Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-03
FOUR BILLS PASS SENATE
All Are Important and Each Was
Passed by Unanimous Vote.
CUTTING OFF THE PRIVILEGES
House Members Not 20 BE Permitted
to Put Their Feet on Their
Desks while Debating to
ste~nOEraphers.
(From a staff correspondents

(From a Staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, Feb. 2-(Special. 1.-the
senate made a good start for the week by
promptly passing four bills on the calen-
dar. and among them two of very great
Importance. Yet every one OF the bills
was passed by a unanimous vote of the
senate. The most important was the bill
to give specific duties to the county at
torneys with regard to the enforcement OF
all laws OF the state. This is a bill by
Senator Cosson as a supplement to the bill
he had passed last week with regard TO
giving additional duties TO sheriffs. It re-
aulres the county attorneys to prosecute
all offenders, and It opens the way for the
removal of such officers IL they yield to
local sentiment and refuse to prosecute.
The Dowell bill to require the payment by
banks in which county funds are depos-
tied of 2 per cent interest and %forbidding
the county treasurer from receiveing any
benefit therefrom, was passed. This is a
departure from the custom which has given
to the county treasurer the benefit OF this
fund.
The senate also passed the Francis bill
to require the placing of lights on steam
and sail boats in lows waters, and the bill
to legalize the act of the town Of Ansmosa
with regard to waterworks.
Protect the Committee Clerks.
In the house Mr.. Alfred introduced a
resolution to forbid members from having
their feet on the desks while debating to
stenographers, and compelling them to re-
move their cigars. 1t also requires the
members to go to the cloak rooms fo-
smoking. The resolution went over.
A resolution in the house by Stillman
would provide a special committee of seven
to draft amendment to the drainage laws
to conform to the new amendment to the
constitution.
A resolution by Dewey would lessen the
number of bills with a publication clause.
For Statewide Prohibition.
Senator Whipple presented a petition
from inmates of the State institution for
Inebriates at Knoxville. asking for the SUBJ
mission to the voters of a constitutional
amendment for total prohibition of the
liquor traffic, He also presented a num-
Der Of other similar petitions from persons
not in the inebriate hospital.
The house passed a bill giving $50 for
the burial of a soldier and a bill exempting
dentists from jury service.
Want Reports of Elections.
In the house White Of Story introduced
a bill to require that judges of election
shall telephone to the county official
newspapers the results of the election.
Other bills:
Wilson, to establish an antitoxln labora-
tory at Ames.
Smith OF Wright. to punish for disturb
ances in stations.
White. to require advertising for bridge
building. .
Quisley, to permit counties to employ de-
tectives. E.af. rr.
Smith of Mitchell, to describe and legalize
bills of lading. rh-Xis
I.arrabee. to reviae the law as to motor
vehicle numbers.
Hunter, raising the age for commitment
to the reform schools to is.
Receiver for Meek Brothers.
Meeks Brothers. manufacturers and mill
men of Bonaparte, Ia, have been forced
into involuntary bankruptcy in the federal
court. They are one of the biggest and
best known companies in Iowa.
The bankruptcy action was started in
the eastern division of the federal court
and became known here this morning
when c. L. Powell and j. j. johnson were
appointed receivers. Meek Brothers make
wooden goods on a heavy scale and their
goods are known all over the United States.
They came before the public when at
tempts were made to remove tn Bonaperte
dam.