Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-17

he can discover little inclination to
make much noise or to became en-
Enthusiastically demonstrative. Mr..
Phillips has evidently described
things about as he sees them. On his
approach to town he is not met six
miles or more cut by the reception
committee and brass band. The
halls in which he, speaks are not
crowded to suffocation; and the re-
porters do not come from the large
cities to report his vote.making
speeches. In fact Mr.. Phillips real
ICES that he has not yet started
stampede in favor of the reaffirmed
and Siamesed Chicago and st. Louis
platforms, and he is not telling any,
body for publication that he hopes to
do SO.
The candidate of the twice-defeated
is simply going about the state in as
quiet matter as possible. On thu
whole this shows discretion and a
correct idea of the situation. The
less money he pays out the more he
will have The more he neglects his
business the more his personal inter-
ests will suffer. No man who stands
for Organism can hope for much from
the intelligent and prosperous people
of Iowa. This speaks volumes for
their discrimination Dem
ocrat.
The Snap Is Ended.-It is real inter-
esting to know that one of the most
prolific sources of revenue for a GER
tain class Of public officials has just
been made to run dry. Police officers,
detectives and constables have been in
formed that henceforth they are to re-
ceive no more fees for testifying as wit
nesses before grand juries or at regu-
lar trials in the district-and the rul-
ing will probably be construed to cover
justice courts as well.
1t appears that the grand jury now
in session in the Polk county district
court had the thoughtfulness to make
an investigation Of the matter, and up
on inquiry were informed by the court
that the law specifically declares that:
mo peace officer shall in any case re-
ceive fees as witness for testifying in
regard to any matter coming to his
knowledge in the discharge of his off,
cial duties in such case unless the
court so orders" 1t appears that
hitherto officers have had veritable
snap in this respect. Besides drawing
a regular salary they have been allow
ed SLIPS witness fees and 10 cents for
mileage for every appearance as wit
ness either before the grand jury or at
the regular trial of the case. 1t can
be readily seen that many officers have
been having mighty soft thing. A
soft thing is of course nice thing,
and it might seem almost cruel at first
consideration to put an end to the mat
ter, but he majority of people are tax
payers, and they will be highly graft
fed to learn that a movement has been
inaugurated which is bound to result
in a very material tightening of their
burdens.
We know that this practice of pay
ing or permitting officers to draw 6
double salary for their work is in
vogue in other places in Iowa, and it is
possible that the reform started here
will become general in process OF
time.
No sensible person will object tt
peace officers being well paid TO
their strvices, but they should not BIZ
\ paid additional compensation when the
| some is expressly forbidden by law.
Moral: 1t pays to read the code
once In while.-Des Moines Capital.