Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-02-20
say. II IL Legal.

which the decision was rendered in
volved the point as to whether a
county had the power to give a per
cent. of the collections made to the
collector. 1t was contended that the
county doing this, was giving away
part of the taxes it was collect
ing for the municipalities within the
counties, the school districts and the
state, and that it had not the power
to bestow per cent. of the taxes
due to these corporations on col
lector of taxes. The supreme court
declares that the county may do this,
legally. There has been talk of the
treasurer of state contesting this
doctrine, but it is thought it will not
be done.
Books for the Blind.
The state library commission has
been making arrangement for some
weeks to furnish books for the blind
of the state. Supt. T. L. McCune,
of the institution at Vinton. has lent
his advice to the commission and
Miss Tyler, secretary of the commits
sion, has been engaged in prepara-
ton of literature OH the subject. The
books will be loaned from the state
library to any blind person on the
recommendation of a reputable tax
payer in the vicinity of the home OF
the recipient of the book, or the
books will be loaned to local libra
ries, which may let them out to the
blind. This plan has been tried in
some of the far eastern libraries,
but never before in the west. The
books are printed with raised let
tiers, which make them readable by
touch. They include such books as
the poems of Burns, Longfellow, Mil
ton, Schiller, Scott, Tennyson, and
other poets; the books of Seton
Thompson, Rev. z. +. Hale, Macaulay,
Smith, Maclaren, and many others.
To Organize Trackmen.
State Labor Commissioner j. d.
Brigham is lending his assistance to
movement to organize the railroad
trackmen of the state. There are
about 10000 of them. The section
foremen under whom they work re-
ceive from $1.31 to $1.S9 per day
Their work is continuous and not
as exacting as the track walkers.
who receive from 81 .01 to $1.5O, and
whose work is not continuous. Often
they are laid off for several days at
a time. Yet they expect to keep
their families and have to be ready
on call to go to work for the rail
road. not being able to engage in
anything else if i'll the employment
of the road. Their work is most
exacting, being the inspection of the
railroad track in all kinds of
weather. The worse the weather
the more vigilant they must be.
Many wrecks have been saved by
them. They will form an organiza-
ton if possible and affiliate will,
some of the other railroad mems
unions in the hope of getting better
| wages.
Want More Stringent Law.
The Iowa State Dairy association
at it's recent meeting went on record
in favor of more stringent law at
fecting the oleomargarine manufac
ture. 1t was stated in the meeting
that the effect of the Grout bill hae
been to lessen the production OIL
oleomargarine to such an extent that
!! butter had advanced three cents /;
pound, making a profit to the butter
makers of the nation of $45,000,Ooo
1t was declared, however, that the
art of making the imitation had beer
gotten to such fine point that il
was being sold as butter in many
places. For this reason the associa
ton thought it wise to ask congress:
for more stringent law.
Running Again.
The railroad commission has beer
notified within the past week of thu
restoration of most of the trains which
were taken off of the Iowa railroad
during the recent cold weather on &C
count of inability to secure coal will
which to run them. The roads hav
reported that the coal situation j.
much easier, and that delay in traffic
on this account is over for the season
However, the shortage of cars for haul
ing grain continues, and the roads say
that the situation cannot change unit
the really warm weather of spring
arrives. The northeastern Iowa train.
were the principal compliments tt
the railroad commission because O.
the abandonment of trains by the Mil
waukee railroad. These have been re
stored. The promptings of the com
mission had something to do Will
their restoration, II is the common be
lief.
School for the Young.
| The seventh-Day Adventists OF tn,
state have long desired school 70,
their young people. They have cas-
about for location, and 1t is though
that they have secured the offer Of on,
that cannot be declined, near Stuart
"A fine farm of 40 acres has been Of
fered at very low price to citizens
committee Of that town by the owner
p. L. Sever, and the understanding
among the adventists Of this city j,
that the citizens committee will &C
cept the land, and give it to the Adven
fist society for a school. This will b.
agricultural and mechanical in char
acter.
| LEON BROWN.
PARLIAMENT OPENED IN STATE
King Edward ana His Queen Take