Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-02-14

ough in years past 10 resist sue
cessfully every attempt to change its
method Of organization. Under the
plan which the committee is said 10
be considering the method OF selec-
ton of the fair board could be i'm
changed. Ii members could be elect
ed by the state agricultural con-
yention, just as they are selected
now. The board could run the fair
just as at present, except for the
fact that above the board, now the
ultimate authority, would be CON-
missioner to advise and perhaps vote.
Into such new department pro-
badly would be merged at least the
present Iowa commission on animal
health, the weather and crop SER
vice, and any plan TO aid farm mar
keting that i'm the future may De
devised. Animal health work Is grow
ing in importance. Nearly $500, 900
was appropriated for the fight
against animal tuberculosis during
the last two years, and for the next
two years more than twice as much
is asked.
Governor Kendall is completely
advised Of the progress of the COM
mittee, and it is perhaps worthy Of
note that his appointments to the
animal health commission, sent TO
the senate several weeks ago ard
turned down by that body, have not
been repeated. It Is the usual
practice, when the senate refuses TO
confirm an appointment, for the gov
ernor to send in another name with
in few days. Perhaps in this case
Mr.. Kendall thinks there is a chance
that there win be no separate animal
health commission much longer.
The semate passed bill last week
that may have real effect Ola the
Iowa tax situation. Senator Tuck
of Taylor was its author. 1. pro-
yided that counties must not spend
more money out of any couEty fund
than comes into that fund from tax
collections, except for the following
emergency purposes: To rebuild
structures destroyed by natural
causes, to build bridges necessary to
drainage projects, and to give hn-
ancial aid to persons legally entitled
to help from the county.
This measurs might cause eons:d-
cradle anguish in some or the more
populeus counties, but its more vide
spread effect would be 10 stop the
practice now said to be somewhat
common, Of spending without much
regard to county income, and bond
ing TO make up the deficits. That, at
least, is what it was aimed to stop.
Iowa laws now cite specifically
what funds may be LEVEL and they
also dictate maximum miieages, bey-
ond which leies cannot go. Many
counties do not find 1t difficult to live
within these limits. But as the
population increases, income does Tot
seem 10 mount quite so rapidly as
does expense. In counties wneye
there are large cities the demand
upon pauper care funds i relatively
greater, court expense per capita i
! likely to be heavier. In Polk the
general fund Is heavily overdrawn
the pauper fund is IN the red, and
the court expense fund is short
, many thousands. III seems Likely
If the Tuck bill becomes law, that
! the next legislature may be faced
! with the necessity Of establishing
4 perhaps a sliding scale of maximum
: county levies, in order to solve i'm
possible situations in some large
5 city counties.
Some of the bills of importance
e passed last week includes:
+ By the house: A bill by Rel'
Storey turning over permanently 2
: the state general fund the none,
! appropriated four years ago to buil'
c a state temple of justice. This bill
Y would wipe out the temple of Jus
y tice appropriation, and no sue
: building could be erected until fu
L ture legislature decreed new fum
+ The bill now goes to the senate.
: BY the house: A bill by Rel
Berry providing that county super
'e intendents Of schools shall be electe
e by the people instead Of being az
"a pointed by presidents of distrd'
>. school boards. The bill now goes
AZ the senate.
e By the house: A bill written by IN
" code commission, which would perm
y district judges to appoint concilI
p tors TO arbitrate between prospecti'
lltigants IN law eases involving lei
n than $500. TIE coneiliators wou
v serve without pay, II they failed
lr cause agreements, the eases wou'
y 90 TO trial. The bin now goes
y the senate,
te By the senate, The Graham-iIaul
e resolution, already through y
~ T. W. NAN "a