Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-09
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ARE SLOW
Three Weeks Of Session Closes, with
No Important Law Enacted.
APPROPRIATION BILLS WAIT
Deadlock on JunketInG Trip Forces
h LeEisIatIon 20 background
School Omcials Oppose
COdifyinE Laws.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

tfrom a starr correspondent
DIES MONIES. Feb. s-(special.)-Their
weeks of active work on the part Of the
Iowa legislature without a single measure
of statewide Importance passed, in line
with the accommodation of the governor.
This is the record Of the thirty-third gen
ersl assembly to date.
The only measure which was Of state
wide application which has passed was
one to make Lincoln's birthday a legal
holiday. and this had no opposition. The
other bills which have gone to the governor
are mainly legallzing acts or acts to cor
rect small errors in the code.
The only bills which have really got
fairly started toward the code are certain
senate bills intended to strengthen the
laws for enforcement and to revise the
method of procedure in criminal actions.
The bills were introduced by Senator Co.'S
son, after consultation with the attorney
general, and upon the specific recommsnda-
ton of the governor in the biennial mes
sage. They give to the sheriffs and county
attorneys additional powers and duties, and
require them TO prosecute all offenders.
This is directed especially at the failure
of local officials to enforce the liquor laws
in communities dominated by the saloons.
A supplemental bill is one to give adj
ditional powers to the attorney general and
to give him an official TO send into any
part Of the state and undertake executive
duties. Still another gives the governor
the power OF removal of incompetent or
rebellious officials. This latter is being
opposed by the present governor for fear
of harm to the party. The bills relating
to sheriffs and attorneys passed the senate
unanimously.
Nothing has been done in regard to APP
preparations, as only the bills for state in
stitutions have been received. The state
has about $1,50O,0OO for expenditure in the
two years. The three state colleges are
asking 100000 and the board of control
asks $500, 900 for the fifteen other institu-
lions. TIL houses got into a deadlock on
the matter of sending junketing commit
tees out TO investigate, and the appropria-
tion bills wait.
CodifyInE school Laws.
The most important general legislation
proposed, the c~odifying of school laws, is
up against the protests of the petty school
officers all over the state. The bill, which
contains 5000 words, has been printed and
copies have been sent out into the state and
the local school people are engaged in
figuring out what it means. Until they are
heard from the legislature will not act.
The legislation proposed is radical and
would adopt the county unit system as
against the township and independent dis
trict system.
The next most important matter Is a
proposal to create an insurance depar-
ment. or rather to transfer the department
from the office of auditor to that of gov
ernor AMI give it better standing. For
merly the insurance companies were for
the change, when the present governor
was auditor. but now with an auditor Of
an entirely different type, they want the
department left alone. Pending a canvass
of the situation no move is being made
in this matter.
The committees of both houses. are at
work daily and will soon have before the
houses abundant work. Among important
matters in process Of perfection by the
committees is:
Amendment of primary election law so
that the alphabetical advantage will dis
Proposal to return to the circle on the
ballot for the general election to avoid
alleged confusion.
Change in the law as to assumption of
risk and fellow servant responsibility in
injury cases affecting railroad men.
Strengthening the railroad commission
/ anu AlNAllB II OOAlC dullOIllJ ON6T nuDllC
service corporations. This would also
make the commission appointive.
Change in law as to taxation of mort
cages, adopting the law of Minnesota as
TO a fee in lieu Of all other taxes.
Creation OF a counsel to APP
pear for the people in all matters affect
ing rates and assessments of railroads.
Requiring reports annually from corpor-
ations and a fee.
Direct inheritance tax.
Assessment of railroad terminals locally.
Authorizing county or district agricul-
tural high schools with state aid.
under one board.
In the work of the legislature the SEN
ate has gone very much further thar the
house, the committees Of the latter not re-
porting any bills upon which the house
could work. The organisation of the house
was effected by compromises which pre-.
vents any concerted program, and there Il
fear that important measures will fai
just because Of this fact.
Record to Date.
The record of laws passed In each hous,
and by both houses to date is as follows
Passed both houses:
II. F. n-Requiring that the bonds of ex
%ecutors and similar officers shall be ex
H. F. 2-Permitting sale of certain
s. F. S-Extension of time for selling q,
unlabeled stocks of paint.
service. 49,
s F. B-Makins Ldncoln's birthday
holiday.
S: F. H-Permitting judges to waiv
making inventory of estates. Conference.
3. F. H-Repeal law to sell Des Moline
river land in Ottumwa.
s. f. H-salaries Of justice OF the peac
s. F. 4S-Appropriation of a On for lac
lElatlve employees. s
s. F. 44-Appropriate 5000 railroad man,
(Conference.) "P
8 F. redistribution OF schedule n
times for holding court. y
5, f. 61-Limitng time for criminal an
peals to six months. ~
Bills Passing House.
Passed the house alone:
II. F. appropriation for dredsinS N.
diGm lake near Emmetsburg. v
n. y. Amendment OF general road Law
mary to correct error. pa
II y QA-To narr,it g,,--s-La