Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-11-01
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. October 20, 1900

The members of the board of cons
troll have returned to the city after
visit to all the state institutions in
northern Iowa. Judge Robinson and
John Cownie of the board left on the
| tour OF inspection October IL, and
later were Joined by Judge Kline
| The board expects in short time tc
formulate the rules governing county
| hospitals, it having inspected the diff
| ferent county institutions in the past
| several months.
| The typhoid fever epidemic at the
state hospital at Independence is
greater than has been generally
known. There have been over two
hundred cases since it recently broke
out there, and it has resulted in
twenty deaths. There is also great
deal of sickness at the Soldiers home
at Marshalltown. Over seventy in.
| mates of the home are now in the
hospital No epidemic prevails there,
but the general health is not good.
The supreme court handed down
an opinion in the Bonaparte dam case
adverse to the state. The supreme
court holds that when the state
transferred the Bonaparte dam by
grant 1T did not abrogate it's right
to exercise thereafter police
power; that no constitutional. right
Of defendant Byron F. Meek is in.
VOWED, and on every other point sus.
tains the contentious of the state
except that it is held the decision OF
a Justice of the peace to the effect
defendants had a contract right to
maintain the dam without a fishway
and. being unappealed from, the iudg.
meat is final, for there is no show.
ing that defendants have lost that
right since the formal trial, and upon
TINS single point the supreme cOurt'Y
decision against the state is based.
i. II. Skinner has been agreed upon
by State Treasurer Herriott and
Auditor Merriam as the expert to
examine the various offices. At the
last meeting of the executive council
the treasurer and auditor were nam
ed as committee to select some per-
son to make the examination. Their
selection is subject to the approval
of the council. If Mr.. Skinner makes
the examination he will be empower
ed to select his assistant, subject to
the councils approval. For some
days past w. S. Richards, pardon
clerk under Governor Shaw, has been
engaged in an examination of the
records and accounts in the office of
auditor Merriam. This examination
is entirely distinct from the one or
dered by the executive council. 1t
is within the power of the governor
to direct such examinations to be
made at any time.
Chairman Estabrook of the Mar
shall county republican committee,
Auditor Hargrave and Coroner Lierle
were in the city consulting with At
torney General Remley and Chairman
Weaver in regard to the attempt on
the part of the democrats to invali-
date the coming election in Marshall
county unless the name of the demo
cratic nominee for coroner is placed
upon the ticket. Attorney General
Remley looked the case over care
fully, and after thoroughly ,investi-
eating the subject, took the ground
that the republicans need not be
alarmed over the threats made. He
gave the 1OllOWlng OPINION:
"First-Under the showing there is
no vacancy in the office Of coroner
in Marshall county.
"Second--If there was a vacancy
and the auditor should refuse to place
the name of the democratic nominee
upon the ticket, the remedy would
be by mandamus proceedings.
"Third-.i the ticket goes ont
without the name of the democratic
nominee upon it, it is still valid
ticket. for the law does not contem
plate the disfranchisement of the
voters.
"Fourth-The right to challenge a
voter depends solely upon the quail
fications of the voter to vote, not on
what may or may not be on the bal.
lot"
The supreme court has affirmed the
decision of the lower court in the
Polk county court house controversy
The court holds that the county may
sell the old court house site and use
the proceeds thereof i'm the purchase
of new site and may use any avail
able money in the county treasury IT.
a like manner. The court holds that
the county cannot issue bonds for
the purchase of new site, but may
issue non-negotiable warrants for
the purpose and may levy tax run
ming over term of years for tho re-
demption of these warrants. This
permits the county board to buy a
new site. which it is trying to do.
UGER's STAY IN EUROPE.