Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-03-05
MAKERS RETURN.
Legislature Begins Work Again After
a Weeks Vacation.
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES
READY FOR CONSIDERATION
Good Roads, Public Utilities, Tax Re-
form, School Text Book Uniform
ity, Workingmen's COmpensa-
ton, WOman's Suffrage, Etc.
Now ON the Floor.

NOW On Tic iOOFs
The Iowa legislature resumes its
duties today after weeks vacation
and will tackle the solution of some
of the real big social, economic and
political problems before it, So far
the actual law making of the assem-
bly, has been limited TO the following:
Resolution memorializing congress
for direct election of U. S. senator's;
legalizing an election at Carroll; pro-
viding husband or wife shall be res
ponstbe for spouse's reasonable
debts only; giving cities and towns
power to elect three park commits
sioners; providing towns may en-
large corporation limits by posting
notices where no newspapers are
printed; permitting appointment of
civilian as officer at Old Soldiers Home
at Marshalltown; giving park boards
right to levy additional one mill tax
to beautify parks; providing unplat-
ted land in cities and towns may be
taxed for library purposes; abolish
ing sheriff's cost to county; permit
ting city councils to supply vacancies
until next following election; bill re-
iating to releases and satisfaction of
mortgages; permitting special chart
er cities to levy tax to erect city halls;
legalizing flood protection ordinance
in Des Moines; donating Otter Island
to the City of Burlington. 1t is To-
Gated in the Mississippi river. Leg
alizing an election at jewell Junction
The Good Roads bill has been
agreed upon and will be before the
Assembly the latter part of this week
for consideration.
The Public Utilities bill has been
drafted and introduced in the senate.
It's Chief features are to permit mum
icipal ownership, with the right of
citizens to appeal to the state COM
mission; and to provide the 'sinde-
terminate franchise.
The Tax Reform bill has been draf-
ted by the subcommittee of the Ways
and Means committees and will be re-
ported out this week. 1t leaves the
tax on moneys and credits at mills
There is a we'll developed opposition
to the proposed reform, which will
probably be led in the upper house
by Senators Chase, Doran and Will
son. Statistics have been gathered to
show that commissions in other states
have failed to adjust differences, have
increased the burden on the farmer
and are expensive machinery.
Grenville M. Dodge of Council
Bluffs, the only living brigadier gen
eral who commanded an army in the
Civil War, has been selected comman-
der of the serhi-centennial reunion
of soldiers in Des Moines, June 8 to
IA. He has assumed charge and in
his first general order has designated
the Camp as Kirkwood Camp in hon.
or of the war governor Of Iowa. 1t
is expected several thousand old SOL
diers will assemble. The legislature
is being asked $4,000, to help in the
celebration.
An interesting situation developed
in the house committee on text books,
relative to the compulsory" uniform
ity of text books bill by Craig. Twelve
members whose counties have by pop
ular election adopted uniformity, vot-
ed for the bill to compel uniformity
in the forty-five counties which are
open" and have voted down compul-
sorry uniformity. Three democrats
having filed minority report and will
fight the adoption of the report fav-
orable to the Craig bill, on the ground
it is destructive to popular govern
ment, taking away from the people
the right to decide for themselves.
The senate judiciary committee has
appointed subcommittee of three
to draft Workingmen's Compensa-
tion bill, and that committee will
commence its work at once.
The house finally passed bill pro-
viding the courses and policies of the
state educational institutions remain
as now, unless otherwise directed by
vote of Z of the members of the
state board of education. 1t was
by such vote the coordination plan
was ordered. However, opponents to
the boards action think they have ef-
fected coup as one member who vot-
ed the change, A. b. Funk, is i'll in
California. The governor has four new
members of the board to appoint be-
for the present session adjourns. The
senate will have the house bill up