Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-29

at5Et LIN " j. - ~ M w IA y
view; their collection is expensive,
and they are nuisance to everybody
concerned. They should be removed
first and then if there is a POSSIBLE
ity of removing others the question of
sliding scale for beer might be CIV
en- consideration.
Would Be Plain Thievery.-The ac-
ton of Sioux county officials in refus-
ing to give up their Offices because OF
the technicality in the Titus amend
ment, reprehensible as it may seem,
will at least serve useful purpose as
test case. The contest thus precipi-
tated will bring the whole question be.
fore the courts and it is hoped that the
| litigation will be short and judicial de-
crees speedily forthcoming.
However useful as it may be the ac-
ton is despicable to an extreme. 1t is
"a deliberate attempt to take that which
does not belong to them. At one time
-ey were chosen by the people to per-
form certain public duties. They
served their terms and the people have
elected others to continue their duties.
All public business belongs to the peo-
pie and the people are rightly entitled
to the privilege of selecting their pub.
lie officers. Having zone SO in this
case, q fact of which there is no ques.
ton, it is dishonorable, dishonest and
a low-down trick for any man to take
advantage of technicaiity to hold on
| to an Office to which he has no moral
right. 1t is nothing more nor less
than thievery. The public could think
no less of man who would steal the
family cow the first time he saw the
barn door left unlocked.
Men who are reluctant to give up the
emoluments of county office and are
tempted to take advantage of the tech
meal error in the new amendment
should remember that the eyes of the
public are upon them. To yield to the
temptation, they know, would kill them
polClcally, but some reason with them
selves that they have had about all
they will get out of the party and one
year in office sure is worth many in
prospect, but let these men remember
that to steal that Office for one year
brands them as thief and coward.
The brand will follow them into any
business they may take up afterward,
be it profession, the selling of gro
ceries or hardware. The people of
that county will remember the kind of
trick they played and will forever dis.
trust them. 1t will be the duty of the
press to point out to the people the
men who stole one years Office and the
salary thereto pertaining; in fact, the
transgressionl of the plain moral law in
so public manner will forever harass
the man who committed it. Whether
the error in the Titus amendment will
Ilegalize such theft or not, the ques-
4 ton now being not at all certain, the
plain duty of every such official is to
resign and resign gracefully. Where
i appointments are necessary the duty
of appointing bodies is equally as plain
to appoint the men duly elected at the
polls. No one questions but what a
mistake was made in the wording OF
the amendment. The intent of the
law is plain from it's context and where
there is no question as to the intent of
! the people every public official is dere.
4 lict in duty who neglects to carry out
the expressed will of the people.-Mar-
shalltown Times-Republican.
Guess It's True.-When the legisla-
4 ture assemblies WapeIo county is
4 likely to call the attention of the
4 statesmen to the fact that Des Moines
4 county, with, a population but little
larger and not increasing SO rapidly,
has two representatives while Wap.
clio is allowed but one. The polite
ian who desires to lead a pleasant
4 life and die at green old age will
avoid the legislature for about Two
j sessions.-Ced Rapids Gazette.
4 We Would.-Ottumwa would like
4 very much to get on the 3'Muchy's
! branch Of the Northwestern. All the
towns of the state with hope for the
4 future are DESTROYS that some road
. passing thru Cedar Rapids will be ex
J. tended for their benefit. But the
Northwestern is believed to be look
there being a belief that it will try
Western.-Cedar Rapids Gazette.
What Will Ottumwa Do?-"When il
town on business the other day, State
Railroad Commissioners Welcome
Mowry and D. ]. Palmer told the writ
er that they were satisfied and had al
. LllooG EoolIlNC1 coSul cuCCo lhdI lLS iii
nois Central will build an extension
from Cedar Rapids into this territory
this summer to connect with the lowe
Central. This lends color to the rum
or that the Illinois Central has an in
terest in If it does not control the
Iowa Central. The Illinois Contra
has two routes in contemplation, one
; thru Washington to Coppock, and the
!. other down thru the country between
What Cheer and Montezuma to Oska
loosa. Mr.. Palmer lives at Washing
ton and he says the people there are
already at work to secure the road fol
that town and stand ready to vote {
; tax, for it's aid. What will Oskalooss
do ?"-Oskaloosa Herald.
A Tax That Is Not Tax.-There is
a duty of 10 cents per pound on tea il
the war revenue tax-law, and many
wonder why there seems not to be the
smallest demand for it's repeal
Graeme Stewart, of the republican
,, national committee, himself large
western tea merchant, declares thai
consumers ara content with the tay