Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-22
amen, not r-men. And If we want to
put two whole notes on the first or last
syllable, or both, don't shake the baton
at us.
ap mver74A/
AN IMPoRrA NJ DECISION
TOttumwa Courier. ]

lottuIlWd SoullCi. 81
The supreme court of Iowa. in Civ
ing its unanimous decision in the Sioux
/ City water works case, to the effect
that district judges can not constitu-
tionally exercise administrative POW
ers and appoint trustees for municipal
i corporations concludes with the fol-
lowing excellent declarations
Municipal reform must come from
within and not from without. Good
government can only be secured by the
active cooperation of good citizens.
/ Those who remain away from the pr :
! mary and the election and defrain from
voting are rot only forgetful of their
| duties. but thru neglect they suffer
crime to flourish and corruption to
reign supreme. They put themselves on
a level with the worst clements by con-
senting their practice and in some
instances profiting from them, and are
morally, If not legally, responsible for
existing conditions. The property own
| ing tax paying classes. who suffer
most from material point of view UNI
der mismanagement and corruption
have the remedy in their own hands If
they choose ii exercise It, This remedy
l u llol ny pliLclIS an UliHlcliti dlIdlTS
under the control of the judiciary. but
| bv takir~ the same interest in the ad-
ministration of local affairs that they
manifest In the conduct of their private
/ business"
! The court urges that the people adj
here to the traditions and history of the
| past and that the three coordinate de-
Iariments OF government be preserved
| intact, neither intrenching upon the
other.
| 1t may be said that this advice is ex-
| ira judicial but at the same time 1T is
timely, judicious and inspired by the
| highest motives. The people should be
moved to take deeper interest In the af-
fairs that concern them and depend less
upon outside influences for protection.
| This decision will materially affect
the attitude of conservative men upon
the question of municipal ownership
of water works. One of the strong ar
guments heretofore advanced, especial
ly in Ottumwa, in favor of municipal
ownership, has been that the manage
ment would be entirely removed from
local politics by reason of the fact that
the appointment of trustees is made by
the judge of the district court. While
we believe the decision of the supreme
court on this matter is eminently right,
nevertheless it means that the manage
ment of municipal water works must
hereafter of necessity enter into local
politics. and become a factor in partisan
spoils. Unless q law is now enacted
making 1t imperative that city ad-
ADMINISTRATION shall appoint an absolutely
non partisan board of trustees. ire
movable except for clearly defined and
specific cause, there are many who have
heretofore favored municipal ownership
that will not do so in the future.
1t must be conceded that the difficult
ties surrounding the successful admin
stration of water works owned and OPP
Grated by the municipality will be
greatly increased by reason of the de-
cision of the supreme court just rem
dered.