Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-02-09
MANCHESTER, IOWA, FEBRUARY 9, 1921.

that there is some real work about
this legislative business, and they
are not a bit enthusiastic about the
promise Of six months steady Of it
before the code revision is finally
made.
The longest and hottest fight of the
session developed last Wednesday
over the Whitmore bill providing
that "as to school bonds heretofore
voted and not yet issued and as to
such school bonds as may be. voted
hereafter and prior to January l, 1928,
same may bear rate of interest not
exceeding six per cent per annum." !"
From 1O:30 wednesday forenoon un-
til 400 p. m. the Senate session was
Intense and full Of ginger. Senators
Smith of Madison county. Price Of
Monroe, Meredith Of Jasper, Brook
hart of Washington and Buser OF Mus
catine, all took raps at the PROPOSE
tion and with amendments Of all
kinds sought to change or remedy the
proposed measure according to their
views. With a solid front the advo-
Gates Of the Whitmore measure voted
down all amendments and carried the
bill over by vote Of 80 to II. II
the bill passes the house it will map
way out for many school districts
with buildings and building projects
on hand that are worrying them be-
cause of the inability to float their
bonds at the fixed rate of five per
cent
Heckling the Highway Commission
wednesday was also field day for
those who think they have a bone
to pick with the state highway COM
mission. The highways committees
Of both houses met in joint session
and heard the reports and explana-
tions Of the highway commissioners,
and especially did they question
Chief Engineer Fred White regarding
the acts and projects Of the highway
commission in various parts OF the
state. They probed the cost OF oper-
ations generally, Of the office force
and engineers, of the cost of, surveys
and field work, and the finances OF
the commission. The commissioners
and the chief engineer met all these
attacks squarely and invited questions
regarding their work. There has
been a sort OF feeling since the hear
ing that the attacks on the commits
sion did not develop very much, al
though those who demand a change
Of the whole highway policy and the
abolition of the commission will still
be heard from, it is said.
Bonus Bills Presented.
The House has passed numerous
bills Of lesser Importance, during the
week, and committees are working
on some Of the big propositions.
Representative Yenter on Tuesday
presented the big bill OF the session,
House File No. 401, a bill for an act
making provision for issuing bonds
to the amount of $22,QQ0.00O for the
payment of a bonus ITO persons VINO
entered and served in the military
or naval service OF the United States
at any time between April 8, 1917,
and November II, 1918, or their legal
representatives providing for board
to supervise and make such payment,
providing for a disability fund.- etc.
It is commonly understood that this
bill if passed will mean. that the peo-
ple Of the state will have to vote on
the proposition of issuing such bonds
at the next general election, and that
therefore the proposed bonus will not
be available until after such vote IS
carried. The bonus will amount to
fifty cents per day for each soldier In
such service.
A complication unlocked for has APP
peared since the bill was offered in
the shape Of a demand fromSthe boys
of the s. A. T. G. that they be granted
share in the bonus to be paid.
Appropriations Are Inspected
The big appropriation bills Of the
several state educational institutions
and the board OF control Of state in
stitutions are now being scanned by
sub-cbmmittees to ascertain where
and how these bills may be pared
down to meet existing conditions. 1t
is no small job. These bills involve
many millions of dollars for the next
two years in the state business. The
committees are stand
ing pat on desire to keep the tax
levy down to where it is, or at least
to very slight raise. The dividing
line between liberality and conserya-
tism is well defined at this session,
and nothing will get by that is not
essential and which in the nature OF
things cannot be well postponed. But
progress in the state will not be
barred nor curtailments of finances
made that will injure state institu-
tions, so members of the committees
say.
In this conenction the state fair
board is somewhat worried about the
appropriations necessary for the state
fair. At the last session S150,000 was
appropriated for the new cattle barns
at the fair grounds. The high prices
that have since prevailed ran the cost
to over 100000. The $65,000 OF state
fair money that was put into the
barns is now desired by the state
fair board so the board can go ahead
with some other improvements de-
manded by the dairy cattlemen ard
al ti,.,,. 1,has. Of q xhi ihitnrs.