Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-28
MAY CHANGE
DISTRICTS
REPRESENTATIVE CUMMINGS
THINKS JUDGES DO NOT
WORK ENOUGH.
WOULD CUT OFF SOME
Thinks Twelve, or Eighteen of the Fif-
ty-three or Fifty-four Now Holding
Office Could Ex-senator Smiths
Scheme for EIectins Supervisors.
[BY LEON BRowN.1

Des Moines, Jan. 26.
The legislature reconyened this after
noon, each house in it's own chamber.
Representative Genever of Keokuk
county expects to introduce a resolu-
ton providing that former Auditor
Merriman be given a hearing by the
assembly to refute the charges made
by the governor and the executive
council about the insurance fee collec-
lions.
Altogether the most important an
nouncement which has come out the
legislative halls for this session was
that of Representative Cummings Of
Marshall county to the effect that he
expected to try to rearrange the ju-
dicial districts Of the state.
His plan contemplates cutting off
from a dozen to eighteen district
Judges out Of the fifty-three OF fifty
four who are now transacting the
business.
Mr.. Cummins says that he has never
felt exactly satisfied with the bill
which he introduced and which be-
came law in the last session increas-
ing the salary Of district judges from
$2,5OO to $500. He has had feeling
that the people ought to be better sat
isfied that the judges are earning
their wages. For this reason he start
ed on foot an inquiry among the coun-
ty clerks of the state which has re-
vealed the fact that the judges are
holding court on an average Of about
100 days in the year. OF course their
consideration of cases is not included
in these figures. Mr.. Cummins does not
contend that the judges work only 100
days in the year.
Some Districts Are Busy.
In some of the districts, Of course,
like Polk county in Scott county, in
Pottawattamie county, and Wapello
counties. probably, he will discover
that the judges have an abundance of
work the year round, but in the coun-
try districts he has been surprised to
find reported from clerks Of courts
that the judges have held court some
times below the 1870 days average,
very considerably.
Chance for the Appellate Court.
Redistricting will not be planned by
Mr.. Cummings alone. He will con
suit with some of the most prominent
and best posted members from all sec.
lions of the state.
| If this measure is favorab1y consid.
cred by the legislature it will make
room and furnish the funds for the
creation of the appellate court.
Election of Supervisors.
Senator Smith Of Mitchell county
has suggested that this state adopt the
South Dakota plan Of electing super
| visors of counties. He has not sale
| that he will introduce such a measure
in the legislature but in discussion
today among legislators merely men
toned the South Dakota system ant
wondered how it would work in this
Estate.
| There, supervisors are elected b.
the entire county. But they are chos
en- by districts. That is, while thu
counties are divided into districts
each district has a supervisor, yet thu
whole county votes on every supervis
or. The candidate must live within
the district which he expects to repre-
sent on the board.
In this state supervisors are elected
by counties as a whole or by districts
but if by counties, they have not go
to live in any particular portion of tn
county.
Applied to Cities.
Senator Hayward asked Mr.. Smitl
in the conversation alluded to that
the South Dakota scheme was goo
one for counties what would he thinl
Of applying the same plan to cite
Fl with reference to the election of alder
men. Mr.. Smith said he Gid not know
but what it would be a good scheme
1t is unlikely that the legislator
will adopt such a plan with referenc
to cities. Many of the large cities Q
the state are democratic. While alder
men are elected by wards there ma
be chance of saving ward or two
occasionally. in democratic cities. ]
the whole city voted on the whole G
the council, there would be no chanc
in democratic cities of ever electing
, republican to the council and vice vel
sa. Des Moines has had a mixed cour
Gil for many years though many thous
and republican.