Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-26
TERMS Will Con;
N[NCE PROMPTLY
State, Officers Will File New
Bonds and Take the Oath
On January 2
FEWER CHANGES THAN USUAL
N. s. ketchum Of MarshaIItown, Will
Succeed e. c. Brown Of o'Brien
County as Railroad Commissioner
Probably No Change in the Minor
Positions-Bis Change in Two Years.


Probably No Change in the Minor
Positions-Bis Change in Two Years.
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec 26.-The official
terms of state officers in Iowa come.
next week, more nearly to a commence
ment with the first of the calendar
year than for many years. The terms
Of the judges of the supreme court
commence with the first day of jan
uary but as Chief Justice Deemer was
reelected, there will be no change on
the bench. The only change will be
that John c. Sherwin, the new chief
justice will get a raise in his salary,
but under new law Justice Deemer
also gets more for the next year than
he did as chief justice. The terms Of
state officers commence on the first
Monday of January and they will file
new bonds and take the oath January
q. R
The treasurer Of state gives bond
of $5OO,0O0, and his deputy one of $780,
600. These bonds have formerly been
furnished thru Des Moines banks,
which have the handling of the state
funds and which have in their vaults
balance of over a million and a
quarter belonging to the state, on
which, however, they are now required
to pay a small interest charge. I'm
der a new law the bonds must be
surety bonds. The bonds of the sec
retary Of state and attorney general
are $4,000 each, and that OF the rail-
road commissioner $4,000.
Fewer, changes in state office will
take place at the state capitol of Iowa
on New Years than for many years.
The secretary of state, treasurer of
state, auditor of state, attprney gem
eral and member of the supreme court
were all reelected. They will not
make any changes, SO far as known, in
their offices. Their deputies and
clerks are all experienced and capable
and no changes are expected. The one
change is in the office of railroad COM
missioner, where N. S. Ketchum, of
Marshalltown, will succeed e. c..
Brown, of O'Brien county. AS the 9TH
er members of the commission remain
there will be no change in the minor
positions in that office.
Since the adoption of the biennial
o11 ~
change in the official positions at the
state house for two years when there
will be the biggest change in its his
tory. Governor Cummins will retire
from the position after two terms, one
of which will be three years long.
Secretary of State Martin will retire
after six years. Treasurer Gilbertson
will have had six years. Attorney
General Mullan is In the same fix.
Two members of the railroad commits
sion will have served as long as they
could expect and will retire, Messrs.
Palmer and Dawson. The auditor and
superintendent of public instruction are
in position to ask for continuance in
Office. Two judges Of the supreme
court will have asked for renomina-
tion-Justices Sherwin and Weaver.
Clerk Crockett of the supreme court
will have had reelection If precedents
are followed.
The most important change will be
In the complexion of the state execu-
tive council, now the most important
body in the state next to the legisla-
tune and not excepting the board Of
control. Three new members will be
elected to this council in 1906. The
elects secretary and his assis-
tant and has several others under it's
control. But it also has as duty the
auditing Of all the miscellaneous bills
and appropriation of a large contingent
fund which may go to any legitimate
purpose.
But that which will cause the sharp
est controversy over members of the
council is the matter of assessment and
valuation of corporation property In
the state. The council has been Won
derfuIly Independent OF corporation In
fuences for number Of years, and as
a result the state is getting very much
more in the way of taxes from the
railroads, telegraphs. telephones, ex-
press and similar corporations. Be-
fore the convention which selects the
next set Of state officials determined
fight will be made to have this coun-
Gil changed in complexion from what
it has been for several years.
In the matter of the settlement Of the
affairs of the Sheldon State bank,
pending in court in O'Brien county.
lawyers of the state are watching de-
velopments because Of some questions
involved that will have bearing on
future cases Of this kind. A decision
from Judge Gaynor is not expected for
some time. A controversy arose over
the matter Of preference Of creditors.
the demand depositors insisting that
the holders of time certificates were
not entitled to be regarded as deposit
tors, but should be considered as hav-
ing made loans to the bank. The Ma
tiona1 Bank of the Republic held time
certificate against the bank and this
large claim is the one contested. The
case is regarded as one that is sure to
20 to the supreme court. In the mean