Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-01

| probable of these stories related by
| persons of affected mentality, not only
| because of the harm it will do to the
| hospitals and the bad name 1t will
give the state, but largely because it
! will cause SO much worry and dis
F! tress to friends of the patients all
over the state.
Sammis and Smith Bills Laid on Table
At the conclusion of the four days
discussion on public utilities the SEN
ate laid both bills-the Sammis bill
and the Smith billion the table by
vote of 26 to 20. BY making the mo-
tion to table 1t virtually force together
all those who opposed either bill and
thus made sure that neither one would
stand any show. The Sammis bill
would have received about IL to l
votes had it come to test on that
bill alone. Sammis then introduced
an appropriation resolution calling for
a committee to investigate and report
on the need of public utilities meas
ure of some kind. Here the matter
comes to an end for the session.
Plead for Pardon Of c. n. Woodward.
BY invitation number of persons
from southern Iowa appeared before
the pardons committees yesterday to
plead for pardon Endorsement for
G. H. Woodward of Decatur county. 1t
is a plea based on the claim of inno-
cence Of the convict. 1t appears that
in 1891 Woodward furnished the Off
Gals their first clue as to identity OF
certain thieves which resulted in con-
viction of members of family living
near him, and later he gave testimony
in another notable crime case. few
years ago Woodward's wife died sud
denly and he was accused Of poison
ing her. The two families furnished
the evidence upon which Woodward
was convicted and now the court, the
jurors and friends all unite in saying
that Woodward was in fact railroaded
to the pen and instead of life sem
tence he ought to have been released.
Awkward Way of Handling Business.
Somebody put it into the heads Of
some of the legislators at the begin
ming OF the session that the right way
to amend the code is to repeal and re-
enact whole chapter or section, with
the amendment buried in the body of
the bill, and some of the bills have
been prepared that way. One bill
was passed by the house that would
take up three or four pages of the
session laws, but 1t made a change OF
only two words. Yesterday an Illus
tration of the awkwardness of this
way of handling the business came to
light, when the senate had to recall
from the governor bill because the
clerk In copying page or two OF the
code had omitted line 1t was in
relation to insurance and If 1t had
III Iicnnvnro1 q
have followed.
State to Pay Railroad Fare.
No estimate has been made as to
the amount it will cost the state to
nav the railroad fare of the railroad
commissioners while out inspecting
tracks and engaged in official duties,
but some time ago 1t was stated that
to repeal the law compelling the rail
roads to carry these commissioners
free for the state would cost perhaps
A s15 900 or $4,000 for the fiscal period.
n The Holmes bill to repeal this law
\ passed the house and in explanation
| it was stated that the law at present
places the commissioners personally
under some obligation to the railroads
that are required to furnish the trans
portation.
The bill for vacations for state en-
ployes will go to the governor with
!. out any restrictions as to the superin
tendents or the state board having
anything to say as to the vacations as
! to time, etc This is quite victory
: for the EMPLOYEES of the state institu
: lions, of whom there are about 1900
for they have been insisting for years
r,l,r hn NSn Int
right to a vacation on pay each year
: The bill was passed to give them this
;. right Those who have served one
:. year get a vacation of a week on full
a pay.
a Killed Bill Passed.
= Senator Kirkpatrick made the most
concise argument for bill yesterday
Z THE bill was passed short time age
: and the house killed it. he said. :"
E think if we pass it again and send i
. over they will forget what they dit
2 before and pass It," So the bill was
!, passed. And the chances are good i
= will be passed unanimously by thi
q house.
Commission Of Public Health.
1t is estimated that the bill to create
Commission of Public Health,
% WOulQ cost ABOUT 94U,uUU d SedI, duu l
81 the bill is pressed 1t will have to frs
d go through the hands Of the appropri
n atoms committees. The salaries call
t. ed for directly in the bill amount t
IS over $4,000 a year, besides whic]
A. there are the stenographers, clerks
% assistants, boards of examiners, con
n missions, ETC., needed to carry on tn
ID work Of the department There Is n
a limit placed on these expenses or tn
is payroll, except that the executiv
O. council will continue to audit and b
1T responsible for all Of the expense az
Il counts the same as it has the pas
Of five years.
10 VIII Adjourn on the 9th.
N Both houses have agreed to the re!
olution for adjournment on April 9tl
p though it hardly seems probable III
lie less night sessions are held that tn
lg calendars can be cleaned up.
he Ora Williams.
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