Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-04-18

and the request was granted. Mr..
Williams is about the only member OF
the Cummins following on duty at the
state house.
Weaver Taxation Bill a Law.
Taxing bodies of Iowa in the future
will certify to the county auditor the
amount of revenue needed to operate
the various branches of government,
instead of certifying the taxes in num-
ber of mills, by the terms of the
Weaver bill which has now passed
both houses of the general assembly
and has gone to Governor Harding for
his approval. This bill is looked upon
as one of the most important measures
which was before the general assem-
bly,. This change in the taxing sys'.
tenn was recommended on the ground
that it will save the property own
ers of the state large amount Of mon
ey each year. and it will not handicap
any branch of the government.
Higher Rate Of TaxatiOn
In view of the extraordinary appro-
priations made on account of the war,
with Germany the executive council
will be forced to add fraction of a
mill to the state levy. A half mill
will increase the states income about
two million dollars.
No Code Revision.
One of the live issues at the begin
ming of the session was the matter OF
code revision and the probability of an
extra session. A bill passed the house
providing that the governor appoint
commission of three members to revise
the code. The senate passed a bill
making the supreme judges the ap-
pointing power. The failure to har-
monize on the source Of the appoint
ment. defeated the measure and re-.
vision and recodification of the code
will 20 over to another general as
sembly.
Child Welfare Measure Successful.
For several years the women of
Iowa through the federation of clubs
and other organizations have been
working to establish child welfare
department at the State University at
Iowa City. This time their efforts
were successful An appropriation OF
$25, 1000 was made and this means the
organization of the department.
No More Non.partisan Judges.
The biggest killing of the session
occurred when the non-partisan Ju-
dietary law was squelched. A bill
to repeal it was defeated in the SEN
ate early in the session. A rider"
was afterwards tackled to the Kim
ball bill repeating the presidential
primary law and it passed both
houses as did also a rider restor-
ing the circle to the official ballot. This
measure had also failed to pass early
in the session. Added to this was the
defeat Of the four1syearl5 term for
county officials which had passed and
was in the hands OF the enrolling
clerk when recalled. Both houses
took hand in the slaughter.
Method of Drawing Juries Changed.
Among the important bills passed
is the one which is intended to knock
out professional jurors. Cities have
been sorely troubled on account OF
the connivance Of officials with fell
lows whose principal occupation is
serving on juries and such persons
are usually for sale, hence the de-
moralization of the courts. The bill
provides for the appointment by the
Judges of the district court of jury
commission of three members, who
are to draw the juries. They are in
structed to prepare a list of 100 for
grand jurors, this list to include
men from every township, and are
further required to draw the petit
jurors from another list compiled
from the poll books. and also includ-
ing representatives from every town.
ship and city precinct. The present
method, whereby jury lists are GER
titled by the judges of election is
done away with. 1t has the indorse-
ment of the state bar association, and
is expected to do away with the
professional juror" abuse. It af-
fects all counties having popula-
ton of more than 10000 and includ-
ing city of $4,000 population or
more.
To Purchase State Parks.
Iowa proposes to save some of her
natural beauty spots. Game Warden
Hinshaw made vigorous snlea in his
biennial report for authd..y to pur-
chase ground adjoining lakes, rivers
and other attractive places that
would afford a nucleus for state
wide park system. Senator Holdoe-
gel and Representative Dean drafted
a bill which has for it's object this
very purpose An appropriation of
$50 900 from the hunters license
Funds, ;c proyidad for hv tho hill t0 |