Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-22
Perkins Bill Appropriating
$500 to Pay Expenses
Passed Senate; Cole Bill
Passes the House.
DEFEATED SENATORS
WILL NOT GIVE UP
Losing Amendments to the
Road Bill Yesterday, An
Effort Will be Made to
Tack Them on in House.

Des Moines, March 21.-The Perkins
bill, providing for the appointment Of
commission to investigate vice con-
ditions in Iowa, and their relation to
the wage question, was passed by the
Iowa senate early today. A bill appro
priating $4,000 to pay the expenses of
the investigation, also passed.
Both bills will now go to the house,
where it Is predicted they will pass.
Governor Clarke is vested with
authority to appoint the commission
ers, who will serve without compensa-
ton. The investigation Is to be state
wide and the commission Is en-
powered to subpoena witnesses and
require their presence whenever de-
sired.
The extent Of the white slave traffic
in Iowa would be probed and the
ownership of property used for i'm
moral purposes would be inquired into.
The commission would be empowered
to 60 outside the state to conduct its
investigation should such procedure
be deemed necessary.
Change Health Board.
BY vote Of ninety to one, Gerritt
Klay. republican whip" casting the
one negative ballot, the Cole bill pro.
viding a reorganization of the state
board Of health was passed by the
house this morning.
Miller Of Bremen and Atkinson Of
Butler both attacked the present
method Of appointment and tenure Of
the board in long speeches.
The Cole measure provides for a
board of five members instead of
nine, one of whom must be sanitary
engineer and all Of whom are to serve
five years at salary OF $1,000 year
each, instead Of the per diem now pro.
vided.
Times of appointment must be so
arranged that the term Of one member
Of the board shall expire every year.
The measure provides for the ap-
pointment of secretary at a salary
of $2,500 year, who shall be the
executive officer Of the board between
sessions.
The board would hold two meetings
year.
VIII Try Luck in House.
Senators who yesterday fought a
losing fight for amendments to the
senate committee roads bill to curb
bridge contract powers Of county
boards, will make an effort to secure
the passage Of these amendments by
the house when the measure comes up
for consideration there. Senator Allen
of Pocahontas interviewed Speaker
~, rhov ir,cr 10
speaker is understood to have
prompted cooperation with advocates
Of progressive road legislation.
1t is understood that those senators
who stood for the curb on supervisors
yesterday will be opposed to any road
tax measure, providing funds for the
state highway commission which does
not give the commission more than
the contemplated power, regarding
the moneys expenditure.
Initiative Passes House.
The constitutional amendment pro-
viding the initiative and referendum,
was passed by the Iowa house this
afternoon. There was little opposition.
1t provides, as recently amended. that
a petition signed by IL to % per cent
of the voters of every congressional
district in Iowa, shall be sufficient to
initiate a vote on proposed laws.
The same petition would cause a
referendum vote on any legislation II
the petition is fled within 80 days
after adjournment Of the legislature
which passed the law.
Make Moon Law Apply.
The bill by Thomas Of Union ap-
plying the Moon law to all special
charter cities. was passed by the SEN
ate this morning. Under provisions
Of the bill, licenses in special charter
cities shall expire at the rate of one
third of the total each year for three
years, starting July /, 1913.
The senate refused to spend $500
of the states money to disseminate
information regarding fish and game
in the state as providing in bill in
troduced by Smith Of Shelby. The
measure was killed 81 to TO-
Protect Quail From Hunter.
The Bob White call, by which the
farmer is greeted from his fields, in
early mornings OF spring and sum-
mer, may become song, by legisla-
tive enactment. The Iowa senate
ohicially declared quail to be song
bird this morning % to Z, at the earn
est solicitation Of Senator Quigley who
introduced bill to that effect.
III 4 Il 7