Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-01-18
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines, Iowa. Jan. IL,

IL is not unlikely mat the legiSla-
ture will be confronted with a propo-
sition for the removal of the state
penitentiary at Fort Madison to a
better location
The committee OF the assembly
named two years ago to investigate
the proposal to establish a reforma-
tory and adopt the indeterminate SEN
tence system for Iowa, is now consid.
ering the question of how far II
should make recommendations In rnis
regard. There is no special disagree
ment among the members of the com.
mission as the situation Is under.
stood. But whether 1t should pass
the matter without recommendation.
or recommend new site within Fort
Madison be secured for tho prison, or
urge the removal of the institution to
more central and better adapted
location within the state are inquiries
with which the commission 10 now
spending its spare time.
The civil engineers of Iowa In con.
yention at Des Moines Endorsed the
suggestion of a topographic survey
OF Iowa. An appropriation OF $4,000
will be asked Of the legislature for
the work which. properly, will como
under the geological survey. The
engineers have insisted on CO.
operation of the geological board in
the matter but II is not proceeding
on It's own motion In respect to the
enterprise. At the request OF the
engineers State Geologlst Wilder nd-
dressed the convention on this SUBJ
ject. II is realized by the engineers
that Iowa would enjoy the greatest
and most obviously valuable results
from such survey. III the state were
covered by series of topographic
sheets drawn on the usual scale there
is no question but what the installa-
ton of electric interurban lines would
be greatly stimulated. All OF the
preliminary reconnaissance survey
work would be obviated, and the en-
gineer could sit in his office with the
topographic cheets before him ana
virtually outline the course that his
roads should take, finding IL necess-
airy TO so into the field merely to
check up and verify.
with the backing Of number OF
tho members OF the Des Moines Com
mercial club, the Motor and Compon-
ents Manufacturing company OF Mid
dleton, Conn, Of which w. III. Kitto Is
the principal owner and manager, Is
to be removed to Des Moines. Ar
rangements have about beon complet-
ed for the organization OF a company,
capitalized at $4,000, for the manu-
facture OF this company's products,
consisting of appliances used largely
in the manufacture OF automobiles.
After thorough investigation by sew
eral of the members of the CONNER
cial club who submitted the patents
OF Mr.. Kitto to an expert machinist,
Mr.. M. Teeter, who gave them an UNI
qualified endorsement, several MEM
bers OF the club have agreed to secure
some $4,000 subscription to stock.
Representative Onll of Jasper
county has introduced his bill prohib-
iting the sale and use Of giant fire.
crackers. The bill was given its two
readings and referred to the judiciary
committee There seems little doubt
that this long felt want In legislation
to protect the youth OF the land will
pass with scarcely a negative vote.
The bill provides that no person shall
sell or keep for sale or manufacture
or bring into this state for use or sale
therein any flrecracker, cane or dyna-
mite caps, containing dynamite, chic
rate OF potash or any explosive except
ordinary gunpowder of saltpeter, sui
phur and charcoal. No flrecrac'ters
composed of ordinary gunpowder
shall be sold or kept for sale or
used unless the same shall not exceed
three inches In length and nor more
than three-eighths OF an inch In
diameter. Any violating the provisions
Of this section shall be subject to be
punished by n fine OF not less than
$50 or not more than 800, or impris-
onment In the county Jail for term
of not less than fifteen days nor more
than thirty days, or both. That all
acts or parts of acts In conflicts with
the provisions OF this act shall BIO re-
pealed.
Insurance men connected with Iowa
companies are displeased by the let
ter written to members Of the legisla-
ture by the president Of one OF the
leading Des Moines companies. Elk
pressions in this letter, which are sup
posed to have been meant to Indicate
the inutility Of the proposed investJ-
cation because 1t could not possibly
disclose any glazing evils, have been
construed to mean that an investi-
cation is feared and this is not the
fact. President Peak OF the Central
Life and other insurance men give
vigorous expression to their disap-
proval OF the letter and emphasize
their perfect willingness to submit to
an inquiry by the general assembly.
President Jackson of the Royal Union
gave expression to this view the day
that the Molsberry resolution was
offered, declaring that the legislature
might investigate to It's hearts con
tent so far as his company is con-
cerned. III. s. Nollen Of the Bankers
Life takes the same position, w l.,
Shepherd expressed the same idea
and other Iowa life men who were
seen were perfectly willing to have
the inquiry undertaken.