Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-03-27


TIE passing years have not bedimmet
thy fame.
| Thou vert the friend of Lincoln;
| Oft when oppressed and weary,
| When burdened by his doubts an6
fears,
When saddened by the nations tears
He turned, with longing heart, to thee
Thine was prophetic vision;
Thine, faith that looked afar;
In storm and strife, serene, sublime
Gods promise of nobler time,
Thy soul with hope inspired.
Let it be Lorne beyond this mortal
realm,
Harlan, thy state still loves thee.
With the bronze figure of Harlan In
the Hall of Statuary will stand the
statue of Samuel J. Kirkwood, the
old war governor of Iowa, and best
beloved of all her executives. The
appropriation for the Kirkwood statue
was made by the assembly of year
ago. 1t is said at the session of the
Thirty-third assembly a movement
will be started to place bronze OF
former Governor Grimes in the hall
No Marshal Bill Now.
After three hours debate the sen.
ate, by vote of Is for to 80 against,
killed the state marshal bill. The
measure has been before several as.
semblies in one form or another, but
had never before come to a vote in
open session. Senator Durham of
Delaware county, in strong speech
showed up the merits of the measure
for better enforcement of the pres
ent laws. He showed that it would
not take a cent from the state treas
ury although its expense would run to
nearly 100000 year. The money
was all to come from a portion of the
taxes now being paid to the counties
and cities where the mulct law is In
operation. Senator Durham was aid
ed In support Of the bill by Senator
Bleakley Of Ida county, but ii was op-
posed by Senator DeArmond of Scott,
who declared it would take from his
county $4,000 year which was now
derived from the saloons and which
was used for parks and public i'm.
provements. He contended that the
present officers could enforce the law
as well as an army of marshals II
rem of Marion county also spoke
against the bill and made an eloquent
appeal. After the vote was taken A.
c. Rankin. who has had charge of the
marshal movement in Iowa for sew.
eral years, gave out the statement
that the fight would be kept up and
that it would now be taken into every
legislative district in the state, with
the hope of electing members
pledged to the bill, so that the Thirty
third assembly in 1909 would look
upon it with more favor.
The Democrats of the senate, who
had witnessed the defeat of their bill
allowing Iowa manufacturers of intox-
icating liquors to sell the same and
ship to points in the state the same
right that is accorded outside manu-
facturers of beer and whisky, looked
upon the defeat of the marshal bill
with good grace. If their shipping
bill had been adopted several of the
Democrats stood ready to aid the
marshal bill to victory in the senate
but as it was they voted solidly
against 1t, giving IA of the 80 votes in
opposition.
May Have Commission Government.
The bill putting cities of $4,000 or
more inhabitants under commission
form of government has been adopted
by the legislature, going through the
senate with no opposing votes and
having but slight opposition in the
house. The bill will affect Des Moines.
Dubuque, Davenport, Burlington. Ce-
dar Rapids, Sioux City and Keokuk
but not unless the people of those
cities adopt it by majority vote. 1t
provides for the election by the peo-
pie of mayor and four councilmen,
or commissioners, who shall have full
charge of the municipal affairs. All
elections are to follow non-partisan
primaries and the government of all
cities under the law is to be absolutely
non partisan and based solely on
sound business principles. The gov.
eminent of cities under the bill is di-
vided into five departments, the de-
partment of public affairs, the depart
ment of accounts and finances, the de-
partment of public safety, the depart
ment of streets and public improve
ments and the department of parks
and public property. The council and
its members under the bill are to ex-
ercise all executive. legislative and
judicial powers and duties now had
and possessed by all the officers Of
such cities. Civil service is provided
for in all departments and old soldiers
are given the preference with equal
qualifications. It also includes the
initiative and referendum, giving the
people voice on all questions.
The senate passed the bill by New
berry providing for regulating the
sale of agricultural seeds and animal
foodstuffs. The bill requires agricul-
tural seeds offered for sale or sold in
the state to be of certain degree OF
purity and free from seeds OF noxious
weeds. The bill also provides for
labelling foodstuffs for animals with
a statement Of the ingredients. There