Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-04-19

eu III JneSe cOlumnS, Dut no QOUDl
a resume. of the most important en-
acted will be of interest. The one
measure regarded as the most i'm
portant is the exemption of monies
and credits from more than nom
inal taxation, and the abolishment
OF tax ferrets. 1t is regarded as an
invitation to capital to remain in
and come to the state, whereas,
formerly it has been driven out.
Monies and credits will pay tax
of So per thousand. The law also
provided an assessment of 20 per
cent of its value on all bank stock
for taxation, other property being
supposed to carry 25 per cent.
The most important measure
passed by the assembly relating to
roads was committee bill which
members declared was the best that
could possibly be secured 1t abol-
ishes the Office of county surveyor,
heretofore elected bienially, and
provides that boards of supervisors
may employ in his stead a compet-
ent person who shall perform the
duties of the county surveyor and
make specifications for grading, re-
pairing and building of roads,
bridges, culverts, etc., and who may
be employed as highway engineer.
The board of supervisors is given
power to levy two mill tax Con
property outside of cities and
towns) for the building of roads,
bridges, etc. This is a new tax,
entirely, and does not take the place
of the present one mill road fund
Formerly the township trustees of
the state had the power to levy a
six mill road tax in their townships.
The new act takes from them the
power to levy more than four mills,
the other two mills being that
transferred to the board of super
visors. There also was added to
this measure new drainage tax
provision which permits the use of
the drainage tax of five mills not
alone in the construction of the
bitches provided by law, but also
in constructing drains for the bene-
fit of the roads of the state.
Another measure known as the
Cunningham bill requires dirt roads
to be dragged. 1t provides for nam
ing the roads or numbering them
and provides for a mill tax on all
property in the township for the
purpose of keeping them dragged.
1t can be used for no other purpose.
The trustees may hire a superin-
tendent of dragging and he is en-
powered to have the work done at
$3.50 a day. The rate for dragging
is fifty cents per mile.
The third measure of Importance
in the road business is the Kulp bill
providing for a tax on automobiles
according to horse power, 85 per
cent of the receipts to be turned in
to the county treasures for expen-
diture on the maintenance of roads
| by the supervisors. 1t is estimated
that this course will yield about
100000 for the roads. Taxation
of automobiles is defended by the
legislature on the ground that all
the taxes provided for good roads
can be levied only on property out
side of cities and towns.
Some part of the fame of the as
sembly, too, will rest on its anti
pathy to legislation along temper
ance lines. 1t killed the five mile
limit bill, which would have driven
saloons out of Iowa City; it killed
in the senate the daylight saloon
bill which came over from the house
and which provided that saloons
should close their doors each day
at 500 p. M; it killed Senator
Proudfoot's resolution for amend
ment to the constitution to provide
for constitutional prohibitions, and
several other measures of less i'm.
portance, but all tending to increase
the sway of temperance or anti-sa
loon sentiment. 1t also killed two
old friends of general assemblies in
Iowa, woman suffrage and the pro
posed amendment of exemption law:
so merchants could get a closer
hold on debtors.
Other measures of importance
passed were bills providing for nor
NAL school training in public
4 schools; the regulation of the sale
of goods in bulk by retail mer
chant; the raising of the pay Of the
members of the assembly from $3.50
to $1,000, and the resolution favor
ing the income tax and direct cleo
tions CT United States senators b,
the people.
Iowa took place alongside Indian;
and Connecticut this winter in th'
.