Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-05
ADOPT TWO
CENT BILL
TEMPLE LOSES FIGHT ON THE
cHAssELL FAMILY MILEAGE
sooK MEASURE
THE SHORT HAULCLAUsE
%Interurban People Say Bill Would Be
Severe Blow to Electric Lines
Thought that Legislature VIII Not
Reach Adjournment Tomorrow
Folk Says Missouri Will Win.

Des Moines, April ,3.-(Special).-
The house passed the Chassen two
cent family mileage book bill today.
Only fifteen voted against it.
Temple led the fight for the opposi-
ton in vain.
The senate killed the bill for a $40,-
600 appropriation for a grand stand at
the fair grounds and passed a bill ap-
propriating $50, 900 for the state his
torical building and S443,000 for in
situations under the board of control.
The house %concurred in the senate
amendment to the oil discrimination
bill, limiting it to petroleum only. The
bill now becomes a law.
The Short Haul Bill.
1t was thought the short haul clause
bill would have clear sailing and 1t
would have had had not the interurban
people discovered a Senegambian in
the wodopile.
AS offered the measure suited every
one, as explained in this correspond
ence. No one imagined the bill was
loaded. But when it was examined
carefully it was observed that it would
be fatal to the interurbans.
1t permitted the railroads to reduce
rates between competing points to an
equality with any competing short
line. 1t was not observed that this
would permit reduction to the inter
urban rates. The Rock Island between
Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, for in
stance, would be able to reduce rates
to the price charged by the ihterurban
between those points.
1t was proposed Immediately by the
interurban men. that the competing
rates be fixed as between steam roads
and not between steam roads and the
interurbans. OF course if the law were
to be passed as proposed by the steam
roads it would drive interurbans out
of business and then the original high
rates would go back into effect.
In any event it would discourage the
building Of in%terurbans. That Is evi
dent from the fact that the interurbar
companies Immediately began to op
pose the bill. If. they were not fright
ened about the effect Of such a meas
ure they would not fight it, certainly.
May Not Adjourn Wednesday.
1t is believed that the assembly will
be able to adjourn on tomorrow as con
templated by many of the leaders
Il Ihere are numDerleSS maLleTS ol ue
tails that must be adjusted and the leg
i~slature is not prone to hustle itsel
much these lazy days Of the approach
ing spring time.
1t is. barely possible that they may
get away by Thursday night, but Ger
tainly not earlier than that unless the!
take a sudden squirt in the perform
ance of business. All politics Is nov
!, disposed of and there is no reason VIII!
attention cannot be centered on pub
lie business.
The fact that the adjournment ap
preached did not prevent the assembl.
from inviting Governor Folk to ad
dress the assembly. But why not
Tom Lawson was invited to speak be
!, fore the body and did it. So that i
was not out of place to invite a NOR
distinguished man and a man who ha
done his share in trying to give thu
people better government.
Will Defeat Standard Oil.
Governor Folk insists that the stat