Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-31
Personal Property Tax in Iowa Has
Raised Over Ten Million Dol
lars During Last Year.
REAL ESTATE VALUES ARE ALSO HIGHER.
Present Rate Of Assessment Not Con-
sidered Equal and New Scheme
May BE Devlsed-Primnry Laws
Being Investigated First lows
Extradition Case Decided.
Especial Correspondence


values increased about s200,000,0 900.
Students of political economy are
agreed on the proposition that the
value of personal property in COM
munity Of the age Of Iowa is equal to
or greater than that Of real property.
But the assessors Of the state are
totally unable to find the personal
property that it may be listed for tax
alton. AS result the personality total
is only slightly in excess of the in
crease in realty values in two years.
Many public men are now trying to
devise scheme in Iowa for the ade-
quate assessment of personal proper
ty, whose assessment would decrease
the rate Of taxation very materially.
Movement for Primary Law.
A definite movement toward the
enactment by the legislature next win
ter of reasonable and effective pri-
mary law has been begun in Iowa.
The Minnesota and Massachusetts,, as
well as the Kentucky plans are being
given careful consideration by some Of
the law makers, by the politicians and
by the newspapers. The latter are en-
gagged in an effort to create a steady
public sentiment in favor of the pri-
mary system. On several points there
is substantial agreement. For In
stance, it is probable that the law will
require all parties to hold their pri-
maries the same day, but it is unlike
ly that voters will be required to
register their party afiliation when
they vote. if they expect to particle
pate in the primaries, as is done in
Kentucky. The Minnesota plan is
being most carefully studied ct1d the
agitation is toward it rather than auy
other one system.
Extradition Case Decided,
The first international extradition
case ever heard in Iowa has just been
decided by Commissioner w. G. Mac
Arthur, clerk of the United States dis
trict court. 1t was a case involving
the question Of whether or not an
American citizens charged with muir
der in Mexico should be returned
there for trial. The hearing took the
form of a trial of the accused to de-
termine whether there was SUFFICIENT
ground for returning him to Mexico.
J. H. Greenwich. Of Davenport, was
the defendant, and ]. L. Stanfield, for
merly Of Knoxville, was the victim
of whose murder Greenwich was
charged. The hearing involved the
taking Of testimony of witnesses who
had to be brought from Mexico. Rep
resentatives Of the Mexican govern
ment were in attendance upon the
trial. Commissioner Macarthur re.
fused to send Greenwich back to Mex
leo.
Young Police Magistrate.
In Samuel Page the town Of Sioux
City has the youngest police magis-
trate In Iowa, If not in the west. He
Is less than Is years of age. On ac-
count OF his youth he is the recipient
OF all kinds OF tales designed to i'm
press his sympathetic nature. He re-
Gently inaugurated a new practice to
save inebriates. He makes them take
an oath to drink not to exceed GER
tain amount each day. BY carefully
but gradually cutting down this sup
ply he is able to induce the inebriates
that come before him for sentence to
reform their habits in great measure.
Several cases which have been handled
In this way have proved his theory to
be correct.
Insane in Iowa.
There are 904 insane persons in the
county insane asylums and hospitals
of Iowa. They are distributed among
one-half the counties. The following
are those counties having the largest
number OF insane to care for in their
county institutions: Polk, 101; Linn.
20; Wapello. IS; Clayton, AZ; john
son, So; Jackson, 80: Lee, 81; Van
Buren,, 26; Fayette, 26. The remain
Ing counties which care for their own
insane have less than rs. These insti-
buttons are under the supervision of
the state board Of control, which laws
down rules as to the number Of at
tendants. ETC.. and inspects them semi
annually.
VIII Go to Fort Riley.
The Fifty-f1fth regiment, Iowa ma
tional guard. drew the prize which has
been dangling before the militia Of
the state for several months, namely.
the privilege of going to Fort Riley
to be present at and participate in the
autumn maneuvers Of the department
OF the Missouri, Of the regular army.
This will take the place Of the Iowa
regimental camp. 1t is possible that
some Of the organizations out of other
regiments will be sent to Fort Riley.
also. There are BIG men in the Fifty
nth regiment. 1t vas the Fifty-flrst
during the Spanish-Amarican war.
and saw service in the Philippines.
Col. James Rush Lincoln commands
the regiment. The time of the maneu-
vers is about October 1. Gov Cum
minis will accompany the regiment to
Fort Riley. There was talk Of sending
another OF the regiments to Fort Smell
ing Tor the same kind Of drill, but
this has been given up.
State Sunday School Assembly.
thousands Of people are expected to
attend the Iowa state Sunday school
assembly, which conyenes. in Iowa
Falls, August /. and continues to
August Is. Special days have been
arranged during the assembly as fol-
lows: Music day. August 4; Women's
day, August z: Educational day, Aug
ust IA. Commandant Booth, dorado
Taft. Leon Cope and DR.. e. M. Steven
son, OF Chicago. have been secured
foEsthe programme The chautai, NINA