Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-15
Houses in Joint Session
Hear Former Secretary
Of Agriculture and For
mer Labor Leader.
HOUSE PASSES
SANITARY BILL
Measure Provides Inspec-
ton of Foods in Restau-
rants, Stores and Fac
tories.

COTlGS.
Des Moines, March 14.-James Will
son, former secretary of agriculture
told the Iowa legislature what he had
done for the farmers Of Iowa, and OF
the United States, today. Both
houses went into joint session to hear
Mr.. Wilson.
81 was member Of the Iowa assem-.
bly, when this state house was built.
he said, "and the problems OF Iowa
were Of more than common interest to
me while held the national portfolio.
when went to the cabinet the hog
cholera problem was serious. The
government laboratories were kept at
work for years, and a serum has been
produced of the efficiency OF which
there is no doubt.
"Under direction of the department
of agriculture hard wheat has been
brought from Turkestan and 1t now Is
grown in the United States to such an
extent that .3O,00O,OO0 bushels q year
are exported.
Egyptian cotton was imported and
as results of this action the United
States is saved $4,000, 900 a year.
"Rice was brought from the orient,
and q place where it would grow was
sought out. We now are exporting
rice.
I'm attending to the agriculture OF
the nation I discovered that better
roads were needed and road ONCE to
teach farmers how to build highways
now is maintained at Washington.
Universities OF the United States have
been asked to teach their engineering
students the problem of road con-
struction."
John Mitchell Made Speech.
Claiming that five hundred tho'l-
sand working men were killed In acci-
dents in the United States each year,
John Mitchell, former president OF the
United Mine Workers and the man
responsible for the settlement OF the
Pennsylvania hard coal miners strike,
caleld on the Iowa legislature today to
take little time from consideration
of the conservation of national re-
sources, and give it to the problem OF
the conservation of human resources.
Mr.. Mitchell talked to the legislat-
ors nearly an hour. The passage OF
uniform laws in all the states regard
ing workingmen's compensation, and
the requirement of safety devices IN
factories was urged.
Sanitary Bill Passed House.
The Whitney bill, calculated to
raise the sanitary standard in restaur-
ants, stores in which food Is handled
and In factories making food was
passed by the house today 73 to 81.
The measure provides for inspec-
ton Of public dining rooms, grocery
stores and factories by the state dairy
and food department and defines viola
ton of sanitary regulations punish
able by fines.
The Brockway resolution, providing
for the complete Investigation of the
bridge lobby working at this session
of the legislature was passed by the
house this morning. The opposition
was slight.
To Whittle Down Expenses.
Appropriation bills amounting TO
81 ,OOO,O 900 are at present before the
legislature Members Of the appropria-
tions committee in the house and SEN
ate begin holding daily sessions today
in an attempt to whittle these appro-
priatiOns down to the Tece1pts OF Cne
state, little more than q million dol
lars above he necessary running ex-
penses of government.
Veterinarian surgeons who prac-
tised for twelve years before the 1911
session of the legislature but who
were not able to pass the rigid tech
nical tests adopted for the profession
by. that session will be allowed to re-
sumo practice again when bill which
has passed both houses becomes law.
A large number Of prominent veteri-
narians have been before the session
advocating the change.
Fifteen or twenty men from Kos
suth county are in the city today to
make known their wants concerning
the division OF the county A part Of
the men favor the division and a part
are opposed.