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

tor of one of the 1ndianola papers.
was victorious. The county audi
tors of the state are calling confer
ences with the township trustees of
their counties, who will have to do
with the disbursement of the new
road fund, to study and explain the
new law.
Uniform Valuation.
A proposition was sprung at the
recent meeting of the association of
county auditors of the state, which
may find some expression in pro-
posed laws before the general assem-
bly, of 1904. 1t was that the auditor
of state, in December of each year,
call in the auditors of all of the
counties of the state for the pur-
pose of having the auditors reach
uniform valuation of property on
which the assessors in the respec-
tive counties may work. beginning
with January /, in reassessing prop
erty. At present there is no uni
forlnity. In one county land will be
assessed at $40 and in the adjacent
county at $50. The value of it does
not vary this much. Nor does live
stock. The plan is to eliminate the
variations.
Monument to KirkwOOd.
Sidney A. Foster, of Des Moines.
has proposed that if the state will
appropriate the money for the cree
ton of monument to Samuel j.
Kirkwood. the war governor, the
park commission of Des Moines, OF
which he is member, will donate
the ground necessary on top of the
highest point of land in the vicinity
of Des Moines, which is now includ-
ed in the most recent purchase of
park land made by the city. 1t is
located south of the city across the
Raccoon river and from it view of
16 to 20 miles may be had. 1t is
more slightly than the state capitol
grounds. The park commission pro-
| poses to build drive way around
the topmost part of the peak, and it
will be the most conspicuous point
| between the city and the new army
post.
Relief for County Officers.
The county treasurers' association
at its meeting held in this city the
past week inclined to favor the law
which was defeated in the last legis-
lature requiring municipalities to
bear the expense of the bonds which
county officers are compelled to give
before they take their offices. The
expense is enormous. In the case of
| the treasurer of state three years
ago bond of 100000 was required
the Office brings to pay for it.
| County treasurers are required to
put up on heavy bonds, also, and they
| think that the municipalities ought
| to bear the expense. Surety bonds
are almost entirely replacing the old
style personal bonds.
Takes Vacation.
Gov. Cummins has gone east for a
vacation of two weeks. While in the
east he will visit Washington. 1t
is said that a conference between
President Roosevelt and Gov. Cum,
Minis will be one of the features OF
the latter's eastern visit. At thai
time, it is also said, that the tariff
question and what has come to be
known as the "Iowa idea" will be
discussed. Politicians look upon the
visit of the governor to the president
at this time as significant. The gov.
ernor will visit New York city and
other eastern points. and for two
weeks will lay aside the cares Of his
office. 1t is his first rest since the
middle of last summer.
| Aid for Sweden.
Gov. Cummins has appointed com
mission on the relief of the starving
people in northern Sweden to organ.
lie this charity. He recommends the
commission to the people in procla.
nation in which he urges a prompt
and liberal response to the cry for
help that has gone up from 100000
starving people in the north of
Sweden and in Finland. There are
10000 Swedes in this state and a
liberal response is expected not only
from them, but from the people in
general. The members of the COM
mittee are: C. J. A. Ericsson, of
Boone; B. Anundson, of DEBORAH; C.
+. Wennerstrum, of Des Moines; ].
B. Harsh, of Creston; r. A. Hassel-
quist, of Charlton; V. L. ellie, OF