Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-04-22


band, the governor of the state has it
In his power to parole her. 1t is said
by lawyers that the governor is clothed
with the pardon power, by the consti-
tuition, and that he is only bound to
submit the cases Of life convicts to the
legislature, but when he has taken the
Judgment of the legislature he is not
bound to follow it. Such a precedent
was established by case in Gov. Sher-
mans time. A movement will be
started at once to secure Mrs. Kuhn's
release. She is perfectly innocent OF
the crime Of killing her husband. All
of the good lawyers in the senate were
on her side. On a joint ballot OF the
legislature she would have had 20 ma
5ority. The legislature has proud
record In the matter of pardons. One
Of the II applicants confessed that he
did commit the murder for which he
was punished. This man the legisla-
ture promptly pardoned. The others
were convicted on circumstantial evil
dence and there was no evidence In the
Kuhn case. But they were all voted to
remain in the penitentiary for life,
unless the governor sees fit to do JUS
tice.
Owns Public Utilities.
Webster City, Ia, is believed to be
more nearly an example Of a town
which owns all of it's public utilities
than any other in the country. The
only utility which the city does not
own is the telephone exchange and ne
gotiations are on to procure title to
that. The gas, electric light and water
works facilities are owned and con-
trolled by the municipality. The au-
thorities Of the town claim immense
advantages from this fact Schedules
of cheap prices for supplies of the kind
mentioned have just been made with a
view to attracting the attention Of
manufacturers 1t is understood that
! Webster City also is the largest city
! In, the west which owns all Of its util-
| tiles.
Reversed by Supreme Court.
A case involving the largest verdict
ever awarded in an Iowa court has just
been reversed by the supreme court
and sent back to the lower tribunal for
retrial. 1t was the case Of James Doyle
against James F. Burns and came up
from Pottawattamie county, where the
| plaintiff was awarded verdict and
j judgment for $446,992. A larger judg-
ment never was recorded in the dis
trict courts of this state. Doyle and
Burns were penniless prospectors few
years. ago and went to California as
! partners. They camped out above the
richest lode of gold known In one Of
the richest sections Of Colorado. After
the discovery Of the treasure the ques-
ton arose as to whether they were still
partners and Doyle proved that they
were, in the lower court. Reversal was
ordered because of the technical errors
In instruction, etc.
Should Be Repealed.
The effort to repeal the negotiable
tax ferret law failed In the legislature
which has just adjourned The jack
son bill received % votes in the senate,
or four less than enough to carry it.
The vote was % to %. Bills must have
constitutional majority in both
Z
try to organize the next general assem-
bly, for the repeal Of the law. It is de-
clared by informed men to have out
lived Its usefulness. Widows and or
phans and estates are its principal vic
tins.
| An Important Commission.
The proposition for the creation Of
a rnv, DC s{op Ia fpy 10 o,,an
ton Of the establishment of a single
board of control for the state educa.
tional institutions met with instant IA
1 vor in the legislature, which was rath-
er timid about creating such board
without some Information on the sub.
sect. The following resolution was the
! basis Of the authority conferred upor
| the commission which will work during
the ensuing two years and report II
the Thirty-first general assembly as Il
whether it is advisable to place the In.
situations In question under such man.
/ agement:
'That there be appointed by the
speaker three members of the house
and by the president Of the senate two
members OF the senate who shall CON
stitute commission to Investigate, ex
anime and consider the different sys
TENS OF management. supervision ant
| control Of the educational institution,
OF this and other states, to acquire al
information possible with respee,
thereto to the end that the system bes,
approved and most practicable to tn.
successful operation, management ant
development Of such institutions be as
certained and to report in writing 1t.
observations, suggestions and recon
mendations not later than September
| !, 1906"
The commissioners will get their ar
tual expenses while conducting the ex.
animation. They will visit all Of the
big educational institutions Of the
country in their search for informa-
ton. The commission is composed Of
Senators Whipple, of Benton county;
Turner, OF Taylor. and Lambert, Of
Jackson; and Representative Kendall
Of Monroe; Wright. Of Webster. and
Langan, Of Clinton. Messrs. Lambert
and Langan are democrats. The COM
mission will meet about the middle oil
May to organize. Senator Whipple
probably will be the chairman. Two
of the members are understood to be
against the establishment Of board
OF control; the other four now are
for 1t.
Site Selected. @
The directors Of the state board Of
Agriculture have selected site on the
state fair grounds for the new $4,000
building, Of a permanent. fre-proo1