The Leon reporter., 1900-11-29
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL.
Des Moines. November 90. 1900.

LES S3NlOlu0S.t lNOVeWOorS 80, lSyU.
City Assessor French has notified
every cigarette dealer in the city that
they must appear at the office of the
county treasurer at once and pay the
quarterly assessment mulct tax
amounting to SIS each. This is done
consequent to the United States SUI
preme court decision a few days ago
lnValldating the original package law
which went into effect three years
ago. 1t is believed that dealers are
not only liable for the quarterly
assessment but can be held for the
mulct tax dating from the time the
original package law was sustained
by the federal court at Cedar Rapids
three years ago. Since that time
Iowa has collected no tax from Gig
arctic dealers who adhered to the
original package, assessments being
made against only those who did not
do SO.
Governor Shaw and Attorney Gen.
eral Remley both incline to the opin-
ION that the general assembly can
meet in regular session in 1902 and
again in 1908. Able lawyers of the
state are divided upon this question
many holding that under the Titus
amendme1 there would be no regu-
lar session until 1903 and a special
session would lave to be called in
1902 to provide for the state appro.
priations which expire at various
times during that year. The Titus
amendment does say that the
general ASSEMBLY shall meet in reg
ular session in 1908 and piennially
thereafter. The constitution of the
state provides, however, that the
legislature convene biennially and
that would bring the next regular
session in 1902. The attorney-gen-
eral, while he is not disposed to GO
on record on the question, vet ex-
presses himself strongly of the opin-
ion that the Titus amendment does
not affect the regular session in
1902, but that it does amend the con-
stltutlon in such way as to provide
Tor another regular session in 1908
and biennialiy thereafter. Governor
Shaw says the question of the effect
OF the Titus amendment on the meet
ing OF the general assembly was dis
cussed at length by the inwyers who
were members Of lne legislature and
they We're n unit in believing it pro-
vided for Il meeting of the general as
sembly in 1902 and for another in
| 1903. There was some talk of maxi
ing appropriations to provide for the
| state until 1903 and have no session
In 1909, but it was finally decided to
make the appropriation to continue
only until 1902 and not interfere with
| The regular meeu.ng of the assembly
in that year. The attorney general
says that if when the time comes a
difference of opinion still exists the
1 governor can, in order TO assure
safety for all concerned, issue
| proclamation for Il special session in
1902 to provide for state appropria-
| tions.
| Scott Slaughter was sent to iail for
twenty days by Judge Mcpherson of
the federal court for contempt. 1t
was said that he got drunk and re-
| turned to his home at Colfax. and
later had been arrested on the
charge of resisting an officer. The
officers say that John Cline of Col
fax who has held for illegal sales, is
suspected of consp1ring to get
Slaughter out of the way as a wit
ness against him in whisky case.
Joseph S. Trigg, editor of the Rock
ford Register, who is famous in Iowa
as an agriculturist writer and edi-
torlal philosopher, is announced as
candidate for secretary of TIE board
OF agriculture to succeed George FL.
! Van Houten. The state ag1.ieultural
convention will be held in Des Moines,
December 10, II, 12 and 13. This CON
vention elects the directors and the
directors elect the secretary.
The city's share of the mulct tax
on cigarettes, which is now uue from
every dealer in the city who has been
handling cigarettes since October 1
will amount to between $4,000 and
$4,000. The city receives one-half of
the tax collected. Tt is estimated
that 800 retail dealers in the city
have been handling scotfin nails" and
each one will be asked to pay the
quarterly SIS.
1t is announced by attorneys rep
resenting the saloon and anti-saloon
interests that mutual agreement
has been reached in the statement of
consent decision and appeal from the
board of supervisors, and the matter
will not come up until the January
term. This practically prevents
efforts toward closing the saloons
again until the middle of January,
when it is expected the case will be
Locketed. A representative of the
anti-saloon forces says, however, the
matter will be pushed with all vigor
at the January term.
w. B. Martin, secretary of state
elect, has decided to appoint ID. A.
Hites as his deputy. thus insuring
the retention of Mr.. Hites in the
Office he now holds under Secretary
Dobson. At the same time G. S. Gil
bertson, the treasurer of state elect,
announced the appointment of John
McQuiston of Des Moines, county
auditor of Polk county, as his dep
uty.
ENJOYS ARE NOT PLEASED.
Regard Chinese Punishment Edicis as
Insa tbs ia ctOry.