Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-13
ABANDONMENT LAW
TO BE UP AGAIN
STATE LEGISLATURE WILL WIRES.
TIE WITH BILL THAT FAILED I,
OF PASSAGE ,s,ldsot I
s,a1oos
Effort Made to ~ restrictive
Legislation Resarive to Refuge
Homes-suggested that They Should
be Under State Supervision.

Des Motnes. d. 1.-two propos-
ais relative to reformatory legislation
OF much Importance will be submitted
to the coming session of the assembly
One is for law to punish wife deser-
tion and the other law to put the
refuge homes of the state under state
supervision.
Efforts made In the last legislature
to secure laws punisning men who de-
sert their families failed because Of
the passage Of the house of law SO
drastic that 1t would have been 'm-
possible to enforce it anu the subsi-
dence of interest in the subject subse-
quentIy.
Effort also was made to secure
restrictive legislation relative to re-
fuge homes but without avail. Many
people asked for the enactment Of a
law which would prevent the establish
ment Of these places within certain
distance Of residences of other peo-
pie. In jos MOL: IS some of them are
situated In the heart of fine residence
districts.
There will be some opposition to
the plan to place these institutions
under state supervision for the reason
that then their records will be public.
The only excuse which exists for their
liberation seems to be the fact that
they furnish inmates the seclusion Of
a secret retreat. To compel them 10
keep public records would not be de-
sirable, always, in the Judgment Of
many people.
Avn af rr1o orfyo o1H Al a
which seem to require remedy and
tbs can only be applied by the strong
arm of the state.
Net Railroad Earnings.
In only one year since 1878 have
the net earnings Of the Iowa railroads
equaled or surpassed the record Of the
mast wear when the net earnings were
$19,139,99s In 1902 the net earnings
We're s'S29400O. But twice since 1892
have the net earnings per mile Of the
Iowa railroads eaualled the record of
this year. In 1902 the net earnings
per mile were $2,O34 and in 1899 they
were $1,994. This year they were
$1.947 per mile.
These facts are cleaned from the
forthcoming report of the state rail.
road commission filed with the gov
ernor today The net earnings of the
road have increased more than $780,
900, according to this report. Capital.
lied at six per cent this would ada a
natural value to the railroad property
of the state Of about $40,0O0,000.
These figures are for the year end
| ing June 80, which takes in some of
the increased earnings of the last half
of 1905. The figures n which the
assessment of 1907 vii be based will
cover the year ending o..nuary 1, 1907,
and probably these reports will not
show so large an increase.
State Fair Profits.
The receipts of the Iowa State Fair
have tripled in the last ten years, ac.
cording to the report submitted by
Secretary John Simpson Of the depart
ment of agriculture at the annual
meeting of the department this after.
noon. The increase has been from
s36,66O in 1896 to $110,929 this year
The premiums paid have almost
doubled during the same period, in
creasing from $16,404 to $31, ,703.
The net profits have increased dur
ing the period from $4,634 to 3S,47O
1t is in this item that the good manage
ment of the department of agriculture
managers would have expended this
extra money and have nothing left to
show for it. This year the surplus y
the fair treasury amounts to $4,000
But about $4,000 of this is now being
expended on permanent improvements
including water works system and
lighting system. 1t is the aim of the
fair management to keep about 5,0OC
in the treasury for sinking fund
another Indication of good business
management.
Now not cent of this money is
the property of the fair people or the
department of agriculture except as ar
agent of the state. Ordinary the de
/. partments of the government spene
all the money they can get hold OF
and very often deficits are created
But in the case OF the state fair there
is constant effort on the part of the
officials to keep expenses down ane
to make money for the state.
Since 1889 the state has expended
/ $4,000 for two permanent brick build
4 ings on lne fair grounds. In the same
period the fair managers have expend
ed $12O,476 in permanent improve
ments. This is all che property O
the state.
/ No recommendation as to legisla
ton is mad by Secretary Simpson. Tht
policy of the fair management is II
ask very little of the legislature, al
4 though in every other state there hay,
4 been very liberal appropriations fo
the benefit of the annual agricultur,
/ and stock exhibitions. Why there i!
4 a prejudice against appropriations fo
the benefit of the farmers in Iowa
never has been explain .
i Leon Brown.
Z &
Doh E,nL oS %1i snn