Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-05
LOCAL COMMENT.

busheL AS some of the neighboring
states have raised an abundant crop,
the retail price for the winter will prob
ably be less than 81. Commandant Hor-
ton, of the Soldiers Home, Gays the
state board of control has been offered
all and more than the requirements OF
bushel.
City Clerk Shaws red-hot report to
the council concerning the collection OF
water rents ought to result In good.
Why shouldn't the city business be con-
Quoted on business principles? III a pri-
vate corporation had between $4,000 and
$4. 900 on its books. 1t would make haste
to collect the same and see TO 1t that
patrons either paid for what they used
or got no more goods. 1t certainly is
not justice to other water consumers
and tax payers to pay rentals sufficient
to operate the city's plant and taxes to
secure an abundant and pure water
supply. If the clerks figures are cor
rect, and everybody was made
to pay. the revenues would be
increased TO degree that would
enable the lowering of the estab-
lished rates to small consumers. AT the
same time more thorough system
should be inaugurated and closer tab
kept on large consumers. There is still
too much water going to waste and the
city's supply is taxed because of this and
the long-continued drouth OF the sum-
mer. Thus some consumers are secur-
ing water at the expense of those who
pay. It is the system, or rather lack OF
system, that has been in vogue ever
since the water works were established,
that Is at fault. No individual is to
blame, and the present council is simply
doing business as other councils have
done. If there are between $4,000 and
$4,000 unsolicited water fees accumulat-
ed during the past six months, as City
Clerk Shaw says. 1t ought to be profita-
bic to the city to employ some one
whose special duty 1t shall be to collect
the arrearages, If none of the other city
employees have the time. Because the
water works system is owned by the
municipality is no reason why water
consumers should be allowed to escape
the payment Of their just dues.
$50
President Devine, Of the school board.
IS inclined to attribute the Increased
enrolment of pupils in the city schools
to the adoption of the free text book
system. While 1t must be admitted that
the flattering increase is partially at
tribuatable to this, at the same time the
figures pertaining to the enrolment and
enumeration dispute the claim in part.
The enumeration has kept pace with the
enrolment, there being but a difference
OF six in the increases shown. The in
creased enrolment over last year Is 80,
while the increase in enumeration is 49,.
Asss
DR.. Getzs individual tin cup hobby,
adopted, while he was a member Of the
school board, is in danger of being dis
carded. The directors have discussed
the matter, but 1t will not be acted up
on until there is full membership of
the board present. One thousand new
cups must be purchased to make the
system effective, and several members
of the board are opposed to making the
expenditure. 1t is argued on both sides
that there Is some danger of contagion
where hundreds of children drink from
the same cups, but on the other hand
1t is contended that the individual cups.
when kept in the desks OF the pupils.
gather dust and filth when the rooms
are swept and there is more danger ur1-
der that system than where few cups
are used by all.
Another problem the school board is
wrestling with just now is the tuition
question and the determination of
whether or not certain pupils who at.
tend school are bona fide residents of
the city. One peculiar case has devel-
oped. A young lady whose parents for;
merly resided in the country came to
town and attended school, working
mornings and evenings for the families
with whom she boarded; also working
In town during the summer vacation,
thus supporting herself. Under these
conditions the board held that the pupil
was resident here and entitled to the
privileges of the schools without paying
tuition. Recently the girls parents
moved to town and she went to the
home of her brother. near town, to keep
house for him. but is still attending the
city schools. As the parents are now
making their home in the city, and their
Rome Is the girls, the board could not
very well charge tuition this year, altho
the conditions under which the tuition
was RENTED last year were exactly re-
.versad.
A member OF the school board has
suggested that If the city council fails
to see the desirability of removing the
eFS,nn
grounds. committee should visit the
place and see what nuisance said
building is made by Migrants and other
indecent people who foul the surround
ings where little children must play.
A public spirited citizen has COM
planned to the editor that you ought to
go after the school board for not beau
tifying the high school grounds" 1T was
the opinion OF this man that with that
magnificent building some effort ought
to be made to park the lot. He also
suggested that the board ought to buy
the three vacant lots west of the Sec
ond ward building and park 1t for play
ground. Then another citizen spoke up
with the opinion that the schoo! board
was neglecting its duty in not buying
grounds for future use in the electric
addition. He said that sooner or later a
building would be necessary in that
part of town and that whole half
block could be bought now for Sl,SOu
that would in a few years cost at least
three times that amount. All of these
are good suggestions and the school
board should Immediately devise some
method of beautifying play grounds in