The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-02-05
Law MAKERS
NOW AT WORK
Numerous Bills Have Already Been
Passed Upon by Committees-Few
Measures Pass Both Houses
IMPORTANT TAX BILL Is UP
Law Relating to Assessment Of Prop
erty May Be Repealed and New
Law Enacted in Place of It

erty May Be Repealed and New
Law Enacted in Place of It
DES MONIES, Feb. 3-(Special to
lthe Review)-Iowa's law makers have
isettled down to business in earnest
and numerous bills have already been
Ipassed upon by the proper committees
and some few measures have passed
both houses and only await the sigma
Iture of the governor to become laws.
Naturally the road question takes pre-
lcedence over all other legislation as
far as public discussion is concerned.
Several conferences have been held
and the committees of the two houses
have met in joint session in order to
ascertain the predOminating senti-
ment of the membership. 1t seems
to be generally conceded that what IS
known as the Florida plan has the
largest following. This plan was out
lined briefly in the governors mess
age and it provides that upon petition
boards of supervisors may outline con-
templated road improvements, receive
from competent 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 a vote of the
Taxpayers for approval or rejection.
Bonds are to be voted upon at the
same time and if the people so decree
the work of paving, graveling or
grading, which ever plan may be con-
templated, is to proceed. 1t is argued
that this plan leaves the matter Who'll
ly with the taxpayers of each county,
and if county decides that it wants
paved roads this proposed measure
will permit such an Improvement. A
subcommittee from both house and
senate is drafting the measure to be
presented and when it is ready it will
be introduced as a committee bill.
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 as was the case
two years ago.
To Enlarge the Scope of the Perkins
| lnfirmary
! One of the most beneficial pieces of
Legislation In recent years was the law
providing fora hospital atalowa~ City
to which crippled and deformed chill
dren could be sent for treatment at
state expense. Hon. Eli Perkins, of
Delhi, then representing Delaware and
Buchanan counties in the general as
semply, was the author Of the law, and
livery appropriately the infirmary at
Iowa City bears his name. 1t is now
proposed to enlarge the mission Of the
hospital so that adults, unable to pay
surgical fees, may have treatment at
the expense of the state. Hon. S. w.
Klaus of Earlville, Delaware county,
| is drafting bill to make the neces-
sary provision. He contemplates max
ing it possible for men who served
their country in the war with Germany
in case future affliction should require
surgical treatment, to obtain free SER
vice at this hospital. The success of
the institution has been even greater
than it's mondest supporters ever
dreamed. Senator Perkins died before
the hospital had the opportunity to
vindicate his wisdom in its establish
ment. Hundreds of unfortunate boys
and girls have been made whole by
the skillful operations performed by
the staff of surgical experts affiliated
with the medical department at Iowa's
great university
important Tax Bill
A bill of vital interest to every own
er Of mortgaged property was intro
duced in the senate Thursday by Sen
ator Kingland Of Winnebago county.
The bill repeals the present law re-
lating to assessment of property, and
provides that the property owner shall
pay taxes only to the extent of his
equity, the remainder of the taxes to
be paid by the holder of the mortgage.
If the owner of the property pays
the entire tax that portion belonging
to the mortgage holder shall be ap-
piled as payment on the mortgage.
Some Rejected Resolutions
A joint resolution introduced by
Hon. Frank B. Nebiker of Burlington,
endorsing the proposed League Of Ma
tions as understood in peace negotia-
tion circles. failed of passage by a
large majority. There was no particu-
lar opposition to the League OF Nations
but it was thought best to defer any
action that might be construed as die
tation to the president just at time
when he is concerned with great peace
problems in the presence OF some OF
the greatest diplomats Of the world.
Supreme Judges Want Non-Partisan
Law Maintained
Four members of the state supreme
court, headed by Chief Justice Ladd
appeared before joint meeting OF the
election committees of the house and
senate and made strong arguments
against a repeal Of the nonpartisan
Judiciary.
The bill under consideration pro-
vides for repeal Of the present law and
the nomination of judicial candidates
by partisan conventions.
All of the judges admitted that the
lpresent law had some minor faults and
were willing to see it improved If pos
sible. but asked that whatever was
done the nonpartisan feature be re-
ltained
To Quiet Land Titles
Quieting land titles is quite bust.
ness among lawyers and abstractors.
A cloud of very small proportions is
discovered hanging over piece of real
|estate and to make the little perfect
1.-THE case must be acted upon by a com