Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-20
Error in the Titus Amendment
Still the Talk Of All
Iowa.
oTHERQUEsTIoNsRAIsED
attorney General Submits a Quick
Way to Arrive at solution--Is Not
Certain That the Constitutional
Convention Proposition Carried.

Des Moines, Nov. 16.--Somes idea OF
the tremendous Importance that at
taches to the discovery of the error in
the Titus amendment, may be gained
by inquiry into the number of officers
affected. 1t is computed that it, the
newly elected officers and those now
in Office, whose terms may be changed
by the mistake in the measure, are tax
en- into consideration, it will be found
from $4,000 to 10000 persons are per.
sonally concerned. And this does not
include an indeterminate list OF bonds
men and Of employees in offices, who
are necessarily on needles and pins as
to the correct Interpretation of the BIZ.
ennial election law.
Has Quieting Effect.
To some extent, the rendering of an
opinion by Attorney General Remley
has had quieting effect. However,
inquiries still continue to come in from
county and township officers, and
there is much visible agitation among
the officers and employees at the state
house. 1t is understood that in some
of the counties old officers have de.
clared their intention of putting the
amendment to the test in the courts.
It is generally believed efforts will be
made in some instances by officers
now incumbent, to continue in office
after the first Monday in January.
These reports tend to deepen the ex-
listing impression that supreme court
decision alone will suffice to end the
controversy.
Some Claims.
One of the most disconcertins
claims, so far as the newly elected Of
ficers are concerned, is that if the old
officers remain in Office another year,
they will have to remain two years.
The view taken by many is that if the
officers elected November 6, do not
qualify at the usual time, they cannot
qualify at all.
The Possible Remedies.
The. methods of arriving at speedy
conclusion of the matter by supreme
court decision are being discussed. At
torney General Remley talked over the
possible steps to such a decision at
length yesterday. Tho he believed
several methods might be tried, yet he
considered but two as being available.
One he said, was to begin quo warran-
to proceedings in case in which the
parties were agreed in some district
court in the state, to secure a ruling as
soon as one could be had after. ,Janu.
airy and then appeal to, the supreme
Z court, and have the case advanced and
submitted as quickly as possible.
Attorney General Remley suggested
that probably the quickest method of
arriving at a supreme court decision
would be for him to appear before the
supreme court at the January term and
take up case as attorney general for
the state Of Iowa. Then Senator Null.
Ian could step in and enter motion
that the court remove Mr.. Remley as
attorney general and instruct the clerk
sof the court to make up the record
with the name of Mullan in the place
of Remley. This would call for an i'm.
mediate ruling. But Attorney Gener.
al Remley says he does not like the
idea of making state spectacle of
himself in this manner, and of holding
/. the Office some weeks without compen.
sation.
Next Meeting Of General Assembly.
The old question Of whether the gen.