The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-27
NOTES FROM The CAPITAL
Des Moines, September IS, 4 600.

NOTES FROM The CAPITAL
Des Moines, September 25. 1900.
The board Of control does not pro-
pose to leave any stone unturned to
get to the bottom of the recent Mt.
Pleasant disclosures, which resulted
in the arrest of John w. Stone, SUI
perintendent of the industrial de-s
partment Of the hospital for the in
sane. The examination Of witnesses
Of Mt. Pleasant will begin shortly.
The plans for the investigation there
have not been matured fully. 1t is
expected one member of the board
Will go to Mt. Pleasant and examine
al employees and others that have
any means OF acquaintance with the
wars Y Z, OF the hospital. Judge Robin
son will probably take charge Of the
IN estigation, although this is not
fully decided and circumstances NAV
make some other arrangement nee
essary. The board has completed the
examination of John j. Hamilton of
the Daily News. AS in the case of
Ell Hardin and Tony Valid, the testi-
mony was made a matter Of record.
Inc board will not divulge this tes-4
tlmony for the present, but will make
It public when the investigation is
completed.
Judge Robinson. has returned from
q visit to Independence, where he in
vestigated the facts as to the typhoid
fever epidemic at the hospital. In
the past six weeks the total number
OF cases among the patients and en-
ployes was 105, and there were eight
deaths. The patients had been drink
ing city water, the same as the peo-
pie of Independence, who have not
been afflicted. The cause of the dis
ease was found to be large tank
in the attic of the hospital. This
tank had been opened, and it was
sound to be in a filthy condition, and
to contain typhus germs. It has been
cleansed thoroughly, and the fever
is now on the wane. All the cases
are Commissioning.
Cards of instruction for the coming
election are being sent out to the
county auditors from the office of
the secretary of state. These cards
are prepared by the attorney gen
seral, and are modified from the usual
instructions, SO as to conform to the
changes in the election laws made
by the Iwenty-eighth general assem-
bly,. Attention is called to the fact
that for voting upon a constitutional
amendment, or other public meas,
ure, separate ballot of yellow col
ored paper is used. The yellow bal.
lot this year contains two PROPOSE.
tions. One is, "Shall there be con-
vention to revise the constitution and
amend the same ?" The other is a
proposition to amend the constitu-
ton so as to provide for biennial cleo
tions. The instructions are varied
to accord with the measure of the
last general assembly in regard to
the necessary marking of cross in
square below a marked circle which
does not alfect the validity of the
vote.
The annual report from the hospi-
tai at Independence for the year end
ing June so has been submitted to,
the board of control. 1t shows that
June 30, 1899, there were 6O7 male in
mates, and 443 females, or a total of
l,05O. There We're in the year 21S men
discharged, and 100 women, while 215
men and 1872 women were admitted.
rms leaves as the population of the
institution June 30, 1000, 6O4 men and
435 women, or 1,039 as being the tota,
inmates.
The articles of incorporation of the
Southwestern Railway Company have
been received at the secretary of
states office. The articles provide for
the organization of a railway com
pany and construction OF line
from Pella to Howell, a distance Of
about eighty miles. The line will con-
meet the Wabash at Pella and the
Keokuk and Des Moines division Of
the Rock Island at Howell. The com
pany is to be capitalized at 100000.
The state horticultural society is
being furnished with collection Of
the flora of the state. The plants are
being donated by Professor Pammel
of the botanical department. of the
state agricultural college at Ames.
and mounted by him, the state HAVING
TO pay for the paper and materials.
used in mounting only. Over 200
specimens have already reached the
office of Secretary Wesley. Green,
Heretofore the state has had no col.
lection of the state flora. Professor
Pammell has also provided a number
OF specimens showing fungus dis
eases of fruits. Another collection
that is being made up in this depart
ment is that of the fruits, Of Iowa
preserved in acids.
ENGLISH LEADERS SPEAK
The queens government should be
supported by a strong parliamentary
majority as the only means of con