Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-16

Perhaps half of the states Of the
union now tax direct inheritances
Iowa ought not longer to neglect the
adoption of such statute, but should
keep pace with the adjoining states,
four at least of which have such a
law. ..-
Highway Improvement.
The question of improving the high
ways Of the state is one not only OF
general interest but Of practical i'm
portance. Three years ago called
q good roads meeting to be held in
Des Moines and to be composed OF
county officials and representative
men of the various counties and OF
the commercial organizations of the
state. The meeting was we'll attended
and much interest was manifest, but
there were divergent views and a
wide difference of opinion as to the
methods to be pursued. However,
IN organization was formed and an
nual meetings thereof have been held
with increasing interest. Great good
has been accomplished and harmony
of action has resulted. The recent
session of this organization has with
practical unanimity recommended and
through it's committee will present to
you, several important matters, OF
which I ask your careful considsra-
tion, and among which are the fol-
lowing:
To submit to the people Of tho state
at the next general election the ques-
ton of a bond issue for road i'm
provements.
The levy of a ono mill tax for the
state aid in the improvement Of high
ways.
The esta blishment of permanent
state highway commission with ade-
quate powers.
The appointment Of county eng1-
neer in each county by the board OF
supervisors thereof, subject, however,
to the approval Of the state highway
commission.
A classification of rural highways.
A compulsory drag law, non-di-
vertable drag fund and simplifying
and making effective our present
laws on road dragging.
A recodifcation Of the road laws
Of the state.
Pardons and Paroles.
In the application Of the penal
statutes of the state no more per-
picking question arises than that
with regard to the time and the cir
eumstances under which pardonlng
or parole powers should be exercised.
To abandon our present system and
return to the old method of lodging
pardoning and parole powers exclu-
sively with the governor would be to
return to a system under which it is
absolutely impossible for the govern
or to learn, in any but the most sd
perfcial and unsatisfactory manner,
the real merits Of most Of the cases
that he would be required to pass
upon. lime alone would render
careful investigation wholly impos-
sible.. III addition to the great
amount Of time that have given 20
these matters during the past year,
the three members Of the board Of
parole have spent an average Of near
ly two hundred days each and the en-,
tire time of the secretary OF the
board, the parole agent, the help in
the office of the board and most OF
the time of the pardon clerk OF the
governors office have been given to
matters of pardon and parole.
Regarding Election Of United States
Senator's.
The second session of the Sixty
second congress passed a resolution
proposing all amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States for the
election of United States senator's by
direct vote of the people. AS you
are aware, it is necessary for the
amendment to be ratified by three
fourths of all of the states before it
becomes effective. You will here lind
the proposed amendment set out n
full and the document itself will be
transmitted to you at later date:
"Resclved by the senate and house
of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled (two-thirds of each house con-
curing therein) that in lieu OF the
first paragraph of section three OF
article of the constitution of the
United States, and in lieu of so much
of paragraph two of the same section
as relates to the filing Of vacancies,
the following be proposed as an
amendment to the constitution, which
shall be valid to all intents and pur-
poses as part of the constitution
when ratified by the legislatures OF
three-fourths of the states:
"The senate Of the United States
shall be composed of two senators
from each state, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each sem
ator shall have one vote. The cleo
tors in each state shall have the quail