Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-20

crease Of pay to anybody, but the SEN
ate has loosened up to the extent of
passing a bill to give court reporters
additional pay. Under the bill as the
senate has passed it, the reporters
will get So per day, with minimum
yearly wage Of $1,000 for 1875 days
work or less and a minimum of $1,000
for those who are in court longer
The highest salary will be about
$4,000.
The senate passed the GiIliland
resolution for adjournment April /.
The resolution is little more than a
warning to legislators to get busy
The house will, of course, permit 1t to
rest short time, then pass 1t back
to the senate with an amendment
when it will be passed and motion
to reconsider be filed This will hold
the matter up in the air until about
April L. when some idea can be had
as to the probable date of adjourn
ment. There is no reason for anticipat-
ing an adjournment earlier than
usual.
The Mortgage Bill.
The house spent nearly two days
considering the bill to change the
as voted on. would require payment
of fee of 10 cents per 500 for each
wear of the life of the mortgage, in
lieu Of other taxes. In some counties
Of the state this would mean gain and
in others a loss, but the main argu-
ment for the measure was that it
would actually give the state some
thing on the mortgages owned by out
siders and would in the end result in
|lessening the interest rate on borrow
ed money. The house only gave the
measure 43 votes.
Senator Mates heads the committee
which has been named to investigate
the judicial districts of Iowa, to de-
termine the number of days of court
held by each Judge, to figure out how
readiustment may be made and to
redistrict the state. Under the resolu-
tion this must be done by the 25th.
| 1t Is large task for so short time
and there is apprehension on the part
Of some that the redistricting will not
be done as well as If it had been UNI
dertalen earlier.
The debate on the bill to further
strengthen the law as to remarriage
Of divorced persons brought out the
fact that in some districts the judges
do not grant permission Of remarriage,
while in others, as for instance, the
Polk county courts, practically all d.
vorces are granted with the privilege
OF remarriage. Under the bill which
has Just passed, stop will be put to
the plan Of divorced persons going out
Of the state to be married within a
year, then returning to live in Iowa,
man and wife the real crime.
for 1t makes the living together as
/ The senate passed the bill increas
ing the annual allowance for the state
board of health by $1,000 year. max
ing it $4,000 a year, which indicates
that at least on the senate side the
doctors are not regarded as villains
The senate passed the bill to give one
Mr.. Rattenbury S1.250 because of in
iuries he received while he was work
ing for the state at Oakdale by fall
ing into barrel Of hot water. The
senate refused to pass a house bill
which would appropriate for having
the state pay for publication Of lists OIL
automobile owners in the state for thf
benefit of dealers in auto supplies.
Redistrict Judicial Divisions.
The house resolution for a commit
tee Of five to investigate the judicia
districts Of Iowa and to bring In bill
for complete redistricting of the state
has passed the senate. and the com
mittee will get at the task immediate
ly since 1t has only a week in which
to do the work. That it will he able tt
ascertain all about the work of ths
district courts Is little too much tt
he expected: but the intent of the res
olution was to head off the bill for re
vision of the salaries Of the shorthand
reporters and this may be accomplish
ed.
The senate has adopted the adverse
reports OF the pardons committee OF
all applications for clemency save tn,
two not yet completed. 1t is very likel,
! that some Of these men will appeal a
once to the parole board and the gov
ernor.
Stronger Headlights Favored.
There are signs Of a railroad lobb,
gathering some strength Incidental.
bill to REQUIRE locomotives to carr,
| headlights that can be seen at leas
, 1900 feet has gone before the senate
1t was written by Hon. Edward D
Brigham, state labor commissioner
} himself an experienced engineer. 1t j
: stated that the headlights on the BIZ
} trains running through Iowa ar
grossly inefficient and seldom of tn
7 best kind. The railroad men asser;