Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-23
Council Bluffs Papers Claim
of Trickery Anglers the
Legislators
MAY AFFECT SCHOOL REMOVAL
Failure Of Pottawattamie County
Members to Work in Harmony With
the Commercial Club Likely to Re-
suit in a Detriment to the city's
Chances.
Special to Times Republican.

to the legislature by what appears TO
be conflict on the part OF the Potta-
wattamie county members and the
Commercial Club Of Council Blutfs,
or at least failure to work IN mar
mony and for the interests OF Coun-
ell Bluffs in retention of the dear
school. The matter was brought to the
attention of the legislators by re-
ceipt of marked copies of Council
Bluffs paper containing a savage on
elaught on the house membership and
accusation Of fraud and dishonesty In
the house. 1t all arose over the visit
ing committee to look over the site for
the deaf school. The Council Bluffs
members insist that the visiting COM
nfittee Is more than welcome and a
perfectly proper thing; but for some
reason there was great hubbub In
the west end because of the appoints
ment OF the committee. The first accu-
0ation was that the resolution had been
Omuggled thru the house in the alb
sence OF either Of the members from
Pottawattamie, that Superintendent
Rothert had enticed Mr.. Martin down
to the office Of the board Of control
for that purpose, and that the board of
control had inferentially put up the
whole Job. Then there was the asser-
ton that if Martin had only been
present things might have been differ
snt. and anyway Senator Saunders
would see to 1t that the resolution
M ~ - 8 - nd
very day Saunders moved that the
senate concur and the resolution Went
thru. On receipt Of the marked copies
OF a paper containing what many OF
the members regarded as deliberate
insult to the generally assembly the in
terest in the removal project immeds-
ately revived and 1t is now more than
probable that removal will be de-
manded.
The basis for the story which caus-
ed the wrath of Council Bluffs was
that Superintendent Rothert and
Chairman Cownie Were engaged in
making the quarterly awards for the
supplies for the deaf school, and Mr..
Rothert had walked out into the corrf-
dor. He met Mr. Martin and they
chatted a few minutes. Mr.. Rothert
stated what he was doing and asked
Mr.. Martin IL ne did not care to go
along with him and see how 1t was
done. AS Mr.. Martin, representative
from Pottawattamie, had never been
In the office of the board of control,
(which manages the institution ut
Council Bluffs, he accepted the offes.
The two were In the stock and sample
room OF the board for time. then
they went into the main office where
MR.. Martin was introduced to the other
members.
In the meantime the resolution for a.
visiting committee had been introduce
ed and as nobody objected to 1t and as
everybody believed 1t was all right It
was passed. Whether there was intent
on the part of the house to take snap
Judgment on Council Bluffs Is ques-
ton for the house members to decide.
But it is certain that neither Superin-
aendent Rothert nor the members OF
the board OF control had any knowledge
of the resolution until the next day.
They had supposed the whole question
was settled. Now some of the mem
bers favor passage Of resolution
calling for an inquiry as to whether
take advantage of Mr.. Martin or not;
or If not that. at least resolution
formally denying the accusation made
against the general assembly. The
feeling Is growing that the Council
Bluffs people do not want any real in
vestigation OF the subject and that
their resentment at the legislature for
provinding a visiting committee arises
from fear that the report will be dis
agreeable.
The Boards Report.
In making its report to the house on
the condition Of the various special
funds for the state institutions the
board of control stated in explanation
81 the fact that such large sums re-
main unexpended in some OF the funds,
that the Twenty-nin general assem-
bly, provided that 100000 Of the money
for the institutions should
not be drawn before july 1903. In
several cases the money appropriated
proved to be insufficient for the pur-
pose desired, and in other cases re-
peated changes In plans and repeated
efforts to get bids were necessary be-
fore bids were received which could he
accepted In consequence Of these
causes Of delay contracts for numerous
buildings and other improvements were
not let until late In the year 1903 and
many OF them are not yet completed
and money for them is yet in the state
treasury.
The report makes complete showing
of the status of various building and
other operations at the institutions.
Some OF the larger items OF explana-
tion follow:
The construction Of the new building
Tor hospital. library and school room
at Fort Madison, was deferred until
after last June and 1t has been found
Impossible to let the contract. The
arrangements have now been conelud-
ed. however, for the building and 1t
will be commenced as soon as the
weather will permit. This calls for
$4,000 Of the unexpended balances.
The $4,000 for shop building and
equipment at Clarinda, and $4,000 for
coal house, We're found to be insuffi-
cient and they are being held to await
other appropriations to make them eff
fective.
At Eldora there is $4,000 for a cola
storage plant, but after abandoning
the building Intended for that purpose
1t was found impractical to use 1T and
the fund Is being held. The 1920 for
school house will be needed to pay the
contractor.
At Glenwood there is a fund OF s12,-
e5O on double cottage and other sim