Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-18
AGRICULTURE IN HIGH SCHOOL
Comprehensive Plan for Teaching Farming
in All Parts Of the State.
5ILls SUGGESTED BY JUDGE DtEMtR
Statement Made that Present High
school Instruction Educates Away
from the Farm Instead of
Toward IL.
CFrom a Stan Correspondent


prehensive plan to teach agriculture in all
sections of the state through high schools
which will be feeders to the State College
of Agriculture at Ames is embodied in bills
that have been introduced in both houses
OF the legislature and Of which Judge
Horace K. Deemer of the supreme court
is the author. The people of Red Oak,
Judge Deemer's home, stand ready to do
nate a $4,000 farm for carrying out the
idea Since the first bill was introduced
others have followed and out OF the lot
II is quite possible that the thirty-second
general assembly may start a compre-
hensive scheme for educating the youth
for farmers. Judge Deemer claims that
under present conditions the youth of the
state in order to reach the State Agricul-
tural college must go through the high
schools and the high schools educate away
from the farm rather than toward it; they
EDUCATE for the city youth instead of for
the farm youth. Judge. Deemer proposes
that at small expense the state can place
certain high schools under the supervision
OF the agricultural college and thus insure
through a special course of study the edu-
cation of youth for farm life. Judge
Deemer holds that II IS surprising that
the farmers should have thus long toler-
ated the high school education Of their
sons and daughters.
Jury system Bills.
subcommittee of the house judiciary
committee has been instructed to prepare
an emergency bill that will provide some
means by which Iowa and Polk counties,
which are now juryless. may secure juries
and not be without courts for the next two
years It has been decided Furthermore to
take up the jury bills. dozen more in
the. passage OF a measure that will insure
better satisfaction in the manner Of select
ing the juries.
Jackson's Mortgage Measure.
The jackson bill for the assessment OF
mortgages as part of the property
mortgaged and to exempt them from direct
taxation as moneys and credit was dis
cussed by the senate committee on ways
and means. A F. Call, @. c. Scott and
Mr.. Hopkins all of Sioux City. spoke for
the bill; and Marshall Treynor OF this
city, spoke against II as representing an
outside loaning company. Robert Hanes
also spoke and made a plea for the ex-
emption Of all moneys and credits from
taxation. The purpose of the bill is to
place the Iowa money lenders on an equal
fly with those OF other states, by having
all mortgages treated as a part of the
land mortgaged. At the option OF the
mortgagor there may be a division of the
assessment, but the two must be treated
as one matter. The committee did not de-
eide.
For Municipal Legislation.
There is every indication at this time
that the Iowa legislature will enact some
needed municipal legislation. The senate
has up for consideration the bills sug-
Eested by the Iowa League of Municipali-
ties and all of them will be reported for
passage, IT is believed, substantially in
the form in which they wepe presented to
the committees. In addition, the Des
Moines plan of government by a commits
sion win be taken up this week by the COM
mittees on municipalities. There is to be a
very determined fight against the Des
Moines plan bill by the politicians and an
equally big showing made by the business
men of this city. There is also understood
TO be movement on to bring to this city
persons in Sioux City and Cedar Rapids
who want the measure. A big argument in
its favor which the business men will
use to advantage is the fact that II is
optional and cannot be forced upon any
community unless the majority OF the citi-
zens wish II.
Making Haste slowly.
The legislature this session may be said
to be making haste slowly. Beginning to-
morrow morning the sessions will begin at
9 O'Clock instead OF at 10, and something
more like speed may be attained. But al
though the houses are both moving without
any hysteria, they are getting away with a
great deal of legislation ana there has been
revival OF the gossip that the legislature
will adjourn by March 20 The entire dis
nOQfftOD of fbfa r1SIa fYr fo To do
and do them in a way that makes little
fuss. There is hearing one day on a bin
and the next the bill is reported out and
passed. just as was done with the 2-cent
fare bill in the house. Before a bill OF
proposition has time to gather much force
and give the reporters time to tell news
about 1t, and before the politicians have
time TO start anything, 1t is passed by both
houses and has the governors signature.
Bryan for Postal Vote.
At the recent democratic luncheon in
honor of Hon. W. ]. Bryan of Nebraska
it is understood Mr.. Bryan suggested the
feasibility of a postal vote on election day
for citizens unavoidably away from home.
Grave Question to Settle.
Ought a police judge to be a judicial
officer or a part of the administrative
force Of the city? That is a question which
is bothering some of the legislators.
The question came up in connection with
the series OF bills that have been pre-
scented on behalf of the League of Munich
palities. One provision was a change which
would make police judges subject 10 ap-
pointment Of a mayor ana subject 10 re-
moval by him without cause. Mayor Will
iains OF oskalOosa, who presented the mat
ter on behalf of the league. frankly ad-
mitted that il was for the purpose Of hav-
ing the mayor and police court In harmony
so that they would never be tempted to
pull apart and defeat justice.
But Legislators present at the hearing
questioned the wisdom Of placing power in
the mayor over the courts that administer
justice under ordinances.
The general bill OF the league looks to
greatly enlarging the powers OF the mayor
and making his once more Of an executive
Office. while the council becomes more OF
legislative position. The bill would re-
duce the number OF wards in second class
cities 10 five or less and have one alder
man for each ward with two at large: in
towns, ive councilmen. all elected at large.
Town mayors would not be councilmen. BIZ
ennial municipal elections are provided. En-
gineers. physicians and street commission
ers would be appointed by the mayor. and
In cities under 400 the council would