The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-01-16

ton OF TINS commission Win references
to an electric lighting plant is especial
ly Endorsed as matter of economy. A
system of burglar alarms is also very
important. In the same connection, /
suggest that an artesian well be bored
at the power-house, the expense of
which can be nearly, If not wholly,
saved in one biennium.
The members Of this commission
have performed their duties so thor
oughly, and have so periodically given
their time to the work, that recon-
mend that they be reimbursed for the
expenses incurred in excess of the
amount allowed by the act creating tbs
commission.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
The centennial of the purchase and
cession to the United States in 1903
of the larger portion of our national
domain west of the Missouri river is
10 be commemorated by what prom
Uses to be the most extensive EXPOSE
tion the world has yet seen. With your
honorable body rests the RESPONSE
bility of determining the part Iowa
shall take in this event. Wisely, this
state contributed little to the Trans
Mississippi exposition in 1890, nothing
to the Pan-American exposition in
1901, and nothing TO the South Caro-
lima and West Indian exposition which
is now in progress. But ! am of the
opinion that the people of this COM
monwealth win approve such provision
g. IaT hos 1fnU ial
exposition as will leave no doubt in the
minds of visitors that Iowa constitutes
an important part of that priceless ac-
QUESTION. Something worthy of the
state, or nothing, should be our motto.
Certainly there ought not to be ere
ated a commission with such limited
means as to belle our prosperity and
libel our resources.
National Park Commission.
The government has recently estab-
lished a national park at Yicksburg,
and the Twenty-eighth general assem-
bly, authorized a commission to locate
the position of the 80 Iowa regiments
and other organiza tons which took
part in that memorable siege, and to
recommend such legislation as shall
suitably and permanently mark the
positions thus ascertained and WORTH
" commemorate the yalor and services
of Iowa soldiers in the campaign and
siege of Vicksburg. This commission
was duly appointed and has filed its
report, which is submitted to your hon
orable body with the recommendation
that it be published in suitable form
for distribution. The commission rec
ommends the appropriation of $780, 900
for the erection of suitable monu-
ments. / am of the opinion this
amount is not excessive. A larger pro-
portion Of Iowa troops took part in
this siege than in any other battle or
siege, and numerically more soldiers
from Iowa were there engaged than
from any other state save Illinois.
Visitors ought never to leave this park
doubling either the patriotism of Iowa
soldiers or the appreciation of Iowa
people. The Light brigade in the IA
nous charge at Balaklava lost 60 per
cent, and Tennyson has immortalized
their valor. The Twenty-secondI Iowa
in a single charge at Vicksburg lost
SO per cent. (several other regiments
during the siege lost from so to over
20 per cent?, and it will now be the
privilege of the Twenty-ninth general
assembly to permanently commem-
crate both their valor and their awful
sacrifice.
Salaries.
/ am still of the opinion that the
salary of the chief executive of this
state ought to be increased. A bill
fixing the salary at $4,000 passed the
lower house of the Twenty-eighth gen.
eral assembly, but for want of time
failed to pass the senate. Salaries of
all state officers are very low. They
were fixed at time when living ex-
penses were much lighter than at
present.
OmcIaI Bonds.
In former years the bond of the
treasurer of state was 100000. This,
through the discretion lodged with the
chief executive, has been recently in
creased to 100000. For more than six
months the balance in the treasury
of the state has exceeded S1,OOO,OO0,
and am of the opinion that the treas
urer's bond ought to be approximately
large. l am also of the opinion that
this bond should be furnished at the
expense of the state. The market
value of the bond now furnished by
the state treasurer is $4,000 per annum.
The present treasurer actually paid
81, 500 in cash for his bond of $500, 900.
The proposition on final analysis re-
solves itself thus: The state treas
urer, if his bond shall remain at $780,
600, must pay 1.sO0 per annum in ex-
cess of his salary, or he must secure
by subscription among his friends that
which is purchasable in the market.
/ think similar provisions should be
made with respect to all bonds re-
quired of public officers.
Interest on State Funds.
In view of the large treasury bal
ance much of the time, recommend
that provision be made whereby the
state may receive interest on at least
the greater portion, and am graft
fed that the treasurer joins in this
opinion and recommendation.
Equalization of ASSIGNMENTS.
The executive council, sitting as
board of equalization in July of last
year, passed the following resolution:
'"The executive council recommends to
the general assembly such a modification
Of the statutes OF the state as Will allow
the board Of review to adjust the assess
ment Of all property at the same time, and
It suggests the following ways in which
tnis may be done: Either the railroads