Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-03-16
(Bv George Gallarno)

Over Soldiers MOnument-Several
New Laws Enacted.
(By George Gallarno)
Des Moines, Iowa, March 13-(Spe-
ciaD-With the possibility that it will
have not more than three weeks of
life, and the surety that its existence
will terminate not later than four
weeks from now, or about the 18th of
April, the 9th general assembly has
opened the throttle, turned on the &C
celerator and is working morning and
afternoon at high speed.
Early in the life Of the session Sen
ator Foster introduced a resolution
fixing the time for final adjournment
of the body at noon on the 18th of
March. Before the spring recess It
became evident that the goal advo-
Gated by the senator from Guthrie
could not be attained, and with this
knowledge went glimmering all hopes
of the 70 days session advocated by
Governor Harding. The Foster res
olution is still before the senate, but
it may never be called up, or II It Is
it will be only to amend it to a later
date. In the house there is resolu-
ton, introduced by Representative
McPherrin, of Hamilton county, fix
ing the day for final adjournment at
noon on the 31st of March. A large
number of the members are hoping
their work can be shaped to that end,
but the opinion of the majority now
is that the end of the session cannot
possibly come earlier than the 10th or
18th of April, which has for several
sessions been the usual time for ad-
journment.
Appropriations Yet to Come.
None of the large appropriation
measures which must be taken care of
by the assembly have been finally dis
posed of as yet by the committees OF
either house, and it is not expected
that action will be taken before the
latter part of the present week, or
possibly next week. The state instt-
tutions and the state schools will be
we'll taken care of by the assembly
but not as literally as their officers
had hoped. The action of the appro-
priations committees and OF the re-
trenchment and reform committee are
likely to be Influenced to some extent
by the denuded condition of the state
treasury. That the deficiency which
now exists in the state cash account
must be cared for is realized and the
legislators are busying themselves
with the problem Of overcoming the
financial difficulty with as small an
increase in the tax levy as it will be
possible to authorize. That there will
be an increase in the levy is generally
conceded, and that this increase
should be such as to restore the treas
ury to it's happy condition of a surplus
of a considerable amount is also
agreed upon. Other plans under con-
sideration for the prevention OF cash
shortages in the future include one to
change the fiscal year for the state so
that it will begin on January LIST in
stead of July, or to amend the law so
that all of the state tax will become
due and payable March LIST instead Of
half in March and half in September.
How Taxes Are Divided.
state AuulLOI 0udW Ado SOAAPASu
and printed pamphlet for the legis-
lators, showing the property valua-
lions of the state and the taxes levied
and to be collected during the year
1917. The net taxable valuation of all
property in the state is given as $685.
143,629. To this should be added the
valuation of monies and credits as
I,,a 70
purposes, and amounting to 1907 1885,
$50. The total amount of taxes to be
derived from this valuation is given as
s53,646, $500, to which should be
added the sums received from poll tax,
dog tax and delinquent taxes, amount
ing to $621,O6S75. The taxes are di-
vided over the different divisions of
government as follows:
State, including capitol
extension tax of $780,
O95.27 ...............$ 4,4O9, 1886
Cities and towns ....... S,519,6l4O2
School districts and
county schools ....... 2O,1S9,O47.16
Counties, for all purposes 81 ,349, 674.61
Four Years for County Officers.
Inc Ulll LUZ d CAdu60 III IAC ICA LID
of county officers is meeting with
favor in both houses, and it is ex-
pected the committee having the bill
in charge will recommend it for
passage. Under the terms of the bill
at the election to be held in 1918 only
the treasurer, recorder and county at
torney will be elected. The officers
now serving as clerks, auditors and
sheriffs will have their terms auto
matically extended two years and
their successors will be chosen at the
election of 1920, for term of four
years, and thereafter all elections will
be for four-year terms.
NepOtism Bill Passes Senate.
Senator Chase of Hamilton county
secured the passage through the SEN
ate of his bill forbidding any public
official appointing to place in his Of
fee any relative closer than the third
degree of consanguinity. In advocat-