Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-23

ing the verdict from the supreme
bench Both claim to be confident of
their position in the Interpretation Of
the legislatures meaning, and say they
are confident of receiving a favorable
opinion from the supreme court.
Should the opinion go against the, sa-
loon men the saloons in nearly every
town, city and county in the state
will have to close until a new petition
can be secured. On the other hand, if
the saloon men win the saloons will
continue to operate as before, and more
saloons will be established.
The law makes no provision for OBJ
tanning new petitions of consent. It'll
is thought the lack Of this petition will
bring about an amendment att
the present session, which will
require the saloons now in
operation to comply fully with
the law. In this event the saloon men
will lose regardless of the kind of de-
cision handed down. The league Of
fcers say that in case they receive
favorable decision they will Immediate
r. begin work against the saloon peo-
pie in their efforts to obtain new peti-
tions in all parts OF the state.
Back Salary for Byers.
1t is more than probable that bill
will be presented to the legislature,
in few days allowing General Byers
the salary of brigadier. The salary
of the adjutant general of Iowa is
$500. A short time before the Span
ish war broke out Adjutant .BMers be-
came adjutant general of the state of
Iowa, and. held this position during
the time Iowa troops were in the fed
eral employ. Every one who is IA
miliar with that period of Iowa his
tory knows that General Byers' posi-
tion was one of considerable difficulty.
The entire responsibility of mobiliza-
tion and organization of Iowa soldiers
fell on him. Besides these duties he
also had troubles not of military
kind. He was besau~ht daily with pos
litical influences concerning interests
of particular regiments and officers.
For manv months he was at his office
early and late and his services were
greatly appreciated by the members
of the guard. These gentlemen are
unanimously in favor of granting the
additional salary of brigadier general.
General Byers has not made this re-
quest and has not even limited that
it would be an appropriate thing to
do. Several of his friends. however,
hive taken it up, and it is altogether
probable will push it to success.
According to the Iowa precedent in
times OF war the adjutant general
should draw full pay of his rank in
actual service. The assimilated rank
of adjutant general is brigadier gem
eral, and the compensation is $4,000
annually.o There is no doubt that
General Byers is big loser on his
first term of Office on account of his
heavy expenses. He has even admit
ted this much. His friends in the
guard say they are eXerting their in.
fuence with the legislature to give him
the pay of his rank. Section g g, chapter
%, acts; of the Eighth general assem-
bly,, approved May 90, 1881, appro-
priated $500 annually for the salary
of ,adjutant general and quartermas-
ter general, the full pay of brigadier
general in actual service. General
Byers has filled both these offices at a
salary of $500 a year. Considering
the condition of the state now, as
compared with 1861, the friends Of
General Byers urge that the legislature
shall be as liberal as it was in the time
of the civil war.
Money for State Fair.
At the close of the state fair, last
August, the officers and directors
spent considerable time, when meet
| ing from day TO day about the. grounds
in the discussion of the advisability of
asking for larger appropriation this
year. 1t was pretty generally decided
that an appropriation would be asked,
but at the recent meeting Of the agri-
cultural society, where it would be
natural to suppose some such recon-
mendation would be made. the matter
was not referred to. 1t is still posi-
bic, however, that something would
be asked. 1t was decided by most of
the members who attended the recent
meeting that it would be useless to
ask for an appropriation in the face
of last summers success, and the pres
ent prosperous condition of the State
Fair association. Speaking OF. the
matter President johnson said: sI;
may ,e that there is no use in asking