showed under so deep that the
proposition will not be revived again in
many years.
Senator Harper believes it will carry
however, and whethe1. it does or not
he is gratified that the legislature has
not opposed the submission, even those
opposed to the abolition of the cleo
.tions in odd-numbered years voting for
submission as compliment to Mr.
Harper.
The Judicial Districts.
Judging from expressions heard
among members relative to the Cum
mings- -Whipple scheme for reducing
the number of district judges of the
state from fifty-three to forty-one, il
will not go through.
A Hard Task.
Representative Cummings, who de
vised the scheme himself, says it is the
most discouraging task he ever attack
ed, the Encouragement of the districts
so that the number of judges may be
Topped off. No member whose district
is amended will stand for it, although
he agrees that the readjustment of the
other fellows districts ought to be ac
complished.
The sentiment indicates that the
best that will come out of this move
ment is the readjustment of a few OF
the districts where political conditions
are ripe for it, and where there is such
division that the districts may be di
vided without discommoding anybody
And new districts will be organized ur
in the northern port of the state where
they are sadly needed.
Many Appropriations Wanted.
Among the appropriations which
will be within a few days, in all prob
ability, are the following:
State institutions under board
of control ). 49,. J. ....$1, ,154 O0(
State agricultural college ). 100000
State university. 100000
State normal school :. -. $4,000
Quarterly conference state in
stitutions ). ... 2O(
inspection of private hospitals
and children's homes Z. i. 5000
Deputy dairy commissioners
salary. 20(
Monument to Timothy Brown,
revolutionary soldier !. 50t
Monument to Governor Will
liam M. Stone. Knoxville 5O|
Monument to General NJ. A.
Stone. Mt. Pleasant ..... 5Ot
Monument to General M. M.
Crocker, Des Moines. ...s. 50l