Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-16

from this peak and showing the beau
ties of scenery unequaled in Iowa.
Clayton county has been styled by Gu
rator Aldrich of the state historical de-
partment, the Switzerland Of Iowa.
Mr.. Hempill is the fourth district
member of the republican state CEN
trail committee.
An interesting item in the report of !
Auditor Hemple is that relating to the
tax ferrets. 1t shows that in 1902 they |
drew from the county $5,012,while in
1902 they drew but $766.
This is said to be fair average of
the reduction in the income of the fer
rets Of the state. During their four
years operation they have cleaned up|
about all Of the taxes that are due
from property owners but have not
been uncovered by the regular assess
ors. and their income now is falling off
very considerable.
Nevertheless they were able to mus
ter enough strength to beat the efforts
Of Senator Jackson of Woodbury. coun-
ty to repeal the law which creates the
ferrets and makes their business pos
sible. Senator Jackson was much dis
appointed at his failure to get the re-
pealing act through and he will try it
again two years hence.
1t Is rumored among the legislators
left in the city that Sarah Kuhn would
not be pardoned by Governor Cummins
even If the legislature had recommend
ed it.
This statement comes from a gentle
wi N In IN Nr
! Cummins. 1t is said, also, that this
was the real secret Of the bitter fight
made by Colonel Saunders in the sem
ate against the pardon Of the young
/ woman.
Colonel Saunders is a member Of the
governors staff and 1t is assumed that
he desired to save the governor the
recommendation of the legislature.
While the senatorial coterie that has
run things at the capitol during the
winter was demanding $208,000 for the
completion Of repairs on the state
house, on the closing day of the legis-
lature the visitors to the state house
or some of them witnessed again the
detective condition Of the new eleva-
tors. The one which killed two people
during the session "creeps." One OF
the attendants left it for a moment tc
cross the corridor on the Legislative
floor and winnie he was gone the ma
chine crept down about two feet. Wher
he got back to the door of the cage he
was compelled to leap down into the
cage and might easily have been caught
and killed by the machine.
When Representative Head was pro.
testing against appropriating s2o8,00(
for repairs yet to be made he called
attention to the fact that no hand ex.
} cept that of Father Time had touched
i the upper two floors Of the state house
since the capitol commission was pu
to work Mr.. Head said that $4,000
are needed by the state house.
, Representative Temple had salt
that it was we'll known that five pc
cent would only cover the annual de
terioration Of the state house. MI
Head said that this meant that tn
state house would have to be rebuilt
every twenty years II no repairs Wer
put on 1t within that period.
This he deemed ridiculous, for tn
capitol has stood for thirty years an
q is reasonably well preserved. He In
. sisted that the money was being vast
ed If more than $4,000 were put on II
4 but he was willing to compromise O
q 100000. But the senatorial coteri
i heat him and the state house repair
[ VIII cost $tUVtUOO dilo6ClASi SSoAASN-N
O what has been spent already.
It The second district faired fairly we
f in reaping honors at the hands OF IN
q presiding officers Of the recent genera
n assembly.
= 1t got two members Of the commit
L tee to investigate the advisability
placing the Iowa educational institu
lions under single board of contro
}, It is true that both are democrats
Langan, of Clinton, and Lambert,
: Jackson-but they are regarded
strong men and did not indulge In an
ripping" either of a. partisan or othe
character during the session.
Besides their selection rather ba
ances the fact that the district manae
ed to escape the assignment OF TT
democratic member of the board
trustees of the state agricultural co
lege of which the representative
stood in fear for several weeks durlr
the session.
1t is somewhat of an interesting CT
Incidence that two of the members
the commission would come from II
\ second district and In which the un
2 yersity is located; though both of the
are in favor of the board of contr
idea. 1t is not improbable that Geort
Koontz, the member from Johnst
county, and himself democrat W
( have some influence with the dem
:: cratic commissioners from this dlstri