Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-29
QUARANTINE Is EXPENSIVE
Iowa Cities Want the Legislature to
Change Present Law.
BIG CONTEST OVER INSURANCE
Druggists Are Literally signing
Petitions to Have the Privilege Of
selling Liquor Taken Away
from Them.
FROM a staff correspondent.l

DIES MONIES, Jan. S.-(Special Under
shelter OF the Iowa laws relating to quar-
sntine Iowa people are in the habit OF
forcing the cities and towns to support
them while felgning illness from con-
tagious diseases. Families with sore
throats have sought and secured quaran-
tine for diptheria and have compelled
doctors to order quarantine.
This is the startling accusation which
forms the basis OF a series of petitions
pouring in upon the legislature from var
ious cities and towns demanding a change
In the quarantine laws. The demand Is
that quarantine be. ordered only by the
board Of heath. acting as a board, or
the mayor upon the advice OF the health
officer; that persous quarantined be fur
nlshed with food and fuel only under
direction of the board or its agent and
be made a matter of record; that physi-
clans and medicine be provided at public
expense only when the families are too
poor to pay for same. There is also a
demand for a change in the law as to
disinfection.
interesting Insurance Contest.
There is now little doubt that an inter-
esting contest will be precipitated over the
plans which have been in the making
49, H1AbN - StolS VI ="
justment OF official duties at the state
house, in the interest of economy and
better service. While this only affects
the offices which are controlled by the
members of the state executive council,
yet there is a wide difference of opinion
as to what should be done. With regard
to attaching the banking and financial
department to the state treasury there Is
not much disagreement, but 1t Is not quite
so unanimous that the department Of
public accounting should 80 to the secre-
tary OF state and that criminal statistics
should be taken from his office. The first
real fight Of the session is promised over
the plan to transfer the insurance de-
partment. 1t is being opposed on the
ground that there is no room for 1t as
a seperate department and that it would
be expensive The fire insurance COM
panies are already at work on the mem
bers and fighting the measure. State
Auditor Bleakley was largely responsible
for the agitation for the change two years
ago, for as head Of the insurance com
mission he was strongly for the change
In the interest of economy. At that time
the insurance people all favored the
change. State Auditor Carroll, now gov
ernor, also recommended the change In
two or three of his reports, and this at a
time when he could not be accused OF
having any selfish interest in the reform.
Legislative Proceedings.
The senate judiciary committee reported
for indefinite postponement the Burgess
bill to change the law rule in regard to
collection OF accounts for newspapers re-
ceived but not directly ordered and news
papers received after the expiration of the
original subscription.
The senate passed two small appropria-
lions, one for maps and one for pay of the
legislative employees. The house did not
pass any bills.
New Bills Proposed.
An interesting new bill was by Senator
Smith to provide Cor regulation Of hotels,
requiring fire escapes. extinguishers, etc.,
end making the civil engineer of the State
Board of Health a state Inspector on salary.
Representative Moore of Wapello intro
duced a bill to create a commission OF five
at IS per day 10 survey the Des Molnes,
Cedar and Iowa rivers and report on water
powers.
Senator Proudfoot introduced a bill to
for bid cigaret smoking by children and
also to forbid Sunday amusements.
Senator Clarkson introduced the bill by
the labor leaders for n change in the rule
in regard to assumption Of risks of en-
ployes.
Senator Moon offered a bill to require
that candidates for the legislature pledge
themselves to abide by the result on senator
at the primary or make a statement saying
that the primary Is not binding on them.
Representative Miller of Bremen offered
a bill to have the International Harvester
company Investigated with a view to pro-
ceeding against it for alleged violation OF
the antitrust laws.
Representative sankey offered a bill for
Uniform fire insurance policies and limiting
insurance to three-fourths of the value OF
the property insured.
Petitions are being circulated throughout
Iowa asking the legislature to deprive
druggists of the privilege of selling alco-
holic liquors. In Des Moines thirty drug.
gists have signed the petition. 1t is said
that as many mere have signed in Daven-
port. Friends of the movement believe
that much opposition will develop. because
ii hits a department that is profitable in
n any stores.