Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-02-22
] 5 !. =

-.
ever, the merit system is more en-
phasized, the protection Of the plan
through q non partisan election Is
better secured, and in general the
changes are in completion of the ideas
which the original trainers of the bill
had in mind.
The appointment of civil service
commission by the council, the mem
bers to serve for terms Of sly years
each, one member being named every
two years, is one Of the important ad-
ditions. This board will select all the
employees of the city on the basis OF
examinations, with the exception OF
the common laborers. Those now hold
ing positions under the civil service,
such as police and fire department
men, will not be changed and will con-
tinue In Office.
The holding of primary instead
of making all nominations by petition
is also provided. The nominations
under the Des Moinss plan will be by
affidavit filed with the city clerk, in
which the candidate is declared to be
man suitable for the place. the docu-
ment being signed by twenty-five OF
the legal voters of the community. A
primary is held where the names Of
all these candidates are voted upon
without any party designation. The
two receiving the highest vote for
councilmen will have their names on
the election ballot and 1t will be upon
these that the people will vote for the
Offices
Representative Sullivan Of Polk
county introduces bill to provide for
public school teachers retirement
fund
Are only six votes against proposed
constitutional convention to consider
the popular election of United States
senators when action is taken by sen
ate.
House Votes For 2-cent Fare.
The 2-cent fare bill met the unanf.
nous approval of the house on Tues
day. Not one voice was raised In
protest.
The bill as it came from the COM
m1ttee, having provision for recog-
nizing the different classes of roads,
came UP as special order Tuesday
at 1890. The bill was read and con-
sidered section by section, and al
most Immediately put upon its pas
sage.
When the roll call was ordered
there was an air Of suppressed ex-
element. The railroad lobby had
completely disappeared and the bill
was abandoned to the house. There
was no debate and no effort to kill
the bill by amendments.
The roll call showed LOG for the
bill, not one against, only two being
absent Koontz and Elliott.
The bill Immediately went to the
senate where on Wednesday the bill
will be considered in committee.
Insurance Bill Favored.
There is being manifested a good
deal of interest in the bill by Senator
Mates to require insurance compan
les to provide in some way for rep
resentation of the minority stock
holders on the board of directors,
where the minority is over 20 per cent
of the whole. Senators say that the
bill is eminently fair and 1t will prob.
ably have easy sailing If 1t comes to
the floor Of the senate. Under such
law the minority stockholders could
make demand for representation on
the board sufficient so they could
know what is being done In the COM
pany with their money, while under
the present system the majority can
elect all the directors and shut out
from all knowledge of the Others
what is being done. Out Of all the
insurance companies In Des Moines
only one appeared before the senate
committee to protest against the bill,
all the others indicating satisfaction
with the bill.
Majority Stock Supreme.
A bill has been prepared for intro
duction in the legislature providing
that in the case of railroads and other
public service corporations the SUI
preme power shall be vested, first in
the majority of the stock to elect d.
rectors, and in majority of the quo
rum Of the directors to do business.
In the case Of the Des Moines Union
Railway company of Des Moines the
stock is divided into eighths, The Wa
bash owns one-eighth, the Hubbells
flve-eighths. the Milwaukee one
fourth. The articles of incorporation
provide that no business can be done
except on unanimous vote of the
directory. The proposed bill will
supersede this provision of the arti-
Giles of incorporation of the company,
and all other corporations, for that
matter.
Adjournment Five Days.
The legislature will adjourn from
Feb. IS to March s.
Senator Smith has offered a reso-
luton to this effect in the upper body
and it is well understood among the
members that the adjournment will be
taken. 1t is for the purpose Of al
lowing business men to close up the
years business.
The resolution was amended in the
senate yesterday to make reconven-
ing after the recess at 1870 on March
S instead of 10 a. m.
General Assembly And Religion.