Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-10-11
DEMOCRATS NIL
TAKE No ACTION
Walt Butler Thinks They Will
Not Take Up the Primary
Law
TOO MUCH IN THE MINORITY
Party Has So Little Influence in Iowa
That Any Action 1t Might Take Will
Not be Notieed-Expenses of the
State Have Been Increased During
the Biennial Period.
Special 70 T,nnes-Republican.

Special 20 Tlnes-Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 11-Ex-congress-
man Walt Fl. Butler believes that the
democratic party of the state will take
no party action on the primary cleo
ton law which will come up in the next
session Of the legislature. "The demo-
cratic party is so hopelessly in the
minority that the primary will mean
little to them," said Mr.. Butler today.
There will be some democrats in the
legislature who will oppose the meas
ure and find some who are in favor oe
it. But there will be no action as a
party on the measure, am confident
For minority party, primary means
little ,for the party is forced always to
put up it's best men and the caucus will
accomplish about as much as prim-
ary. For majority party the primary
means much and is far better system
than the caucus system. The only
position the democrats Of the state leg
islature will take, am inclined to be-
iieve. will be one on the broad plain
Of the general good to the state and
from that standpoint there will likely
be differences Of opinion among the
democrats the same as among the re-
publicans."
There will be no action by the war
department on the matter of the Shit
lob controversy between the commits
sion from this state and the national
commission till congress meets and tn.
Iowa delegation gets together and Is
heard. The war department has in
formed those interested OF this decision
in the matter. In just what form the
hearing will be hass is yet to be determ-
tired upon. but Governor Cunmins will
in all probability go to Washington
and meet the Iowa delegation there and
plans will then be decided upon for
presenting the matter to the war de-
partment and no doubt the entire dele
cation will appear before the secre- :
tary Of war to present the claims of the
Iowa commission.
The forthcoming report Of the exec
utive council on the expenses of the
state for the past two years, show
some things that the public may have
difficulties in understanding II un-
initiated An increase in the expenses
of running the executive department
for two years is shown Of over $4,000.
The expenses for the two years ending
July 1, 1903, was s31,265, and for the
two years ending July l, 1905, $34,64o.
According to the recent law the gov
ernor's salary was increased $4,000 a
year and this law has been in force
for eighteen months, which accounts
for $4,000 of the increase. In the aud
itor's office there are no travelling ex-
penses given for the two years ending IN
1903. while, there is $75S9 for the last
two years. This is due to the fee sys-
tenn. The money is now paid into the
state treasury. while formerly there
were no travelling expenses reported.
the money being taken from the fees
collected. Thre is an increase In the
EXPENSES from the office of the adju-
tant. general Of from $125,721 to $780,
4s9. or this increase 100000 went to
buy the permanent state camp grounds
out near the army post near this city.
In the board Of control office the in
crease is partly accounted for by the
employing of a state agent REQUIRED
bv new law at salary of $1,000
year, and whose travelling expenses
have amounted to $685. thus far. The
secretary of states office shows $l4,-
1924 for binding, but large part OF
this should be credited to other
offices since the binding Tor
many of the other offices goes
through the office of the secre-
tary Of state, According to the report
the most expensive department OF the
state government during the two years
ending June 80, 1905, was the office OF
the adiutant general, which expended
in the aggregate $3.50, ,4s9.76, while the
Thirtieth general assembly was a close
second with an expenditure of $780,
1894. The least expensive department
was the office of the board of exam1n-
ers for mine inspectors which had
total expense of only s373.67.
The report of the supplies from the
supplies department shows some inter-
esting things. For instance, the Gus
todian used no rubber bands or envel-
opes during the two years, but used
more soap than any other department..
OF course the soap was for the toilet
rooms and not for the custodian's Of
flee entirely. The custodian's office is
in the smallest room in the state house
and supports no clerks or stenograph-
ers. The auditors office used more
stamps than any other office heading
the list with s2,2s1.eo. The attorney
general used only $.6S worth Of ink and
paste in the past two years, while the
secretary of state used 321.1s worth.
The secretary Of the executive council
leads off in the use Of rubber bands by
using s6138 worth. In pencils and
pens the treasurer leads off with US
ing s23.24 worth. The board of con-
troll used the most paper. 337s.2s, and
the most envelopes. $500
r4~aka A.