Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-23
A SENSE OF FAIRNESS.
[Iowa City Republican,

The Marshalltown Times Republican,
is inclined to the opinion that the last
general assembly erred in placing 525 per
cent Of the actual value of AUDITING
property as the limit for assessment on
that property to pay Tor a street inl-
provement. 1t says: An assessment
up to that amount would be ma nifestly
unfair. Suppose a citizen has modest
little home on a street to be paved,
worth, say $1,000. II would be mani
testify unfair to take oile-fourth of ii
for street improvements, chiefly for / he
use OF the public. 10 levy upon his
home for $3.50 would be practical confis-.
cation. No principle OF equity would
warrant It. The interests Of such small
property owners, however, rest with the
sense of fairness which the commission
to be created by the council must exer-
else in order to avoid injus tice and liti-i
cation. With a just exercise of this
power street paving should be resumed
in many places in Iowa this year
Experience in Iowa has shown that
municipal governments in this state
have no sense Of fairness when 1t comes
toaleyying taxes. or special assessments
on private property for public Inn
Iprovements. They go to the limit every
time and then lobby the legislature to
raise the limit. Thetefore Justice basedj
on the fairness of the municipal govern
ment is bound to have a hard time of
1T. Under the old Law there was no In
hibltion on city councils against being.
just, but the majority of them in levy
ing assessments for brick paving acted
as tho there were.
Wesventure that II there Is any brick
paving done in Iowa this year 1t Will be
found that assessments according TO the
front feet affected Will fall within the ~
per cent limit. The new law is a scheme
TO conform Technically with the supreme
courts decision that assessments on
private property for public improve
ments must be In proportion to the ben-
ietits. while giving the city council prac-
itically unlimited power us under the old
law. q,
THAT sANTI-cANTEEN CLAUSE.
TSloux City Journa!.l
One Of the Des Moines Capitals SUBJ
iscribers has called down" that paper
Tor stating that there was any ambig,,-
ity In the so-calied antl-canteen clause
lof the army bill passed by the fifty-tifth
congress, and the Capital after looking
up the law, is inclined tosagree With Its
critic. a careful analysis OF the clause
in question will disclose the fact that
Attorney General Griggs did have some
warrant for his Interpretation of it as
requiring only the substitution of civil
for military bar-tenders In the canteen
and prohibiting the gale of liquor out
side the anteen. The anti-canteen
clause is>found In section II OF IAN act
for increasing the efficiency Of the army
OF the United States and for other pur-
poses. II reads as follows:
Section II. That no officer or private
soldier shall be detailed to sell intoxi-
eating drinks as q bartender or o.her-
wise, in any post exchange or canteen.
nor shall any other person be required
or allowed to sell such liquor in any en-
Icampment or fort, or on any premises
used for military purposes by the United
States: and the secretary OF war Is
hereby directed to issue such general or
der as may be necessary to carry the
provisions of this section into full force
and effect
Now. 1t lis plain enough that the pur-
pose of the trainers Of this clause was tc
prohibit all sales OF liquor in United
states army posts and camps. The
question whether the language carries
out this intention is not such simple
one. AZ Attorney General Griggs con-
strued this section OF the army bill. the
only new regulation provided was that
mo officer OF. private soldier shalt be de-
tailed to sell Intoxicating drinks as q
bartender 9th erSise. In any post ex-
change or canteanss tsts not difficult
TO understand how the atsorney genera
came to this conclusion. Strictly con-
stFued the section provided Just two
things. One was that no officer or sol
der should be- detailed 70 not as har-
Etender IN any p6st exchange or canteen
| The other was that q sot here person be
lSrequired or allowed. to xell liquors cor
any premises used for military purposes
by the United States The latter regu.
lattoh was already IN eject. exception
lbeiny made e favor ofs the csnteen. Tit