Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-08-18
COLLATERAL INHERITANCE
The Amended Tax Law Will Yield
the State of Iowa Large
Sum of Money.
DESIRE TO COMPLY WITH THE MEASURE
A Contention That Interests school
Observation-Disclosures to n Congress
of Races-The New Bankruptcy
Law Has Few Petitioners, Which
Causes Some Surprise.
Ispecial correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, Aug. 15.-It is esti-
mated that the amended collateral in
heritance tax law will yield the state
a very large sum of money during this
and next year, the sum expected to be
realized in this county alone amount
ing to $4,000, though this figure in
cludes practically two years proceeds
of the tax, as the law as first passed
was held to be invalid and found inn
i practicable, very few collections be-
ing made under it. The amendments
made the trustees, guardians or adj
illustrators personally responsible
for the amount of the tax, and as most
men holding such positions are respon-
sible for considerable amounts they
are manifesting a desire to comply
strictly with the law as now amended
in order to avoid shouldering penal
ties themselves. In the two years the
law has been upon the statute books
200 estates have been submitted for
probate in this county, out of which
about 80 came within the provisions
of the act.
| ~ DS As&AAAASu'
During September appraisers will be
appointed for all the counties of the
state to value property subject to the
tax, whose duty it will be to report
their findings to the county clerks,
who will enter them in the "Collat eral
Inheritance Tax and Lien Book" and
report the amounts to the state treas
urer. The work of manufac turing
these books is now in progress here.
They will be ruled so that there will
be columns as follows:
For the name, place and death of de-
cedent.
Whether the decedent died testate or in
testate, and If testate the record and page
where the will was probated and recorded.
The names and post office addresses Of
the executor, administrator, trustee or
grantee, with date of appointment and
transfer.
The names, post office addresses and re-
lationship, If known, of all the heirs, de-
visees and grantees.
The appraised valuation of the per-
sonal property.
The amount of inheritance tax due on
said personal property.
date.
Date Of filing objections and names of
directors.
Blank for index and references to all pro-
ceedings, and for memorandum entries OF
the court or judge in relation thereto.
By this book complete record of all
such estate will be kept, and the clerk
is compelled by law to report at the
opening of each term of court to the
presiding Judge the number of estates
and the amount of collateral inner
itance tax due the state.
Sweeping Provisions.
The provisions of the law with ref
erence to obtaining knowledge of
property subject to the tax are sweep.
ing, it being provided that in addition
to the county attorneys, clerks and
assessors, any citizen knowing of prop
erty subject to the tax must report the
fact to the proper authorities, when it
becomes the duty of the county attor-
ney to fully investigate the matter and
report his findings in writing to the
county clerk. The tax becomes lien
on the property. Another provision
Of the law is that trust companies and
safety deposit companies which hold
securities belonging to an estate, be-
fore surrendering papers in their pos
session, must serve at least five days
notice upon the state treasurer of the
intention of the relatives to draw out
the papers. Failure to do so makes the
corporation liable for the tax
The state treasurer has collateral
inheritance tax reports from about 50
of the 90 counties of the state, but as
yet it is impossible to form an esti-
mate of the total amount that will be
realized by the state from this source.
Blow at the Normal School.
The contention between County Su-
perintendent Brenton, of this county,
and President Seerley, of the state
normal school at Cedar Falls, is inter
esting school-teachers and their
friends throughout the state. 1t has
been announced by the county super
intendent that all teachers who do not
hold state certificates or diplomas not
expiring till 1899 will be required to
take an examination in this county
this year before they will be permit
ted to teach. Mr.. Brenton is willing
to accept their grades over 80 on state
| HOTIndl ScHOOl ulpdOHlds, Dut says tudI
examinations must be taken on all
branches below 90. Beside these, teach
ers must pass examina tons in algebra
and physics, which have been added to
the curriculum. Holders of second
class certificates will have to write the
grades in history and geography, as
we'll as all the branches in which they
stand below the required 90. The coun-
ty superintendent seems to have the
''whip hand" since the law gave him ex-
elusive power in prescribing the con-
ditions under which instructors may
teach in this county.
Fear Untold Injury.
1t is feared by the officers Of the
state normal school that the action of
Polk county's superintendent will
work untold injury to the school in
case other county superintendent fol-
ow his action and take the same stand
n the matter, refusing to recognize
he diplomas of the school as sufficient