The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-04-02
HIGHWAY BILL
CONSUMES. time
Among the Most Important Develop
ments Of Week Was Introduction
Of the Highway Bill .s.

nents Of Week Was introduction
Of the Highway Bill
SEED BILL PASSES THE SENATE
Bill az Passed Provides for Shipping
Restrictions and Certain Standards
for All Farm Seeds Sold
DES MONIES, March 31-(Special
to the Review the past
week has been seriously handicapped
because of the investigation of the
Rathbun pardon case. There are 81
members on the committee on judic.
iary and the trial is before these men.
This takes nearly third of the mem
bership of the house. Many of the
remaining members wanted to hear
the evidence in the case and the re-
suit has been badly disorganized
house. However, the forenoOns have
been undisturbed by the trial except
a mental condition that prevented the
best service. In spite of the handl'
cap, much useful legislation has been
DISPOSED Of, The senate has been a
considerable distance ahead Of the
house and this has initiated against
action in that body to, some extent.
Among the most important develop
ments of the week was the introduc-
tion of the highway bill in both houses
The bill in both cases was presented
as committee bill and therefore was
recommended for passage. In neither
house was the vote in the committee
room unanimous for the bill but there
was sufficient majority to give the
measure strong support when 1t
comes up for consideration. There are
some doubts as to the final outcome OF
the vote. The bill is very long and
somewhat complicated. 1t covers SO
printed pages.
A number of amendments have been
inserted since q summary of the bill
was given to the public before the re-
cess adjournment. The following brief
summary gives an idea of the plans
and purposes of the bill:
To create a system of substantial
and durable highway improvements
for each county, coordinate same with
the requirements of the federal gov
ernment and secure the benefit OF
present and future aid acts and plodge
the state to meet the same. ....
To divide the highways of the state
into a primary system and second
ary system, the primary system (em-
bracing about 6,000 miles,, to consist
Of the main market roads which con-
meet all county seat towns and cities
and main market centers being the
intercounty system. already designat-
ed under the federal aid act and to
which all federal aid is expressly lin
tied. 9rEt, = ,
To provide for the grading and the
draining of said primary system by
each county from funds derived whol.
ly' from motor vehicles and federal
aid, and to provide for the hard sur
facing thereof, such hard surfacing to
be paid IS per cent from the motor We
hicle and federal aid fund and 20 per
cent from special assessments on
abutting and adjacent property, with
in zones specified. .....
To provide for the grading and the
development of the primary road sys-
tenn, consisting of (a) federal aid
funds already available (b) federal
aid funds hereafter appropriated, (c)
receipts from motor vehicles, (d) pro-
1t Is contemplated that the county
shall have threeSOptions. a. To drain
and grade all of the primary road sys.
TEN before doing any hard surfacing;
(2) to hard surface (always after
draining andvgrading) year by year. as
the primary road fund becomes avail
able, or (3) to anticipate its revenue
from the primary road fund for which
purposes by issuing bonds on a vote
OF the people. such bonds to be re-
deemed from revenues from the pri-
mary road fund, and Tin case Of hard
surfacing) also from special benefit
assessments. ia ..,-,.. T.. M. .,
investigations Of Rathbun Pardon
The investigation of the Ida Grove
pardon case has attracted unusual in
terest. The hearings have been pub.
lie and the committee room has been
packed. Sessions are held afternoons
and at night. People are here from
all over the state to hear the evidence.
Numerous witnesses from Ida Grove
have testified and there is consider
able discrepancy in the testimony Civ
en-. The friends of Governor Harding
take delight in the evidence that looks
bad for Attorney General Havner's
part in the revocation of the pardon,
and the friends of Havner smile
voluminously when the evidence looks
bad for the governor. The entire bar
of Ida county has been mixed up with
the case and some unpleasant things
have been brought to the surface con-
cerning the social" games that have
featured the passing of numerous bank
checks. The evidence will all be sub
mitted this week and then the inter-
est will center in the report to be sub
mitted to the house by the committee
on judiciary.
Senate Approves Hotel Bill
With the passage by the Iowa senate
of the hotel licensing and inspection
measure which previously passed the
house, hotels in Iowa will hereafter
be held to strict sanitary and health
rules as we'll as requirements with
reference to posting their prices in
each room and fixing their charges ac-
cordingly. This. feature Of the bill is
to prevent the skyward prices at no.
tells in cities when conventions or
fairs are held. Another phase of the
bill makes it compulsory to place two
sheets 80 inches long on each bed.
A Crime to Destroy Food Products