Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-01-12

the inclusion Of the state highway
commission, which may be shorn of
some of its powers, and the possible
repeal of the fire insurance rating
bureau bill, will complete the pro-
gram of radical legislation to be pro-
posed. How serious consideration
will be given to any of these matters
has not as yet been determined, and
it may be that none Of them will get
past the talking and feeling-out stage.
New Laws for Cities Asked.
The legislative committee of the
Iowa League of Municipalities is ar
ranging to present to the lawmakers
series of measures which will in
clude the bill providing for home rule
for cities. The bill will be similar to
one presented two yeass ago. During
the intervening time the league Of
ticers have been conducting a cam
paign of publicity and they believe,
with full understanding of the mean
ing of the measure, there will be but
little opposition to its passage: In
the past the fear has been that the
home rule idea was more or less a
measure for the benefit Of river cities
desiring to get away from the regu-
lations of the state on matters per-
tanning to liquor law enforcement.
The proposed law will make it plain
that there is no intention Of interfer-
ing with the state police and regula-
tory powers; but that the cities will
ask authority to raise their funds for
public improvements and to spend
them as the citizens deem best without
having to wait for legislative action
giving them special permission, as
had been the case in many instances
in the past.
The cities will also ask for a law
permitting the issuance of 50-year
bonds for the purchase of land for
public purposes; also for the placing
of telephone companies under control
of the state board of railroad commits
sioners, or the creation Of public
utilities commission; for an eight hour
workday on public works; and for
competition by the city itself in pub
lie works contracts.
Some Other Measures Talked OF.
Among other matters of Importance
for which it is likely bills will soon
be introduced, are the following:
Either the addition Of a judge to the
supreme court, or the creation OF an
intermediate court of appeals; provid-
ing for higher salaries for district
court judges; for changing the system
of jury drawing and for reforming the
method of court procedure.
Reformation of the state wide prf-
mary law; elimination of the presi-
dental primary law; amending the
non-partisan judiciary election law, SO
that names of candidates will appear
on each ticket on the ballot; placing
the circle back on the Australian bal
lot; limiting expenses Of candidates
for office both in the primary and the
general election campaigns; nom
partisan election of county officers, on
the lines adopted in most cities for
tnon-partisan election of city officers;
for double sets Of Judges Of elections,
so that counting Of ballots may pro-
coed during the day while the votes
are being cast.
Adjustment Of the state board of
health as a state department at Des
Moines and transferring its activities
to the University of Iowa City; crea-
ton of vital statistics law; provid-
ing health car for publicity work in
the state; establishing a medical de-
partment of the state library.
lot 10 Nryc 70
of, after passage of the prohibitory
resolution, include the limitation of
the amounts which may be shipped in
monthly for individual use; prohibit
ing the shipment Of liquor into the
state; allowing municipalities to sell
to parties outside the state liquors
captured and confscated in the state;
permitting breweries in the state to
manufacture beer for sale outside the
state limits.
Two appropriation measures not
listed in the budget may come before
the legislature. They are the pro-
posed measures for the erection of
large general office building for the
state and for the erection of temple
OI JUSTICE duu law 1lUI dIy Uullu1u6.
These measures, if they materialize,
will raise the total appropriation ask
ings another million or more.
Lewis Goes to Commission.
One of the last official appointments
to be made by Governor Clarke, was
the naming of Dwight N. Lewis, Of Des
Moines, to succeed Clifford Thorne as
a member of the State Board Of Rail-
road Commissioners. Mr.. Lewis, at
the time Of his appointment, was serv-
ing as assistant commerce counsel for
the commission, post which he has
held since 1911, when the office of
commerce counsel was created. His
appointment was the recognition of
service, experience and ability in its
largest sense, and has given universal
satisfaction.
Barney is Praised.
Hoard's Dairyman, the largest dairy
and farm publication in the state Of
Wisconsin,. pays tribute, in its last
issue to w. B. Barney, state food and