Decorah public opinion., 1923-01-31
OUR LAW MAKERS
AT DES MONIES:
Putting the Election of County sup
erintendents of Schools Back
to the Voters Being
Considered.
GASOLINE TAX
BEING CONSIDERED
Amendment to the Constitution Pro-
posed so That Women May
Become Members of the
Legislature.

much VIII De fequlTeu W P"s
greater proportion of the cost o.
keeping up highways it travels; the
car that remains in the garage Will
pay proportionately less.
In the way of indirect taxes the
receipts from which will go into
the general state revenues, the most
likely is state tax upon amusement
tickets. There is much legislative
sentiment in favor of that expedient.
Parenthetically it may be remarked
while we are writing about amuse-
ments, that there has been introduced
in the house by Rep. Gallagher OF
Iowa county, very drastic moving
picture censorship bill. That Dill IS
now supposed to be 4 buried In an
unfavorable house subcommittee. But
if il ever gets out on the floor o.
the house, it is quite likely to be
passed, as similar bill was passed
by the house last session, which died
later in senate sitting committee.
The lawmakers up to now have
evidenced no wild tax enthusiasm
over the tax administration plan to
be proposed, which would involve
elimination of the township assess
ors, the appointment of county as
SCISSORS, and the creation OF new
state board of assessment and re-
view. The legislative feeling toward
this idea is not yet definitely inimi-
cal, but it is at least somewhat colo
and "a little suspicious. Already there
has been much protest against the
propo sal. Township assessors in ali
parts of Iowa have sent in petitions
against it, bearing MANY names.
In recent months it has been Of
ten stated, in articles about Iowa
taxation, that ten cents out OF every
dollar of tax money collected goes
toward state administration, the re-
mainder being consumed in local acti-
vities, county, city, township and
school. Some figures just prepared
BY State Auditor Haynes, in res
ponse to an inquiry by Senator Hol-
doegel of Calhoun, show that this
comparison should be revised to
eight-cents- on n-the-dollar, by reason
of the fact that about one-fifth of the
money coming into the state trea-
sury, is paid back to the counties and
school districts in the shape of state
aid.
State aid during the last biennium
amounted TO S1,265,067 according to
the auditors report. Of this total,
normal training high school got the
most-$330,072-and consolidated
schools were next, receiving $685.
997. State aid to agricultural soc
ieties amount to $272,542; standard
rural schools were helped to the
amount of $191, $50; mining camp
schools received $90,732; vocational
education aid totalled S44,113, and
smaller amounts were paid out by
the state for instruction of the deaf,
farmers Institutes, poultry asSocia'
tionS, normal institutes and vocational
rehabilitation.
1t would perhaps be well for Iowa
if every taxpayer got clearly in his
head, the fact that so little Of his tax
dollar goes to the state. Even mos,
radical program Of economy by this
legislature, as to state approprla-
tions, could not have an appreciablt
effect on the whole tax bill. 1t is il
local taxing districts that the bull
of the money must be saved, if take!
are to be materially reduced.
Probably the first important legis
lative question that will be settled, 1!
the resolution proposing to amen'
the constitution so that women ma!
become members of the Legislature
That resolution already has passec
the house, and last week end it la.
: in senate judiciary committee Nc.
, of which Senator J. l.. Brookfart i
chairman. Brookhart was minded t
D make it the first order of bushes
!. for that committee after Wednes
|. day, when, by Senate rule, the up
: per house will from code revisio
; and begin work on general legisla
;, ton. 1t will pass the senate pro
!. baby unanimously.
+ Constitutional amendments mus
: be approved by two successive legiS
;. latures, and then be voted on by tn
' people. This question, therefor
!, could not be submitted to populs
: vote before the spring of 1925, an
4, it might not be submitted before tn
/ primary or general election, in Jun
N or November, 1926. If there is
l. special election called prior to Jur
1870, WOiiltl COulti pc t'eiii,hNt<NeNo' e'i
If qualify for seats in the Forty -Secon
e general assembly, which will COZ
,e vene in January, 1927.
RI Little legislation has been con
t. pleted by both houses up to tn
"a time. Only two items of gener
d, legislation has been passed by bot
house and senate up to Saturds
" last. The first bin to go to IL
" governor was one introduced by Re
rs Bradley of Poweshiek, permittir
to municipalities to issue fve-year pal
IN bonds. The lower limit heretofo
TX has been fifteen years. The secor
n of the assembly's enactments was
ne bill 10 appropriate $4,000 for a
id use Of the state bonus board. Th
sc was emergency appropriation, wit
id out which the bonus board could n
X, have continued in operation.
In the house there have been u
IN fights over proposed school legisl
tin, and neither Of these had be
wholly finished last week end. M
tions 10 reconsider We're pending
both. The first concerned the els
Ition of county superintendentS