Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16

ship schools with provision for
conveying the pupils to and fro at
public expense will afford greater re-
lief than any other proposed system.
II to this could be added provision
for the employment of county super
lntendent at an adequate salary, to be
chosen in the same manner as CITY
superintendent and with analogous
duties and responsibilities, it would
revolutionlze our school system for
good. The salary should be fixed by
law or the position would be let to
the lowest bidder as our rural schools
largely are at present 1t is feared
that some of the teachers have little
else to commend them than llinship
to the director. Nepotism is generally
condoned If the compensation is low
enough. Neither can very much be
expected of county superintendent
under a system that invites considera-
lions of availability only. If these
changes were made some of you gen
tlemen might not be returned. but
you can afford to sacrifice your politi-
cal lives if by so doing you shall serve
and save the youth of Iowa. They
will have no committee on legisla-
ton. Other interests will be repre-
sented. | appeal to you, gentlemen,
directly. Much of the evil SO mani
fest is the resultant of a wave of
sentiment that has in comparatively
recent years created the impression
that economy is the synonym OF states
manship.
Capitol Improvement Commission.
the twenty-eighth general assembly
authorized the creation of a commits
sion to investigate and recommend
such Improvement of the capitol and
other property of the state connected
Herewith. including decorations,
works OF art, electric lighting, and
burglar alarms, as in the opinion of
the commission would place the CAPT.
toll building in state of perfect re-
pair" and equip the same with mod
| ern improvements. In obedience to
this provision, Hon. Peter A. Dey, who
was member of the original capitol
commission, and who bore a conspicu-
GUS part in erecting the present edi-
fee; Prof Charles A. Cumming. an
artist OF more than state reputation;
and Henry S. Josselyn, learned and
practical architect, were selected.
Thier report is on file and is com.
mended to your careful perusaI and
! favorable consideration. This com
mission recommends the expenditure
in the aggregate of $2500O0. / think
it should all be provided for at one
time, but it need not all be made
available in one year. think it would
be unwise to mutilate the recommends
] tons. The commission went very thor
nlghly into the subject and consulted
the best authorities in the nation, and
it is doubtful if it's conclusions can be
hastily improved upon. The whole
scheme has been carefully wrought
/ out. Those competent to Judge be-
lieye the result will be satisfactory
The capitol is considered the third
best in the country, and it's architec-
ture makes possible more artistic
I interior than any other. 1t will be
remembered that the original COM
mission was suddenly and unceremon1-
ously discharged before the contem-
plated work was completed. AS a
result, for nearly the fifth of a century
visitors have stood on the outside of
the building in great admiration, but
have entered it only to be shocked at
bare walls and unfinished corridors.
The recommendation of this commits
sion with reference to an electric light
ing plant is especially Endorsed as a
matter of economy. A system Of bur-
glar 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, save iI one BIZ
ennium.
The members of this commission
have performed their duties so thor
oughly, and have SO periodically given
their time to the work, that I recon-
mend that they be reimbursed for
the expenses incurred in excess of the
amount allowed by the act creating
the commission.
Louisiana Purchase Centennial Expo
sition.
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
to be commemorated by what prom
ises to be the most extensive exposf-
ton the world has yet seen With
your honorable body rests the re-.
sponsibility of determining the part
Iowa shall take in this event. Wisely,
this state contributed little to the
Trans Mississippi exposition in 1898,
nothing to the Pan-American exposi-
ton in 1901, and nothing to the South
Carolina and West Indian exposition
which is now in progress. But l am
of the opinion that the people of this
commonwealth will approve such pro-
vision for the Louisiana Purchase
Centennial exposition as will leave no
doubt in the minds Of visitors that
Iowa constitutes an important part of
| that priceless acquisition. Something
worthy OF the state, or nothing, should
be our motto. Certainly there ought
not to be created commission with