Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-04-25
Our Des Moines LegisIative Letter
By j. W. Jarnagin.

VI q Lu6JOIIty " IIAc JuuACAoAy SVtutA1S0
tee to vote impeachment charges
against Gov. Harding. Besides the
time consumed in committee meetings
this case required practically two full
days for discussion. The minority re-
port to ceusure rather than impeaeh
carried by . vote Of 70 to "a. The
committee appointed to investi gate the
charges brought by Mr.. Pierce. pub
Usher of the Homestead, against Wood
worth Clum, secretary of the Greater
Iowa association, were Investigated by
q committee Of the senate, bot owing
to q lack of time the entire matter of
the expenditure of funds at the San
Francisco exposition was referred to
the committee on retrenchment and re-
form with instructions to report to the
executive council within 80 days.
Something like $50 bills were passed.
Conspicuous among these are the road
bill, the appropriation for . million
dollar building for . temple of justice
ON the state house grounds. the various
measures for the benefit of educational
advancement and the adjustment of
salaries to comport with the high cost
of living. Among the important school
measures wss the Smith bill providing
for the establishment Of consolidated
schools, the Smith-Evans bill making
an appropriation for rural school de.
velopmsnt and the Fellows bill provid.
ing for an advance in the salaries of
school teachers.
The salary list was given = thorough
overhauling, especially as it pertains to
those in subordinate positions A. work
for the state. The salary of county
officials was raised and q general read
justment of public service was q part
of the general plan. e.> -
The appropriations will surpass those
made by any previous Legislature. The
demands made upon the management
of the various state Institutions on &C.
count of the high prices for goods and
labor and all equipment caused an un-
usually large appropriation to go to the
board of control.
n the closing days Of the session the
senate confirmed the various appoint
ments made by the Governor and all
branches of the state service are fully
equipped for duty.
800, 900 Annually to Aid Schools
An appropriation of 500, 600 annually
as aid to rural schools which meet GER
tain standards to be fixed by the state
superintendent is provided in the Evans
and Smith bill. These schools must be
in session nine months of the year and
. daily attendance of at least ten in
order to receive any portion of the aid.
The aid will be spportioned ut the rate
of S. annually for each pupi! who has
regularly six months.
The vocational education bill by
Weaver of Polk was also passed by
the senate the vote being twenty-nine
for to twelve against. This gives $aO,-
600, during the first year of the COM
ing biennial period and $50. 600 the sec-
ond year.
The Motor Taxing Law.
This measure provides for annual
number plates and makes the tax de-
linquent after Jan. lst Of each year or
payable any time during December. In
stead of applying for the license at the
office of the state automobile depart
ment, application is made to the coun-
ty treasurer in the county where the
is purchased. Various colored
cards are provided for each year.
These are to be exhibited, thereby per-
hitting peace officers to tell whether
tax 10 properly paid.
These same cards also carry the num-
Der of the car. factory number, en-
CINE number and other data with the
signature and are registered
with the owners name with the secre-
tary of the state.
Before q car can be sold, the trans
fer must be certified to in the Office Of
the secretary.
The amount of the fee is based upon
both the weight and value of the ma
chine. The tax is set at 40 cents for
each 100 pounds of the weight of the
and one per cent of its value,
the latter to be reduced to one-half of
one per cent after the car has been
used five years.
This law more than doubles the tax
on automobiles and makes even
greater advance on motor trucks. This
advance in auto taxation is a part of
the highway Improvement campaign as
the money thus secured goes directly
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