Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-13
TAX LEVY AT
SAME FIGURES
GOOD WORK OF LEGISLATIVE APP
PRECIPITATION COMMITTEES
HOLDS DOWN TAXES
Des Moines Bureau of
The Ottumwa Courier,


The Ottumwa Courier,
Des Moines, April IL.
The tax levy for each of the two
years for which the legislature has
just made provision will be about 80
mills on the dollar. This is what 1t
4 has been several times in recent years.
4 Owing to the good work Of Chair
man Maytag of the senate appropria-
ton committee and Chairman Jones
of the house committee, the appropri-
atoms were held down remarkably
4 well considering all the extraordinary
demands that were made on the legis-
lature. The sum total of the extraor-
binary appropriations was about ST.
! 100000 The resolution calling upon
the executive council to fix the tax
levy called for tax levy that will
bring to the state approximately ST.
100000 annually. That represents the
total of the cost Of the state to the
people in the way of direct taxes.
From this may be deducted whatever
Of extraordinary revenues may be Sc
sured, such as, for instance, revenue
from an increase in corporation fees
or an increase in revenue from the
sale of land or from the settlement of
suits in which the state may be inter
ested, or any refunds. 1t Is entirely
possible that for the second year of
the period less than 80 mills tax levy
may be sufficient.
The experience of the, past week has
convinced a good many of the legisla-
tors that there is weakness In the
system as to some of the approprja-
No So. -
/ aries are fixed in and about the state
capital is not satisfactory. This is left
1 to committee of the busiest of the
members, then it is left to the fate Of
the two houses oscillating between
conflicting interests AS result there
is but little real consideration of the
question.
Then as to the appropriations for the
state educational institutions especial
iy, there is no real consideration Of
their needs because, as many of the
members feel, they have not sufficient
information on which to base an intel
ligent Judgment.
Two Of the appropriation bills rep
resent notable victories, one was the
soldiers roster bill, which got through
under remarkable circumstances, and
/ the ither was the bill to increase the
4 allowance for the soldiers at the state
home.
The Anti-Pass Bill
The final passage of the anti-pass bill
was somewhat dramatic event in the
history of the state. TIE bill was
brought to the attention of the legisla-
ture in the address of the governor at
a the opening and it had been before
members for consideration during all
the session Every phase Of antipass
legislation had been considered, AS q
matter OF fact those who in other years
had been making the f1gnt for anti-pass
. legislation had been complaining that
the tendency was to be too radical in
the measure and many members want
ed to go too far. Finally the
bill was fixed up. That which offended
some was the fact that there was not
in the bill that discrimination which
they hadsdesired in favor of doctors
and lawyers. This was what had caus.
ed the trouble all through. But the bill
passed the house and in the senate
came up for debate. Some favored the
principle, but were against this bill
Others thought that the lack of a dis
eliminating clause was clearly dis
elimination. Others said that there
could be no reason why a railroad
should De permitted to pay for its legal
r services with free passes any more
than 1t should be permitted to pay for
it's advertising or its ice and coal in
the same way. And SO the fight went
! on. Those who wanted the bill were
determined and they were resourceful
A first roll call failed to pass the bill
} because of large number of absences
Provision was made for a reconsidera
ton and then the fight began. In the
afternoon one by one the recruits were
: brought in and in due time it was as
certained that the votes were present
! to pass the bill, and " was done. OF
course when the bill was certain to
f pass everybody fell in line for the bill
} and it was carried unanimously. Credit
: for the passage of the bill in the house
7 was due to Speaker Kendall, to Lee
and Jones and Stillman and Greer and
Arney and few others. In the house
!. 1.-The fight for the bill was made by AL
len, Turner, Smith of Mitchell Maytag
; Whipple and Lambert.
7 tie fellow is somewhat better at pres
:, ent.
John M. Bellman of Melrose was able
s. ~ y lit I,r,ctv II.