Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-02-07
CREsCo HOWARD COUNTY, IOWA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1919

A, FRIDAY, FEBRUAR'
Our Des Moines legislative Letter
ByJ. w. Jarnagin.
Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. 8, 1919.
Iowa's law makers have settled down
to business in earnest and numerous
bills hav- already passed both houses
and only await the signature. Of the
governor to become laws. Naturally
the road question takes precedence over
all other legislation a. far - public dis
cussion is concerned. Several confer
enees have been held to ascertain the
predominating sentiment Of the mem.
bership. 1t seems to be generally con-
ceded that what is known as the Florida
plan has the largest following. This
plan provides that upon petition boards
of supervisors may outline contemplated
road improvements. receive from COM
petent engineers and from the state
highway commission the cost of such
Improvements and this. together with
an outline of the plan must be. submitted
to q vote of the taxpayers for approval
or rejection. Bonds are to be voted
upon at the same time and if the people
80 decree the work of paving, gravel
ing or grading, whichever plan may be
contemplated, is to proceed. 1t is
argued that this plan leaves the matter
wholly with the taxpayers of each
county, and if a county decides that it
wants paved roads this proposed
measure will permit such an improve
meut. A sub. committee from both
house and senate lis drafting the meas
ure to be presented and when it is
ready it will be introduced as COM
mittee bill. e..
There is no agitation either in the
legislature or out of it for repeal of
the law providing for state highway
commission and the substitution of a
state engineer instead, IS was the case
two years ago. y ....- -.
TO ENLARGE THE SCOPE OF THE
PERKINS INFlRMARY,
One of the most beneficial pieces OF
legislation in recent years was the law
providing for . hospital at Iowa City to
which crippled or deformed children
could be sent for tre.tmsnt at stats
expsnse. It 10 now fpropossd 70 enlarge
ths emission of the -haalital % that
aau:ts, unahss topay sur, II 20 fsss. may
I tse, treatment st the expense Of the
|state. Hon. s. ". Kisss. Of Earlvilss.
Delaware County, is drafting bill to
make the necessary provision. He con-
templates making It possible for, men
who served their country in the war
with Germany, in case future sffliction
should require surgical treatment, to
obtain tree service at this hospital.
The success of the. institutiou has been
even greater than its fondest support
ers ever dreamed. Hundreds of unfor-
tunate boys and girls have been roade
whole by the skiilfui operations per-
formed by the staff Of surgical experts
afliliated with the medical department
rat Iows's great university. ...s
IMPORTANT TAX BILL. .. .,
A bill of vital interest to every owner
of mortgaged property was introduced
in the senate Thursday by Senator
Kingiand, of Winnebago County. :
The bill repesls the present law relat-
ing to assessment of property, and pro-
vides that the property owner shall pay
taxes only to the extent of his equity,
tho remainder of the taxes to be paid
by the holder of the mortgage. ii
II the owner Of the property pays the
entire tax, that portion belonging to
the mortgage holder shall be applied as
q payment on the mortgage.
SUPREME JUDGES WANT NON.PARTl-
SAN LAW MAINTAINED.
COOI E1SIuOSIS VI SuN SvoV0 SOPA SAAAS
court, headed by Chief Justice Ladd.
appeared before joint meeting OF the
election committees of the house and
senate and made strong arguments
against . repeal of the non-psrtisan
judiciary. .a
The bill under consideration provides
for repeal of the present law and the
nomination of judicial candidates by
partisan conventions.
All of the judges admitted that the
present law hsd some minor faults and
were willing to see it improved 1t pos
sible. but asked that whatever was done
the non-partisan feature be retained.
TO QUIET LAND TITLES. -
Representative Allyn, of Mount Ayr,
proposes to legalize all land titles in
Iows. III
The bill provides that oil titles would