The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-07-18
70 FIX IOWA TAX LEVY.
Council Says Total Raised Yearly
Should Approximate the Sum
Fixed by Legislature.
REDUCTION OF TAXES FULLY ONE MILL.
Increase in Number-State Treas
ury Receives Money on War Claims
Money for st. Louis Exposition
Other Notes of Interest.
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
Des Moines, Ia, July 1.-THE state
executive council has decided in effect
that it has the power to fix a state levy
which will produce a sufficient amount
to make the total raised in given year
approximately the sum fixed by the
legislature in its acts. When the legis-
lature directed the council to raise
$2,300,000 next year it was supposed
that the council would be compelled to
fix levy of four mills. But the legis-
lature took into consideration nothing
except the money to be used to satisfy
the appropriations made by itself.
Since the state has been enriched by
the addition of half million, it is
probable that the council will only fix
a levy which will raise sufficient money
SO that, when added to the half mil
lion war claim just received, it will
approximate $2.300,OO0, and will not
raise the $2,30O,OOO by a direct tax levy
while the s45o,4O from the govern
ment is lying idle in the state treasury.
This means that the levy will be re-
duced fully one mill from what it
would have been had it been necessary
to raise the entire $2,3OO,OOO by direct
taxation.
More Telephones.
The executive council has fixed the
assessment of 700 telephone and tele-
graph companies properties for taxa
ton this year, whereas last year there
were but $50 of them to assess. This
shows the growth of the Independent
telephone business in Iowa. Reports
from the office of the secretary of
state are to the effect that the increase
continues to make itself manifest in
the new articles of incorpora ton filed
in that Office and which authorize new
concerns to begin business. A ten
dency to cons olidation among the
larger telephone lines has begun to
manifest itself. An association has
been formed which answers the pur-
pose of practical, business associa-
ton. Under it the state is divided into
districts for toll line operation and
there are no elements of cut-throat
competition among the concerns. A
large number of small, local mutual
concerns are doing business on the
community plan.
No Coal Mine Lockout.
At meeting of the coal operators
of Iowa and northern Missouri in Des
Moines resolution declaring that the
operators would be forced to declare
a lockout against the miners of this
state if they should go on a strike in
aid of the Pennsylvania hard coal min
ers, and that the lockout would mean
that the miners union would never be
recognized again in this field, pro-
yoked considerable discussion, but was
not adopted. 1t was offered for the
reason that the miners of the district
and the operators have signed con-
tract covering the year ending April 1
next. and its violation would result in
a lockout on the part of the operators.
The miners of the state do not want
to strike, but may be compelled to,
it was argued in the conference, and it
was thought best not to antagonize
their union by passing such resolu-
ton.
The State Enriched.
During the past week the state has
been enriched by the addition to the
state treasury surplus of warrant
signed by former Gov. Leslie NJ. Shaw
as secretary of the treasury, for $685.
400, sum allowed to Iowa by the re.
cent congress on account of money ex.
pended by this state in interest on
money borrowed to equip Iowa troops
for the use of the government during
the civil war. The principal of the
bonds had been repaid, but the inter.
est had not. The statement of the con.
dition of the state treasury for this
month shows that there is now $1,405,.
131 in the general revenue fund, while
the bonds of the agricultural college
and other surplus on hand for specia,
purposes amount to $736,O0O more
At this time last year there was or
hand in the general revenue fund but
S735 900.
Iowa Exhibit Mt st. Louis.
St. Louis Commissioners S. NJ. Leach
of Des Moines, has made the following
estimate of the expenditure of a par
of the $125,oOO appropriated by the re
cent legislature for the Iowa exhibit
at st. Louis in 1904, as compared will
the expenditure for the same purpose
at the Chicago exposition when the
state had s141,oOo to expend:
Estimat,
Spent for
at Chicago. st. Louis
Total appropriation......$ lfl 600 $3.50
Music Observation-Disclosures. 5000 200
Building ................... 10000 COCO
Administration ........... 30725 250O
Special days ............... G,OO1 800
Live stock ........ ........ 7,Al 1890
Agriculture and dairy, S,O45 500
Horticulture ............... 800 800
1t was the intention of the st. Louis
commission to SO to that CITY the mas