Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-29
Millers Complain.

Inlb alleBeU IACt, the pOdIu VI COulEW
buys all Of the flour used at the institu-
lions from millers outside of Iowa. The
law governing the board of control pro-
vides that competitive bids on supplies
shall be taken by the institutions and
when all other things are equal preference
shall be given the Iowa producers and
business men. The millers claim that
this rule has not been followed in buy
ing flour. s
Hold Balance of Power.
Representative McAllister, of Linn
county, issued call for conference Of
the farmers Of the house Of representa-
tives. just before the adjournment for
the recess to allow the house chamber. at
the state house to be completed. Mr..
McAllister says that the SO farmers in the
house of representatives holds the bal
ance Of power. II they would hold con-
ferences and vote together on all 1egisla-
ton affecting the farming interests, he
thinks they would have much more in
fiuencethan by voting individually on the
propositions that come up before the leg
islature. Whether the conference will be
held and whether 1t would result in an
an agreement to stick together on mat
tiers of legislation is not decided yet
Association Reorganized.
The state association of the national
guard officers has been reorganized with
w. G. Mentzer, of Knoxville, as presi-
dent. The association fourished prior
to the war of 1898. Since then no meet
Ing was held until the past week, when
the reorganization Of the association was
effected. Only officers Of the guard are
eligible to membership. but all of them
ere said to be ready to join the associa-
ton. A committee was chosen on the
good Of the order. It's business will be
to keep in close touch with the state
and national war departments Cor the
beneht Of the guard. New legislation is
much desired by the guardsmen, espe-
cialy with reference to permanent camp
grounds, arsenal construction, etc.
To Limit Expenses.
Senator G. C. Dowell of Polk county,
has proposed a measure for consideration
by the legislature limiting the expenses
OF candidates for public Office, in prim-
aries and election contests. He believes
thatit would do much to prevent species
Of corruption which is quite common
now at the polls. The recent municipal
primaries in the city of Des Moines
led the senator from Polk county to give
especial attention to these matters. 1t is
not unlikely that the movement for a
primary law which will be guarantee
to voters that they shall get their votes.
counted at primary elections may be
successful before the coming legislature.
Hits the, Railroads.
Judge James Bollinger, of Davenport
has decided that special charter cities
may assess railroad property independ-
emily Of and in addition to the assessment
made by the state executive council. The
council, under the Iowa law, assesses the
railroads at Is per cent. of their actual
value. At Davenport the decision Of the
court validates so per cent. assessment.
There are only half dozen special char
ter cities in the state, but they are large
ones, where the terminals Of railroads are
worth enormous SUMS. The roads will
appeal to the supreme court, Of course, as
the decision would largely increase their
taxes.
Fsvors Investigation.
Chairman Hayward, OF the senate ways
and means committee, which position
carries with 1t the honor Of being, also
the chairman OF the committee Of re-
trenchment and reform which was cree
ated by statute, is in favor OF an invests
cation by the legislature OF the charges
made against former State Auditor
Frank F. Merriam and his insurance ex-
aminer, Max Boehler, who were casti-
gated by the his biennial mes
sage to the legislature. twas charged
oy the state executive council that Mer-
RAM and Boehler collected, between
them, about $23. 900 in fees for examina-
ton OF Insurance concerns. without al
ways performing the service Gov. Cum
minis recommended that If this were
found to be true the state should REIN
burse the insurance companies which
paid the money. Some of the members
OF the legislature do not agree with this
view.
Veterans Protest.
Gov. Cummins has returned from
Washington, where he made an argument
to Secretary of War Root relative to an
Injustice which the war department pro-
poses to do the Fifteenth and Sixteenth
lows regiments in the civil war. The de-
partnent has decided that these regi-
ments were not in at the fighting at Shi-
lob on the first day of that tremendous
struggle. It proposes to limit the in
scriptton on their monuments at Shiloh
to fighting on the second day. Against
this the veterans protest. They are
willing to man to swesr that they were
there and did fight. but the war depart
ment has decided they were not. Gov.
Cummins made the journey to Washing
ton to protest against such injustice.
Whether the secretary Of war will amend
the record is not known
Private Banks.
Prominent members of the legislature
are united in the opinion that there will
be legislation this year affecting private:
banks. AT present private banks are not
touched BY the law, IS institutions, It