Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-25
Would Make Every Person
Interested in Measure Sc
cure Credentials Before
Talking to Solons.
NO VOTE TAKEN
ON TAX MATTER
Senate Spends Morning Dis
cussing the Taxation Of
Moneys and Credits With
out an Understanding.
lBY w. H. POWELL


Des Moines, March 24.-(Special)-
Representative Dabney of Davis coun-
ty this morning introduced a bill def1n-
ing lobbying and fixing penalty for
violation thereof. The bin provides
that anyone shall be guilty of lobby
ing who shall privately attempt to in
fluence any member OF the legislature
during term Of the legislature.
The bill does not prohibit any person
not employed for valuable considera-
tion from being permitted to influence
by arguments, briefs or written state
ments. It is declared, however, to be
against public policy for any person
employed by company or corporation
to attempt to influence legislators ex-
cept by petitions. or hearings before
committees, such persons to receive
card from the speaker and the senate
president telling his business. The bill
provides as penalty, Imprisonment
for from ten days to twelve months
and fine of not less than 5000 nor
more than $1,000. The bill also pro-
vides for strict penalty in case
ward and where legislator receives
reward for, a vote.
No Vote on Tax Matter.
The senate today concurred in the
house resolution to adjourn Saturday
noon until Tuesday The senate de-
voted the forenoon session to discuss
ing the bill to place a fiat tax of five
mills on moneys and credits and tax
bank stock at the usual tax rate on a
~. m Nf ifc oof, o111o
A substitute to tax bank stock at 12R
mills was offered by Senator Cowles.
no vote was taken.
Hits Smoking chimneys.
Representative Shankland today in
s.rcduced a bill in the house giving
cites of over ,65.O00 population ,ne
sight to call smoking chimney a
nuisance and to punish by fine build
ing owners who permit chimneys to
send forth smoke in the business or
manufacturing districts.
House Proceedings.
The Kulp bill providing for quarter
ly inspection of private and public hos
pitfalls and segregation of the sane and
insane was lost, 20 to 81.
Among the bills introduced in the
house this morning were: PIP
By Leach. providing that insurance
cases suits be brought to collect as
sessments in county in which insured
resides.
BY the committee on banks permit
ting trust companies to act as trus-
tees.
BY Jewell. prohibiting the filing of a
saloon petition of consent within one
year from the date of fling the preced-
ing statement of general consent.
BY Balkema, including infantile par
alysis, measles and chicken pox in dis
eases to be quarantined.
For Commerce Counsel.
! Representative Cunningham's bill.
establishing the office of state COM
merce counsel, was passed in the house
yesterday afternoon.
In addition to passing the bill, the
house boosted the salary fixed origin
ally to the extent Of $1,000 AS it now
stands, the measure provides for a
salary of $4,000 for the commerce
counsel.
Little opposition to the bill was
made on the floor Of the house. Only
six members on the floor voted against
1t. Seventy-eight favored its passage.
Under the provisions of the bill, the
commerce counsel is to be appointed
by the board of railroad commissions
ers Representative Perkins amend
ment to make the appointment by the
attorney general was lost.
1t shall he the duty of the commerce
counsel to Investigate the reasonable
ness of rates charged, or to be
charged, by the railroad companies.
express companies and all other indi-
viduals and companies under the juris-
diction of the railroad commission. He
shal! also Investigate rates on inter-
state transportation and to commence
necessary proceedings when directed
to do so by the board. He also shall
he required to assist the commission in
Tho prosecution Of cases before the in
tcrstate commerce commission.
Regulate Telephone and Telegraph.
Senator Browns bill providing that
telegraph and telephone poles and
other pole lines shall be constructed in
such a manner as not to discommode
the public in the use of public high
ways was recommended for passage
Yesterday afternoon by the house COM
mittee on roads and highways.