The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-02-08
JUDGE SCOTT AND
THE LEGISLATURE
CALLED UPON TO EXPLAIN His
RuLlNu ON noNps,
SUPPORTS HAMBLxroE's BILL.
Mayor Williams Also Gives Advice or
Municipal Legislation Now Pend
lnu--Nseds " More Uniform
legal Proceedings.


surety Bonding Committee IN order
that they might hear Judge Scott give
his reasons for not accepting bonds.
IL will be remembered that Represent.
alive Hambleton OF MahaBka succeed.
ed In having a concurrent resolution
pass the assembly In regard 10 surety
bonding and this necessltated the ap.
pointing OF a committee TO look into
the details OF the matter
Mayor J. G. williams OF oskaloosa
was In the city in attendance at a
meeting OF committee on municipal
tiles. The cities and towns committee
are very anxious 10 have regular uni.
form report made by all cities and
towns, annually, that comparisons may
be made for the benefit of ALL Then,
too, they are anxious for the passage
OF bill to change the order of bring
ing suit against city for the best IN
terest OF the city. The action will be
more stringent IL the bill proposed is
passed. For instance II man be
injured and wishes to sue the city, there
Will be a time limit paced, within
which he will be forced TO give notice
and bring action IN order to obtain any
redress.
The senate was In session for about
three hours yesterday afternoon and
the debate was very warm on house
bill that had already passed that body.
The question was whether or not the
lower court could allow new trial in
criminal cases II new evidence was
discovered. II was defeated by vote
OF 20 10 10. Gnliland Of Mills and
Dowell OF Polk we're the two lawyers
who were chief in argument.
Gilllland claimed the possible injus-
tice TO an innocent party IL the crimi-
nal were not given new trial at the
finding Of additional evidence. Dowell
on the other hand maintained that the
state would only lay itself liable by
the passing Of such a laH to an end
less array Of trials for the prosecution
Of one person He said that the de-
PENDANT would through his attorneys
bring out only part Of the evidence
az the first trial and would keep in
reserve enough TO clear the client II
the first effort failed He believed
that such an arrangement would not
only entail endless qulbbling, but end
less expense as well.
Representative Hambleton OF Mahas-
ka has introduced'a bin providing that
legal instruments relating to town lots
and lands be recorded but once In
stead Of twice as heretofore. At pres
ent such instruments are not only re-
corded In two books, but two charges
are made for the work and II some.
times happens that when one OF the
instruments is released, the, other is
not, and thus expense will not only be
lightened, but the method simplifed.
The same gentleman from Mahaska
was recently very much misquoted not
only in local papers, but the misrepre.
sentation was copied in his home pa.
pers. Mr.. Hambleton introduced a
bin IN the house relating TO tax sales.
His endeayor was TO so change the
system TO permit them to bid down on
the penalty and interest, instead Of on
the undivided portion. The amount
80 reduced by the bid TO go into the
treasury for the benefit OF the taxpayer
instead OF the purchaser.
The biennial election law made IL
necessary TO pass special election
law, because there was no general
election last fall. II is necessary for
voters in cities OF $500 or over TO reg.
lister for the city election at the gen.
eral election. Formerly the general
election was every year, and now II is
every two years, 80 special act was
necessary for the registration OF Yot-
ers. The third Monday prior to any
city election was the day chosen, to
bridge the difficulty.
Talk Is still current In regard to the
endeayor TO unseat Representative
Whitmer. II has been discovered that
only one democrat voted against that
gentleman. The democrat casting this
ballot was J. r.. Lundt, OF Tama, and
there has been much speculation as TO
why he ala not vote for the man Of mis-
party. II has been figured out in this
way: Jundt Is the fellow that launched
the resolution providing that all lobby
lists should first see Governor Cum
minis before being permitted to ply
their trade. The Goyernog.lp his
speech at Fairfield, down ~ the
Reservation" said ne wished ne
could put all the railroad lobbyists out
Of commission. This idea seemed to
be carried ont in the resolution Of
Representative Lundt, and II has been
suggested that possibly he has lean.
ing toward the Cummins side Of the
house. The only reason for its nom
belief is the fact that Head Of Jeffer-
son, well known TO be friend to the
Governor and his principals, moved
that me resolution be tabled and the
motion passed. so there will be moth
Ing doing in that line until next SEES
sion.