The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-04-20
WHAT LEGISLATORS DID AND
WHAT THEY FORGOT.
Legislation Passed by General As.
sembly and the Bills which Fail
cd of Passage.

Just three months and three days
We're taken up by the thirty-fourth
general assembly in the considera-
ton of about ,120 bills which touch
ed upon nearly every phase of legis-
lation and government. Out Of it
there will be printed book of ses-
sion laws with some 800 chapters, a
volume probably not quite as large
as some others that have been edited
by previous legislatures. The two
books which will contain the detailed
account of the proceedings will be
somewhat larger than usual as a VOL
luminous record was made.
| The older members of the legisla-
ture say that the work of the session
has not been as carefully done as
should have been and that far more
errors were made in the passage of
bills than usual. A great many bills
had to be recalled and repassed. But
on the whole there is the usual
amount of general and useful legis-
latiOn and when the reckoning is
made of net results it will be found
that the thirty-fourth general assem-
bly, has done much good work and
very little that will need to be I'M
done at some other time.
| Good roads legislation took first
place, and despite the flood Of criti-
cism which has poured out upon the
legislature in regard to this subject
some valuable legislation was enact
ed. Briefly this Is what is provided.
Abolition of the Office of county sur
veyor, the board authorized to en-
| n
work who may be a road engineer,
authority for an additional 2 mill
special roal levy on property outside
of cities in addition to the / mill
county levy to be used for permanent
road work and culverts. A new road
dragging law with a township 1 mill
levy for road dragging and the mill
levy to be used for surfacing roads,
also organization of road dragging
districts. In addition there is
special fund from the automobile tax
to be used in making permanent
roads. This fund is IS per cent of
the annual license fee on motors of
40 cents per horse power machine,
the other Is per cent to go to the
state. This will raise an annual fund
of several thousand dollars for each
county.
| The passage of the commerce coun-
sci bill is regarded by many as Sec
ond in Importance to that of road
legislation. The bill provides for
an attorney for the railroad commits
sion at $4,000 a year, to handle all
cases effecting Iowa and interstate
rates, the lawyer to be appointed by
the railroad commission and be I'M
der its direction. In this connection
there was also appropriated $4,000
to be used in the defense of the Iowa
rates. This gives the Iowa railroad
commission wonderfully increased
power in fighting. for Iowa rights in
rate matters and as Iowa people pay
S75,00O,0OO a year in freight rates
the position is filled with great posi-
bilities for good.
The taxation legislation will have
widespread influence on the future
of the state. The repeal of the tax
ferret law with the provision for a
tax commission to investigate and re-
port and the revelation in the law
as to taxation of money and bank
stock will have great effect on the
revenues of many communities.
The passage of the Whitney bill
for having criminal cases prosecuted
without Indictment by a grand jury,
but upon information by the county
attorney, with the bill to authorize
a judge to sit in vacation and hear
a plea of guilty will effect a great
reform in the criminal law The law
as to prosecution upon information
is so safeguarded as to prevent abuse
and it does not abolish the grand
jury which will still continue as an
inquisitorial body.
The school legislation is brief but
important. The bill to permit the
valuation of first and second class
teachers certificates and converting
them into life certificates by a pro-
cess of examination on one subject
at time where the teacher remains
continually in the profession, will
lower the standard of certificates, but
it will meet the demands of many
teachers. The state aid for high
schools giving normal instruction,
giving $500 a year, will aid in train
ing teachers for ordinary work The
bill to require the rural district to
pay the tuition of a pupil going to
high school will aid in the education
of the farm boys and girls.
Two strictly commercial bills will
be of great influence. The bulk sales
bills requires that where the owner
of stock of goods sells he shall
furnish the purchaser with a list of
all creditors and they shall be noti-
fed five days before the consumation
of the sale or the creditors may
claim lien on the stock. The bill
to make bills of lading negotiable is
of special interest to banks and car
riers.
The fire marshal is one Of the big
ones: 1t provides for State fire
marshal at salary of $4,000 with
assistant and large force but most
important is that he is given inquisi-
torial powers to look into every fire
and find out the cause. One who re-
fuses to answer the fire marshal is
guilty of misdemeanor.