The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-01-24
BLAKESBURG MAY
JUMP INTO FAME
TOWN is A CANDIDATE FOR MA
TloNAl REPUTATION.
ALL BECAUSE OF A TELEPHONE
Citizens Petition Legislature to Give
Them Relief From Necessity of
Walking to Depot to En-
quire About Trains.

Des Moines, January 23.-The little
town of Blakesburg, Wapello County,
seems destined to make a sudden
jump into national fame, for it is pos
sible that 1t may give rise to legisla-
tion which shall tend to controlling
the gigantic telephone monopoly. 1t
has come about in this way: the peo-
pie Of the town of Blakesburg have no
telephone connection with the rail-
road station, and have found it rather
provoking to take a trip to the depot
only to find the train an hour or so
late. Acting on the provocation thus
afforded an appeal was made by them
to the railroad commissioners, asking
them to order the railroad to put in
a telephone line for their benefit. The
commission replied that they had no
jurisdiction in the case, but the mat
ter has been referred to the legislator
to see if the Solons are willing to in
crease the authority of the railroad
commission to cases like this.
To Regulate Lobbyists.
The bill presented in the house yes
terday by Representative Sullivan of
Polk county is understood to repre-
garding legislation against lobbying.
The bill provides that it shall be un-
lawful for anyone acting as 'legisla-
tive counsel" or Legislative agent" "
to seek to influence the votes of men,
bers for or against any measure, ex-
cept by appearing before committees
or through public addresses, news
paper articles, written or printed
statements or briefs, but before such
addresses or statements are deliver
ed, twenty-five copies must be depos-
tied with the Secretary of the State.
No lobbyist shall be permitted on the
floor or either house while in session
unless by invitation of such house
Legislative counsel and legislative
agents" are defined as being any per-
son, who, acting for himself or others,
or engaging anyone to act for him,
promotes or opposes the passage of
any act.
The violation of the provisions of
the bill is made punishable by impris-
onment for six months in the county
Jail, or by fine not to exceed two
hundred dollars.
'.. Other Bills introduced
prostitution by Imprisonment of not
less than six months in the county
Jail or five hundred dollars fine. -
By Jones-Amending the law in re-
spect to registration of births.
BY Clarke-Providing for special
elections for township trustees in
newly created townships.
By Anderson-Providing for inquiry
into the qualifications of persons re-
turned as jurors.
By Clarke-Providing for Board of
Examiners for trained nurses.
By Ofill-Providing for fencing
land by private individuals along
highways.
The following bills were introduced
in the senate:
By Jamison of Clark, creating an
insurance department and providing
for the appointment by the governor,
previous to the adjournment of the
Thirty-second General Assembly, of
an insurance commission at a salary
of thirty-five hundred dollars per year
to take his Office the first Monday in
May, 1907 Appointment to be con-
firmed by the senate, and to be made
biennially thereafter.
By Jamison-Providing that assess
ment insurance companies may rein
corporate as legal reserve companies.
Providing a uniform fire insurance
policy. Preventing the admission to
the state of any fraternal beneficiary
society not charging national frater-
nal congress rates. Amending code
relative to fraternal accident COM
panies.
By Young-Regulating the trans
portation of corpses and the practice
of embalming.
By Newberry-Amending the Pure
Food Law, to apply to seeds and
stock foods; also regulating the label
ing of paint, oils, etc.
By Bleakly-Amending laws rela-
tive to tornado insurance. Regulating
disbursements of insurance compa-
nies. Providing for the investment of
funds of fraternals. Regulating rates
of fraternal insurance companies. and
providing that by 1912 all Iowa fra
(ContinuHd on Pagp 81