Mr. Carter, from the committee on Municipal Corporations, submitted the following report: MR. SPEAKER-Your committee on Municipal Corporations, to whom was referred Senate file No. 173, a bill for an act to amend section seven hundred and four (704) of the code, relating to the general powers of cities and towns, beg leave to report that they have had the same under consideration and have instructed me to report the same back to the House with the recommendation that the same do pass. C. W. CARTER, Chairman. Ordered passed on file. The Speaker announced that he had signed the following pills in the presence of the House: House files Nos. 42 and 48. MESSAGES FROM THE SENATE. The following messages were received from the Senate: MR. SPEAKER-I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Senate has passed the following concurrent resolution in which the concurrence of the House is asked: Concurrent resolution relative to rooms to be occupied by the custodian, horticultural department and board of health. Also: GEO. A. NEWMAN, Secretary. MR. SPEAKER-I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Senate has reconsidered the vote by which the House concurrent resolution passed relative to final adjournment, and has laid the same upon the table. GEO. A. NEWMAN, Secretary. Also: MR. SPEAKER-I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Senate has passed the following substitute in which the concurrence of the House is asked: Substitute for House file No. 54, a bill for an act to amend section 732 of the code, relating to levying taxes for library purposes. GEO. A. NEWMAN, Secretary. Mr. Head called up the resolution laid over under Rule 34, relative to state officers holding official positions in building and loan associations, and asked that the same be read. The resolution was read. Mr. Head moved the adoption of the resolution. Mr. Eaton offered the following amendment to the resolution, and moved its adoption: I move to amend the second preamble to the resolution by striking out the words "such concerns," in the second line, and inserting the words "building and loan companies." The amendment was adopted by unanimous consent. Mr. Byers presented the following letter from Hon. John Herriott, treasurer of state, and asked that it be read. The letter was read by the clerk. DES MOINES, February 27, 1900. Hon. W. H. Byers, House of Representatives: MY DEAR MR. BYERS-It has been reported to me that there will be some disposition on the part of friends to attempt to table or suppress the resolution introduced in the House yesterday afternoon by the Hon. Mahlon Head, calling for an investigation of the executive officers of the state in their connection with sundry building and loan and insurance corporations. So far as I am concerned, I wish you would state on the open floor of the House that I desire the resolution to pass. I do not wish it to be understood that I oppose in any manner whatsoever an investigation of any and all my official acts as treasurer of state or as member of the executive council, or my connection with any corporation within the jurisdiction of the state of Iowa. You will do me a favor by urging the passage of the resolution. Respectfully yours, JOHN HERRIOTT. The motion of Mr. Head prevailed and the resolution was adopted. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS. By Mr. Gibson, House file No. 327, a bill for an act to amend section 1998 of the code relating to condemnation of additional grounds for railway companies. Read first and second time and referred to committee on Railroads and Commerce. By Mr. Edwards, House file No. 328, a bill for an act to amend section 373 of the code relating to commissions of notaries public. Read first and second time and referred to committee on Judiciary. By Mr. Hilsinger, House file No. 329, a bill for an act to prevent double taxation of real estate, and to provide for taxing mortgages in the county where the real estate is situated. Read first and second time and referred to committee on Ways and Means. Mr. Clarke of Dallas county offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: WHEREAS, Certain schools of Dallas county have arranged to visit the legislature on Friday, March 2, 1900, therefore be it Resolved, That this House hold a session on that day at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The motion prevailed and the resolution was adopted. Mr. McCurdy offered the following concurrent resolution which was laid over under Rule 34: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION—BY M'CURDY, BY REQUEST. WHEREAS, The State printer and binder now have in process of printing and binding the report of the board of control of state institutions, and WHEREAS, Said report has incorporated with and as a part of same, the reports as made by the chief executive officer of each of the state institutions under control of said board, and WHEREAS, For the sake of economy and convenience of distribution of said reports by said institutions where the entire report of the board would not be required, it is desirable that such reports of each of such institutions be printed and bound in paper covers, separate from the other reports; therefore, be it Resolved, That in addition to the reports of the board of control already ordered to be printed and bound, there shall be printed on the type as printed in the report of the board, and bound in paper covers, the number of copies for each of the institutions as named and designated in the following table, to wit: 300 500 300 Industrial school for girls, Mitchellville.. The above copies when so printed and bound, shall be delivered to the board of control for distribution, and the expense therefor paid out of any funds in the hands of the state treasurer not otherwise appropriated. SENATE MESSAGES CONSIDERED. Senate concurrent resolution relative to removal of the custodian's rooms and the occupancy of present quarters by the horticultural society, was taken up. There being objection to consideration of the resolution at this time, the same was laid over under Rule 34. SPECIAL ORDER. House file No 88, a bill for an act to abolish the offices of State printer and State binder, and to provide for the state printing and binding by the competitive contract system; to repeal sections 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 138, 139, 141, 143, 144, and to amend sections 124, 127, 129, 130, 133 and 135 of the code, relating to State printer and binder, with report of committee recommending amendments and passage, was taken up, considered, and on motion of Mr. Clarke of Dallas, the report of the committee adopted. Mr. Clarke offered the following amendments: MR. SPEAKER-I move that House file No. 88 be amended by inserting after section 6 the following as 6 thereof: "The executive council shall select an expert printer and binder, or an expert printer and an expert binder, whose duty it shall be to assist said council and the board of control in the measuring and examination of all printing and binding done for the state for the purpose of ascertaining the amount thereof and whether the same in all respects complies with the contract upon which the same was done, and when it is so determined by said expert and said council or board that there has been a strict compliance with the contract, the work shall be paid for as herein before provided. Said experts shall be paid for their time actually employed, four dollars per day. The compensation of each, however, in no event to exceed one hundred dollars per year. Mr. Clarke moved the adoption of the following amendments recommended by the committee, including, also, the amendment just offered: First.-By striking from section three (3) thereof all after the word "bidding," in the fourth line thereof, to the word "and," in the sixth line and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "And contract for the same in the same manner as is hereinafter provided for the executive council." Second.-By inserting after the word "reserved," in the seventeenth line of section four (4), the following: "That each bid must be accompanied by an affidavit of the bidder that he has not at any time entered into any combination or agreement with any other bidder or bidders as to rates, prices or compensation for the work bid upon, or like work, that he has no knowledge of the amount of any other bid; that he has not conferred with any other bidder as to bidding or the amount of bids." Third.-By adding to section six (6) the following: "Or prevent the board of control or executive council from securing bids on printing or binding without the publication of the notice herein provided for, in cases in which in their judgment the amount of work to be done is insufficient to warrant the expense thereof, but such notice may be given in such manner in that event as they may deem expedient." The motion prevailed and the amendments were adopted. Mr. Nicolaus offered the following amendment to the bill: I move to strike out section 7, and that the following be substituted in lieu thereof: Sec. 7. All printing and binding under the provisions of this act shall be performed in the state of Iowa and in offices paying the union scale of wages. I second the motion. H. E. NICOLAUS. LOUIS M. JAEGER. By unanimous consent of the House the amendment was adopted. The Speaker extended the congratulations of the House to Mr. Conley upon the happy event of his marriage. Mr. Conley responded, thanking the Speaker and the House for courtesies extended. Mr. Ayers moved to adjourn until 2 P. M. Mr. Hawk moved to amend, making the hour 9 A. M. Thursday. The amendment was lost. The motion of Mr. Ayers prevailed, and the House adjourned until 2 P. M. AFTERNOON SESSION. The House reconvened at 2 P. M., pursuant to adjournment, with Speaker Bowen in the chair. BUSINESS PENDING. House file No. 88, a bill for an act to abolish the offices of State printer and State binder, and to provide for the state printing and binding by the competitive contract system; to |