Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-09
RIPE FOR A REVOLT
Des Moines People are Heartily
Ashamed of Their Present
City Government
A DISGRACE TO CAPITAL CITY
Recent Quarrel of Police Department
and Police Court at City Council
Meeting Reveals Rottenness of the
situation-county Care of the insane
piscassed-Poiitics Rather Dull.

4
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. "a good many
of the people of Des Moines have be-
|come nightly ashamed of their present
city government. A scene was enacted
in the city council chamber last Mon
day night which was disgraceful IN
1.-The extreme. The city council held g
special session and the police judge
was called In and the chief of police
and they were virtually invited to have
their quarrel in public before the coun i
lcil. Aldermen and the mayor and other
officials Joined in. There has been Z
Hong standing quarrel between the po-
lice department and the police court,
each side accusing the other OF sun
dry offenses, and each side posing be-
fore the public as model. The fact
is no matter what may have caused
the rupture, that the quarrel is proving
extensive to the city and disgusting
| to all decent people At this meeting
wortls and expressions We're used that
would have shamed the worst habitues
|of the back alleys in Whitechapel ana
men who are selected to stand as lead
| ers in the city's affairs hurled the
vilest epithets at each other for no otn-
Ter reason apparently than that have
! ~ <N,1tr mi CkaS
with vice and liasons with SIN In the
city of Des Moines. The local political
situation is fast getting ripe for lit
tie revolution, and unless there is de-
cided change in city affairs there VIII
be a clean sweep in another year and :,
reform element will take care of the
| city for time.
As the result of an investigation be-
ing made in Sioux City with a view to
having certain insane patients returned
| to the county asylum from the state
lhpspita at Cherokee, the claim Is made
\ that a,snumber who are credited to
lNvsdbury county should be supported
Iby other countless The stale board
OF control has considered this matter
land finds that 1t has no authority what (.
lever to settle disputes between counties
az to the cost OF maintaining insane.
The board is operating under the rul-
ings of Attorney General Remley in an
old decision in which he held that
where a county insanity board sends
one to the hospital who should be prop
erly charged to some other county the
procedure is for the auditor to send
notice to the auditor OF the county
which should stand the expense and
after the two counties have settled the
matter the cost is charged to the proper
county, II the two counties fail to
agree there is nothing to do but go
Into the courts. The state board of
control should have power to do the
right thing and decide In summary
/, manner where a patient belongs. An
effort is being made to secure the re-
turn OF patients to Woodbury. county
but the reports OF the state inspector
\ of county asylums is not encouraging,
as the Woodbury. county asylum has
been in bad condition for long time.
Polk county is in the peculiar con-
dition Of having secured an order for
the return to the county Of 2S insans
but not having made use Of the order.
1t was issued last July and the patients
are still in the state hospital.
Ex-State Auditor Frank Merriam is
Istill in Des Moines. He has not fully
determined what he will engage in but
has several business opportunities
which would keep him here in Des
Moines. His chief insurance clerk,
Frank Paul. who came here from Man.
chester, is in similar state of mind and
| is likely to remain in Des Moines.
A good deal of gossip is being put In
circulation in regard to political pros
poets of this or that person and some
Of it with very little foundation. Those
who are most interested say that the
present is a time of extreme dulness in
politics In Iowa as a whole and there is
no disposition to stir up matters pre-
maturely.
| The Anamosa Prison Press refers
feelingly to the departure from the
colony" Of Nos. 4776 and ATT. They
I have gone to Storm Lake to stand trial
again These are Lewis Brooks and
Albert Phillips, the bank robbers who
were sentenced to be hanged but got a
new trial. The Prison Press concludes
its comment with:
1.-The Press loses its star contributor,
at least temporarily, in the loss of 477..
| His contributions of both prose and
verse for the past year have been great
lily enjoyed by the Press readers and
| showed how little the thought of haV-
/ ing to die worried him. The Press man
wishes his two friends happy New
Year and hopes that if they return to
our colony it will be with sentence
they can serve on their heads.
| The No. Att referred to was the
colored man. the brighter of the trio.
whose contributions to the Prison Press;
have been of a high character
Des Moines is just now interested
much in the serious illness of F. NJ.
Hubbell, who is suffering from pneu-
monia. He has had remarkable ca
reer is one of the richest men in the
state, has had many friends and many
enemies. has been much praised and
much abused but withal has of late
years developed into one of the most
valuable of the citizens OF the capital
J city.