Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-27

have given up the idea of heading off
measures they regard as obnoxious in
the senate. This was made apparent
when the Allen bill went through
unanimously, yet most of the senators
agree that the bill is of very great i'm
portance In establishing the relations
between shippers and transportation
lines. 1t cuts out Of the present law
all those modifying phrases behind
which the railroads have shielded
themselves when cars are demanded
for the use Of shippers. 1t is far more
drastic than any of the reciprocal de-
murrage bills which were fought to
/! death last session. But after the pas
sage of the Clarkson bill and the Pc
| terson bill, both relating to damage
suits, the bill fathered by the senator
from Pocahontas went through with
out an effort to amend it and not a
vote against it. If the measure Is to be
disposed ofnt must be in the railroad
committee of the house. 1t remains to
| be seen whether the fight will be
made there to prevent it's becoming
law 1t is the only bill regarded as 81
general Importance to shippers now
| in position to be taken up by the
| house.
No Paroles to be Given.
1t is now fairly evident that the leg
islature is not going to authorize any
paroles from the penitentiary Yester
day the two committees heard a state
ment of the case of L. R. Van Tassel
of Chickasaw county, who is serving
for having killed his wife with
strychnine poison. The case of T. w.
Watson was to have been heard, but
no one appeared for him. Then the
senate committee voted at once to re-
fuse the Van Tassel application ana
also the application for Thomas G..
Robinson of Howard county. The la:
ter is also a poisoning case, and the
county attorney virtually decided
that the evidence of guilt was not con-
elusive The action taken on these two
is supposed to mean that the legsla-
tive committee will not sanction any
paroles. The Haley and Robbard case
from Dubuque will have second hear
ing
The senate committee on cities and
towns gave hearing yesterday to
those who oppose the Van Law bill
to give cities and towns additional
power in the matter of Investigation
of their affairs as a basis for estab-
lishment Of rates. A large number of
representatives of various public ser
vice corporations appeared to resist
the bill on the ground that it woulo
be an unwarranted interference with
their private affairs.
A hearing is to be given this after-
noon on the Darrah bill to provide a
way for establishing bank guaranty
system in Iowa. A large number OF
representatives of the banking inter
ests of the state will be present. The
bill has been very little discussed, but
it is known that while some of the
bankers of the state are opposed,
there are others who are for the meas
ure as possibly the safest bill of the
kind that could be devised.
1t was the intention of the members
of the senate insurance committee to
this afternoon pass upon the bill to
transfer the insurance department
from the Office Of auditor to that of
governor, but owing to the absence
Of members this will not be done. The
committee voted once on this bill and
it was tie.
The senate committee on com.
merce listened to arguments on the
wage exemption bill which proposes
to permit 10 per cent of the wages OF
the head of family to be subject to at
tachment. H. G. Lorimer of Charlton.
president of the State Mercantile as
ISOLATION, with others associated with
the same body spoke for the measure
which is put forth as distinctly in
the interest of the merchants of the
state r. w. Patrick, A. l.. Urick, P. S.
Billings and others, on behalf of the
wage earners, spoke in opposition to
the measure.
Ora Williams.