Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-02-20
TRAVELLING MEN
AFTER THE HOTELS
BILL FOR INSPECTION AND REeu-
LATioN OF HosTELRlEs is
PUSHED IN LEGISLATURE BY
KNIGHTS OF GRIP.
Des Moines Bureau of
Thn nffMt,,nra Cnllriai.

59s9 fassi 14sts,t5v7, DoS MONIES, FeU. lo.
The senate took two hours on See,
ley's bill to grant to all employees OF
state institutions having worked over
two years, annual vacations with pay,
and passed 1t after 1t had been amend
ed SO as to almost destroy Its effect.
Most Of the discussion hinged on the
attitude of the state board of control
with reference to vacations, but an es-
innate was received from the board,
showing that the bill meant a cost of
at least $4,000 year to the state.
By a vote of rs to % the bill was
changed to that instead of the en-
ployes being entitled to vacations,
they may be granted vacations by the
board, and in this form 1t passed
Senator Van Law introduced bill
to grant to all resident of Iowa be-
tween 16 and 80 years of age free
tuition at the three state educational
Institutions in the collegiate depart
ments.
The house passed unanimously the
bill to appropriate for the pedestal of
the Allison monument.
Travelling Men Active
"A large delegation Of hotel men.
with representatives of the travelling
mems associations, urged to legislat-
prs the Smith bill for hotel inspection
and regulation, and this bill is to be
crowded to the front. The bill was
written by ex-senator Caurtright. 1t
defines a hotel where ten or more
rooms are provided for guests. Every
hotel two stories high shall have fire
escapes and In addition, each sleeping
room shall be provided with knotted
rope. Chemical fire extinguishers
must be maintained or standpipe and
hose. Elevator shafts must be en-
closed, proper plumbing must be
maintained and interior courts must
have openings to the floors. Halls must
extend to the exterior walls. The most
important feature of the bill, however
IS that the civil engineer Of the state
board Of health, who really doesn't
have much to do now, shall become
inspector of hotels" on salary OF
$1,000 in addition to his pay as a mem
ber of the board Of health, and he may
appoint deputies on a per diem, and
and al Office shall be maintained. The
inspector shall enforce the provisions
Of the act, and upon inspection of g
hotel a certificate shall be issued il
the hotel is found to comply with the
law, and otherwise notice is to be
served A fee of $40 shall be paid by
the hotel keeper for inspection of 6
hotel with 20 or more rooms and ST
for smaller ones Some of the hote
men are objecting to the rigidity O.
the bill as to some of its features
though not objecting generally to in
ononfipp ord ,orfifcofior
The Sunday Closing Bill.
Strange as 1t may seem, the Actors
union, with headquarters, at Chicago
and claiming over 5000 members, /:
taking a hand in Iowa legislation.
develops that this union is bringing
some effective pressure to bear en- thu
members In favor of the Sunday clos
ing bill, which was introduced b.
Senator Proudfoot by request. Mr.
Proudfoot himself did not discove
this fact until the other day when /
was disclosed in a letter to him. 1t Il
found that the actors have a yer.
strong union or society for mutua
benefit and that they are unanimousl.
In favor of having some opportunit.
for rest day. So long as Sunda
theaters are permitted there is littl
chance for them. OF course the theat
rical managers are opposed to inter
ference with the inalienable rights Q
everybody. Thus far only a few pre-
tests have been received against tn
Sunday closing bill, and a very grea
number of petitions in its favor. How
ever, leading members say that til
bill Is perhaps too strong in its fes
lures, to get through, and that it wi
be modified in committee.
It develops there is not unanimit
IN Lee county for the proposed unio
OF that county as judicial distric
with the Sixth judicial di
trict. A bill to effect consolidatio
is well started, but yesterday Georg
Stewart, deputy U. S. attorney, VIII
formerly lived at Fort Madison, star
ed in to oppose the measure on th
ground that the people of Lee count