Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-31
CUMNINS GETS THE FACTS
VIII Taks Up and Decide on Rock Island
Reorganization at Once.
PRISON POPULATION ON THE DECLINE
Hot Fight Over Des Moihes POstOmce,
but -COnsressmaR Hull VIII POST
pOne Action Until After
Election.
trrom a SCAR correspondent.l

uhgH W duuOuut tue TtbuAl VI liz
: cation into the reorganization Of the Rock
Island railroad under the ownership Of the
Moores. At the time the new company
was formed, with a capital Of SIPS, 900, 0OO,
under the Iowa laws, and at the same ime
a New Jersey corporation formed to
own the stocks Of the Iowa corporation and
a scheme devised by which only a small
part Of the stock would have any voice
in the control of the property, the gov
ernor announced that he would cause to
be made a thorough investigation OF the
case to see II the reorganization scheme
was in accordance with Iowa law and
to determine whether II was contrary to
public policy. He has had some difficulty
in securing all the facts surrounding the
reorganization, but announced today that
he had finally done so, and that some time
next week he will be able to make public
the result of his investigation and state
what action he can or may take. The
attorneys OF the Rock Island have in
sisted all along that the reorganization is
entirely legal and unassailable, and that
the governor will be unable to do anything
even IL he should conclude that it is a
commercial organization in which the pub
lie is interested. The announcement Of the
governor will be awaited with interest.
Prison Population Declining.
The. report Of Warden Hunter for the
year on the prison at Anamosa shows that
there has been a steady decline Of prison
population for five years, from 626 June
30, 1898, to 412 the both of last June. There
we're 20S received during the year, four
being under sentence of death and three
to serve life sentences. There are now
thirty eight lifers at the Anamosa prison.
There are twenty women at the prison.
OF those received during the year there
were six negro men and FIVE negro women.
Two were divorced, fifteen widowed, sixty
eight married and lis single. Twenty
three were illiterate. The oldest person
received at the penitentiary during the
year was IS and the youngest 16. There
we're 10 escapes and no attempt to escape
and forty-one were let out on paroles. The
prison received two VIII are totally blind.
The value Of the labor done by prisoners,
aside from the work necessary for the
management Of the prison itself, was
$72.521.29. The new administration build
ing is now practically complete. The state
has land and buildings at Anamosa valued
at 1855, 057.35. A new stone building is
being erected within the prison Enclosure
for the cooperage works, destroyed by fire
last March.
Postomce Controversy
n lively ChinpdtBu II uuueT way mere IOr
the Des Moines postofnce. The principal
candidates for the place are DIR. Schooler,
the present postmaster, and County Treas
urer Mckay, who was manager for Captain
Hull's campaign for denomination last win
ter. The race is regarded as a close one.
Captain Hull, who has not yet disposed Of
the matter, has gone to New York City to
take charge Of the congressional campaign
and has sent word he will not return here
until after the election. In this way he will
avoid the embarrassments Of the contro-
versy during the fall. An effort is being
made to sidetrack Mckay by inducing him
to become a candidate for mayor.
Death of Iowa Pioneer.
A, c, Barrett, one of the pioneers Of Bre-
mer county, died at his home in Waverly
last night. He was the father OF State Sup
~erintendent Barrett of this city, who was
yesterday called to his bedside. Mr.. Barrett
had lived in Bremen county for about hfty
years. His wife died last December. He
leaves four sons, including the state super
intendent.
The last OF the special transfers Of the
insane patients from one state hospital to
another took place today when about sew
enty-hve were taken from Mount Pleasant
to Independence, going over the Burlington
~ TWIN ASAoh0 AOa0os
state Fair Finals.
The exact sum realized by the State fair
management on the weeks work was not far
from $50. 600. but all returns will not be in
for some days. The balance to the good Of
the fair management will be expended
largely in permanent improvement during
the next year. and plans are already being
made for this.
The ah.froot a., 49,
against A. NJ. Hunter. from Ringgold county
on appeal. was filed with the supreme court
to-day. Hunter was convicted last Novem-
Der Of the murder OF Homer Holland at
Mount Ayr and given a life sentence in the
penitentiary. Marion Trusty Of Winnebago
county has also filed notice Of appeal to the
supreme court from his conviction Of Grim
inally assaulting his st~epdaughter, on which
conviction he was given a twenty-year SEN
%tence.
Marcus Held to Grand Jury.
James Marcus, colored, accused Of shoot
ing B. w. Liggett with intent to kill, was
held to the grand jury and remanded to jail
in lieu OF 81. 900 bail today. He is the colored
ccachman Of the searles family who live in
the aristoeratio section, who got into a quar-
rel with Liggett when the latter called to
see Miss Searles, and In the quarrel shot
Liggett. The latter has fully recovered, but
had a narrow escape. Marcus declined to
give any evidence in the case at this time.
There have been rumors that the case would
finally be compromised, as it threatens a
scandal in high life. but the prosecution has
not shown any disposition to let up in the
case.
Cummins in the Campaign.
Governor Cummins will soon enter the po-
litical campaign. He will make several
speeches in Iowa under the auspices Of the
republican state COMMITTEES. and he will also
speak in Indiana. Illinois and Minnesota.
His services are desired in other states. but
it is doubtful II he will be able to go else
where. He has a date for a speech before
the Marquette club in Chicago. October 3.
and one before the Good Government club
Of the University OF Michigan. The governor
will also speak at several non-political
meetings in Iowa, at an old settlers re-
union at Creston. september 10. at the State
fair OF Illinois October 2 and at least two
addresses during the Odd FellowsS meeting
in Des MOines.
Richard Wegener. who shot himself with
suicidal intent on Friday and was reported
dead, did not In fact died, but is In a crlti-
cal condition and will die. But little has