Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11
CHURCH AND OTHER PROPERTY.
Provision Should Be Made for Certain
Contingencies.

Provision Should Be Made for Certain
Contingencies.
1.-THE code Of 1897 contains provi-
sions for the creation of corporations
for the establishment of churches, col
leges. libraries, and fraternal societies,
and for many other charitable. scien-
tif1c, political, athletic. military, and
religious purposes, which, according to
the language of the statute may take,
by gift, purchase, devise, or beQuest,
real and personal property for pur-
poses appropriate to their creation
There is, however, no statutory pro-
vision for mortgaging or exchanging
the property thus acquired. While
these associations are not formed for
the purpose of buying and selling
property, yet common experience. l
think, justifies the recommendation
that provision should be made for
alternating or incumbering such proper
ty, as the demands or wishes of such
societies may dictate. This may be in
Guided in the implied powers OF cor
porations generally, but not more so in
this class than in those organized for
purposes of pecuniary profit; and, as
authority to dispose Of property is ex-
pressly given the latter, all doubt
would be removed if the same prerog-
alive were extended to these none the
less important organizations.
Notaries Public.
"The statute now allows notary
public to officiate in any county ad.
joining that of his residence, after hav-
ing first fled with the clerk of the dis
trict court of such county a copy OF
the certificate of his appointment.
think the law should be SO amended
as to require a record of this extended
official authority to be made in the of
flee that issued the original, and re-
spectfully suggest the propriety of hav-
ing the certificate authorizing official
acts in this enlarged territory to be 1s-
sued from the Office of the secretary OF
state, instead of, as at present, by the
clerk of the district court. By this
means only can the extent of author.
ity of all notaries public be promptly
Investigated and determined. The
term of office of all notaries public is
made to expire on single date.
Would it not be well to graduate the
fee charged for commissions, so as to
allow those who have only limited
period to serve. to pay somewhat less
than those for the full term?
Commissioners In Foreign Countries.
"Chapter II of title III authorizes
the governor to appoint commissioners
in other states empowered to admin
lister oaths, take dispositions. certify
atfidavits, and take acknowledgements
or proof of deeds and other instru-
ments for use or record in this state.
Some of the other states of the Union
have made provision for the appoint
nent of such commissioners resident
in foreign countries. At present such
papers may be executed before any
diplomatic representative of the Unit
ed States. who is authorized to issue
certificates under the, seal Of the Unit
ed States. 1t has been suggested that,
in many instances, it would facilitate
business transactions to have such
commissioners appointed for the state
of Iowa. resident in foreign countries
and in the distant possessions of the
United States. and submit to the gem
eral assembly the wisdom of making
provision therefor
Constitutional Convention.
SIN accordance with the require
ments of section 3 of article 10 of the
constitution of Iowa, the question of
holding convention for the purpose
Of revising the fundamental law of the
state will be submitted to the electo-
rate at the next general election. 1t
will, therefore. be incumbent on the
present general assembly to make pro-
vision for canyassing the vote on that
proposition.
I'm the confidence that the Twenty
eighth general assembly will sustain
the reputation enjoyed by it's prede-
cessors and as justified by the legisla-
tive history of Iowa. the foregoing OBJ
servations are respectfully submitted.
LESLIE M. SHAW"