Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-18
MEETING OF LEGISLATIVE COM
MITTEE OF IOWA LEAGUE OF
MUNICIPALITIES
oTTUMwA INTERESTED
Local Delegation Want Laws Amend
cd to Provide for Levyins Tax for
Building sewers-Wiii Petition Leg,
islature for New Laws-ottunwan
on Committee.

At the meeting of the legislative
committee of the Iowa League of Mu-
inequalities to be held in Des Moines
Wednesday and Thursday, the Ottum-
wa delegation will request that the
matter of building sewers by cities bel
given special consideration. The
meeting Of the committee is called for
the purpose Of reaching a decision as
TO what changes in the laws OF adop-
ton OF new laws to recommend to the
legislature.
The members Of the city council
feel that one of the greatest needs of
Ottumwa at the present time is new
sewers and the 2 mills levy provided
by law does not give sufficient funds
for this purpose. Mayor B. F. Suits
who is a member of the legislative
committee stated to the council last
evening. that he would be unable to
attend. City Auditor w. r. Warren,
who Is a member of the committee on
municipal accounting and Alderman
Samuel Johnson and John spry were
appointed a committee to attend the
meeting. An effort will probably be
made to have the league recommend
to the legislature that the laws be
amended so as to provide for special
tax levy in cities for the building of
sewers. Mr.. Warren left for Des
Moines today to attend the meeting of
his committee.
To Petition Legislature.
The notice Of the meeting sent out
by Mayor A. N Alberson of Wash
ington, Iowa, chairman of the legis-
lative committee, is in part as follows:
Every municipal officer in Iowa
who is Interested in any change in the
present laws, is invited and urged to
be present at this meeting as many
questions will come up for considera-
ton and most of those changes that
are approved by the league will very
probably meet with the approval of
the legislature. Every city and town
council in Iowa should consider the
question of changes In the state law
and should take the necessary action
to send one or more delegates to this
meeting in order that all municipal
legislation to be asked of the present
general assembly may be decided on
early in the session and bills intro
duced covering the changes Every.
city and town, whether a member of
the league of Iowa municipalities or
not is urged to send delegates to this
meeting.
"The meetings of the committee
will be held in the club room, Parlor
OF the Slavery the first meeting being
held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
Want Appropriation.
for an annual appropriation, fol- a
period OF three years, to be under the
control Of the executive council of the
state, and to be used In investigating
the questions of sewerage disposal,
eater supplies, paving, police and fire
protection and the many other vital
questions that come before every coun-
Gil. 1t is impossible for any one city
to thoroughly Investigate any one of
these questions on account of the
great cost and the municipal officials
| of the state believe that the legisla-
ture should come to their aid espe-
cially as the people living in the in
corporated cities and towns pay over
! SO per cent of all the taxes raised in
the state Governor Cummins in his
inaugural address strongly recon-
mended that this appropriation be
made and many legislators have al
ready expressed themselves in favor
of such measure.
Municipal Accounting Bill.
"A uniform municipal accounting bill
will also be asked. Under the present
system each city has a different sys-
tenn of bookkeeping and it is almost
impossible to make a comparison of
the receipts and expenses of any two
municipalities. In Ohio where such a
law has been in force for several years,
1t has met with universal approval and
has saved thousands of dollars to the
taxpayers. The expense of enforcing
the provision of this bill will be paid
by the municipalities interested. The
census department of the national gov
eminent is interested in this measure
and will cooperate in every way pos
sible to secure Its passage.
"The question of reducing the num-
| Der Of councilmen and increasing their
salaries, of giving more power to the
mayor and fixing the responsibility for
official actions, special assessments,
taxation, franchises of public service
corporations! building and electric wir-
ing inspection, and many other import
ant questions will come up for consid.
Grafton and action.
KILLED BY FALL.