Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-19
IOWANS HAVE SCARE
Afraid Public Buildings Were to be
Hung up.
SITUATION is ALL SERENE NOW
Friends of Cuban Reciprocity Are at
Their Wits End Because of DiscIos.
ures Before Senate Committee
That Measure Dead.

ures Before Senate Committee
That Measure Dead.
Washington, D., c., June 16
Two-thirds of the Iowa delegation in
the house were in a panic the latter
part of last week over supposed
mares nest discovered by the super
vising architect, in connection with
the public buildings to be erected in
Iowa for which appropriations have
just been made
Conner Fires the Shot.
Congressman Conner touched off the
mine which paralyzed for a couple of
days the Iowa representatives. The
bill providing for public buildings
having been signed and duly recorded
as statute, Judge Conner thought it
would be good plan to get the work
under way at Boone. He called upon
the supervising architect to ascertain
what steps would be necessary to get
the building started and was informed
that Boone appeared to be the only
town in Iowa in which public build
ing could be erected this year; that a
meeting of the Iowa legislature would
be necessary before any steps could
be taken at Waterloo, Marshalltown,
Iowa City, etc. The supervising archi-
tect pointed out that the act of cession,
by which the state relinquished all
rights in the sites for the proposed
buildings in various cities in Iowa, had
not been properly drawn and that as
it had passed the Iowa legislature it
was defective. He said the bill relat-
ing to Boone was all right and that
bids would be advertised for within a
few days.
The Bomb Bursts.
Judge Conner conveyed this inter
esting information to his colleagues in
terested in public building enterprises
in Iowa, and then CONSERVATION did
reign.
Investigate the Danger.
1t developed that the paragraph re
lating to cession which was supposed
to have passed the Iowa legislature
was drawn by Chairman Mercer of the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, in accordance with the exact
requirements of the government. The
only way it could be figured out, was,
that in some manner the phraseology
had been changed slightly YET suffi-
GENTLY TO make it unsatisfactory to
the government.
Officials in the state house in Des
Moines Immediately telegraphed and
requested to furnish the exact Ian
guage of the act of cession.
Meant Delay If True.
In the meantime there was lost a
vast amount of perspiration in Wash
ington. Interested members fretted
and stewed and remarked. If it should
develop that the act was defective, in
fact, then the Jig was up for two long
years. Not a spadeful of dirt Woulc
be thrown until two years from this
spring, after the state legislature had
met and rectified the error.
Breathed Sigh of Relief.
However, the worse did not hap
pen. The eagerly expected wire from
Des Moines arrived and the exact Ian
guage of the act of cession was given
The telegram was Immediately shown
to the supervising architect who smil
ed and told the, Iowa congressman tc
be of good cheer; that the language OF
the act was exactly in accordance with
the government requirements and thai
he would forthwith order bids to be
advertised for all Iowa towns included
in the appropriation.
All of which is, of course, very graf
| flying and, incidentally, illustrates the
need of exactness and infinite care II
| the preparation of matters involving
governmental action.
| 1t was the worst scare the Iowa dele
| cation has had this session.
Disclosures in Senate Starte.
| The disclosures made before the
senate committee in connection with
the Cuban reciprocity measure which
was scheduled to come up in the sen
ate for debate this week, have monop
olized official conversation the past
few days. The subject seems to have
been uppermost in the minds of re
publicans, particularly. Democrat
undoubtedly talk but their converse
ton is of different character.
No Hope for Cuban Reciprocity.
There are many congressman wht
say they have no hope now that {
Cuban reciprocity bill will be passed
at this session. | have talked will
several of the Iowa delegation ant
they see little hope for the bill
have talked with many other congress
men and the view almost without ex
ception is that the bill is in more
serious danger than at any time thi.
session. AS matter of fact the lead
ers have been at their wits end thu
| past few days to determine just wha
course to pursue. The initiative b,
the President is regarded as a heroi
stand. 1t is question, however, o
votes; votes not only in the senate bu
also in the house. If the house bill
shall be amended in the slightest de
gree it must go to conference and thel
the members of the house get anothe
crack at it when the conference repor
i is received. This is upon the assumI
ton that the senate will pass SOM
sort of bill which is very doubtful.
Say Bill Is Dead.
The anti-concessionists scout TIL
idea that any bill will pass at this ses
sion. They say the bill is dead: TIL
recent developments have served t
wonderfully stiffen the back bones G
/