Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-12
Special to Times-Republican.

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months and three days were taken up
by the thirty-fourth general assem- bly,
in the considerat ton of about ], 120 bills
which touched nearly every phase of
Legislation and government. Out of it
there will be printed a book of session
laws with some 800 chapters, volume
probably not quite as large as some
others that have been edited by previ-
Gus general assemblies. The two books
which will contain the detailed account
of the proceedings will be somewhat
larger than usual as q voluminous
record was made
The older members of the legislature
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 legislation and
when the reckoning is made of net re-
suits it will be found that the Thirty
fourth general assembly has done much
good work and very little that will
need to be undone at some other time.
Road Legislation First.
Good roads legislation took first
place, and despite the flood Of criticism
(which has poured out upon the legis-
llature in regard to this subject some
very valuable legislation was enacted.
Briefly this is what is provided Abo-
lition of the office Of county surveyor,
the board authorized to employ a COM
Ipetent person on road work who may
Ibe made road engineer. authority for
an additional 2 mill special road levy
on property outside of cities in addition
to the 1 mill county levy, to be used for
permanent road work and culverts. A
new road dragging law with a township
mill tax levy for road dragging and
the mill levy to be used for surfa cing
roads, also organization of road drag
ging districts. In addition there is the
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.
Commerce Counsel Bill.
The passage of the commerce counsel
bill is regarded by many as second in
Importance to that of road legislation.
The bill provides for an attorney for
the railroad commission at $4,000 a
year to handle all cases affecting Iowa
and interstate rates, the lawyer to be
appointed by the railroad commission
and be under it's direction. In this
connection there was also the appro-
" priation of $4,000 to be used in the
defense of the Iowa rates. This gives
the Iowa railroad commission wonder
fully Increased power in fighting for
Iowa rights in rate matters and as Iowa
people pay s75.000,000 year in freight
rates the position is filled with great
possibilities 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 COM
mission to investigate and report and
the revolution in the law as to taxa
ton of money and bank stock will have
a great effect on the revenues of many
communities.
Reform in Criminal Practice.
The passage of the Whitney bill for
having criminal cases prosecuted with
out indictment by a grand jury, but up
on information by the county attorney.
with the bill to authorize Judge to sit
in vacation and hear g. plea of guilty,
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.
School Legislation Important
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 process
OF examination on one subject at time
where the teacher remains continually
in the profession, will lower the stand
ard Of the certificates, but 1t will meet
the demands OF many teachers. The
state aid for high schools giving nor
NAL instruction, giving to each such
high school $500 a year, will aid in
training teachers for ordinary work.
The bill to require a rural district to
pay the tuition OF a pupil going to a
high school will aid in the educa ton
Of the farm boys and girls.
Commercial Bills.
Two strictly comm ercial bills will be
of great influence. The bulk sales bill
requires that where the owner Of a
stock Of goods sells he shall furnish the
| purchaser with list Of all creditors
before the contamination of the sale
Or the creditors may claim a lien on
the stock. The bill to make bills OF
iaainS negotiable is Of special interest
to banks and carriers.
The fire marshal law is one of the
| big ones. 1t provides for state fire
marshal at salary of $4,000 with as
sistant and large force but most
important is that he is given inquis-
itorial powers to look into every fire
and find out the cause. One who re-
fuses to answer the fire marshal IS
. guilty OF misdemeanor.
Corporation Fees.
An important bill relating to organ.
) izing corporations is that which au.
thorizes the secretary Of state to &C.
cept filing fee on only that part OF
the corporation stock which repre-.
sents capital for use in Iowa Thi.
. removes one cause Of friction as to or.
ganizing for business in this state. TIL,
8 executive council may also make al
lowance for promotion stock in rail
, roads and manufacturing companies
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