The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-01-31
it could not be used for oiling them.
Would Prevent Supervisors From Is
5rl .a suinu Bonds,

Would Prevent Supervisors From Is
! .w} suing Bonds. r:
| Gray of Calhoun is the author of a
bill that proposes that boards of su-
pervisors confine the expenditure for
bridges and other road improvements
to funds provided by regular tax
levy. At present supervisors may is
sue bonds to cover Overdrafts in the
bridge fund. Supervisors in some
counties have issued bonds for as much
as 100000, 1t is claimed that in the
aggregate millions of bonds are out
standing that the tax payers had no
voice in authorizing. Elwood of How
ard has introduced bill to amend
Sec. 403 of the code providing for an
issuance of bonds for road and bridge
construction when the people vote for
such a measure. In this way boards
of supervisors would be able to an
ticipate revenue for road and bridge
work..
A Budget Plan as Basis for Taxation
Weaver of Polk is the author of
measure that makes a complete change
in the levying Of taxes. Under the
present system, taxes are LEVIED
through the millage system. The tax
ing body figures property valuations
and levies a certain number OF mills
to produce the cash needed for the
years work. The result of the system
has been that councils, school boards
and supervisors have collected more
money than they actually asked for
because of the increase in property val
uations. Property valuations are in
creased more or less every year. The
Weaver plan proposes that the amount
of money required for the various
funds, both municipal, school and
county, shall be closely estimated. but
no millage tax shall be levied until af-
ter assessors, boards of equalization
and the state executive council shall
have equalized assessments and levies
will then be made upon the definite
and fixed valuation. It is believed that
vast saving will be made in taxation
If this measure becomes a law
To Inspeck Converts, ParochiaI
Schools and the Like.
Rayburn of Poweshiek has drafted
bill similar to the one that passed
the house two years ago providing that
all institutions receiving inmates or
pupils shall be investigated and in
spected annually, and a report made
to the state by the state board OF con
troll. It's purpose is to place Catholic
stitutions-convents, schools, homes,
etc-under state supervision.
Elect County, Superintendents.
Meredith of Jasper is pushing his
bill to restore the old law providing
for the election by the people of the
county superintendent of schools. The
committee on schools has made a IA
vorable report and Mr.. Meredith ex-
neets the bill to- pass the h0nse by a.
large ma jority. Friends OF the pres
ent system do not think it will pass
the senate.
Industrial Workers Of the World
Menace.
Sioux City is kind of vortex when
it comes to the migration of hordes of
Industrial Workers of the World from
the harvest fields of Kansas and Ne
braska to those of Minnesota and the
Dakotas. They seize trains, force
towns and cities to feed them and
commit other acts of violence. Rep
resentative Lake of Sioux City is in
touch with legislators in adjoining
states to the north and west and the
plan is to introduce bills in each pro-
viding heavy penalties for members of
this organization who carry concealed
weapons, ride on freight trains or con-
spire to ride on trains by force or
violence. Representative Lake is a
newspaper writer and some of his as
signments enabled him to view these
organized hoboes while in action.
lntoxication No Excuse for Crime.
1ntoxication will be removed from
excuses man may set up in court in
defense of criminal cases where intent
is necessary element of the crime,
under the provisions of bill intro
duced in the senate by Senator Chase.
'"rhere is no reason why a drunkard
who murders his wife or sets fire to
another mans house should be allow
ed to excuse himself or even attempt
to excuse himself by pleading intoxi-
cation as cause" said Senator Chase.
Retire Dogs From Circulation Afetr
~ Night.
Davis county is the banner county
in Iowa in the production of sheep.
That is what prompted Representa-
tive Anderson of that county to in
troduce bill which prohibits dogs
from running at large between sun
set and sunrise, saving only wolf and
fox hounds attended by their master.
All dogs must be registered with the
county auditor, the fee established be-
ing 25 cents. Outlawed animals may
be shot by anybody. The bill does not
affect cities and towns with dog H.
cense ordinances. Representative
Craven of Jasper county introduced
such bill in the last general assembly
but it failed in passage. Mr.. Ander-
son is armed with statistics showing
the loss to the sheep industry on ac-
count of dogs. He says that. during
the day the dog is domestic animal,
but after night he has the wild in
stincts of a wolf. fs
Trying to Save the National Guard.
One of the problems before the state
is the status of the militia. There is
difference of opinion whether there |
is any! national guard under the new
order, Of things. Adjutant General Lo-
gan contends that the soldiers as they |
return to Iowa from the border will
automatically drop into the mill
tary service of the state. Others con-
tend that the oath that the boys took |
unon their daDa rtllre which admitted |