Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-19
LOCAL COMMENT

w
the attendance has been large, it re-
mains fact that deficit will be found
when the expense bills are paid. There
stand ready, however, to meet the
balance on the wrong side of the
ledger, number of business men who
have pledged themselves as guarantors
of the project. 1t is these men who
make the chautauqua possible for
Marshalltown, for If they did not take
sufficient interest to guarantee the
deficit, the ris., could not be assumed
by any one man. 1t is possible that
Marshalltown is attempting too much,
in it's array Of varied and high priced
talent, but at any rate the chautauqua
has certainly afforded the lovers of lee
lures and good music many treats dur
ing the past week. There is one fact.
however, to lend encouragement and
that is the history Of other young chau-
tauquas. 1t is not often chautauqua
can be organized and conducted at
profit during the first few years of its
existence. 1t requires q few years
time before it can be placed on pay
ing basis The good advertising that
the assembly derived last year, and
again this year, will have telling eff
feet in years to come, If the venture
is continued, and the harvest from
the seed now sown will be reaped later.
What the chautauqua needs is to get
not only the people of Marshalltown,
but thosei Of all central Iowa. so in
terested In the local assembly, that
they will look forward to it next year
as soon as this years session is over.
To those who had never had the ex-
perience of hearing the notorious Sam
Jones the chautauqua gratified very
strong curiosity. AS he appeared III
Marshalltown Jones was too harmless
to deserve much Of the censure ne mas
received He tells stale Jokes but tells
them we'll and there are always enough
people in large audience who nave
never heard them to respond with
hearty laugh He breaches on cardinal
virtues admonishing, men to love their
wives, care for their children and new
err get drunk but he brings no new
thought to his hearers. He does not
impress one as being an intellectual or
spiritual man at all. in fact, his whole
attractiveness is his somewhat coarse
but unique and original style. With
rich southern drawl he talks niggab
driving slang from a pulpit platform
"Yo' little fool, yo,, "yo' she DEVIL,
'yo' old rascals, yo," and like ep1thets
keeps up rather lively interest in
what he has to say Judged by what
he said in Marshalltown Sam Jones Us
far more harmless than dangerous,
somewhat coarse, certainly not inspir-
ing to better things and an evangelist
a man would not go the second time
10 hear.
AS one spectator expressed 1t, I'VE are
thankful even for small favors," in
speaking of the councils reduction of
the city tax by 1-3 mills. Every
little helps, and with slight reduc-
ton in city, and another small saving
in state, the total Of few mills will
mean many dollars to the man who
paws on a heavy valuation. The fact
that Marshalltown owns It's own water
works system is directly responsible
for the cutting down Of the city levy.
A 5-mill tax levied last year is obltt-
Grated this year, because Of no pressing
need Of repairs or improvements. The
water works is practically SELF us-
| d
Gated in very few Iowa cities.
The water works department Of the
city has announced that 1t has in view
complete meter service to be adopted
as soon as arrangements can be MADE.
At first it will not be complete In ev-
cry sense Of the word, but will apply
to all business houses, and all resi-
mol
maintained. Chairman Webster cited
figures taken from the departments
records, showing an aggregate saving
of 25 per cent to 100 consumers under
the meter system, as against the OLD
flat rates Only four out OF the nun
bred were paying more money on their
meters. The department is fully con-
WINGED that the meter system Is the
only fair way to handle the water
business-fair to both consumer ana
city alike The former pays Tor just
what he gets, and the latter, While not
deriving quite so much revenue, makes
saving on water and fuel consumed
because the consumer is more careful
and does not waste.
According to City Solicitor Burritt
the county will have to go begging as
far as the city is concerned. IN its eff
forts to collect from the city Fone-half
of the cost of prosecuting the cigaret
tax case thru the higher courts. The
city solicitor holds that it is not the
intent of the law to hold the city for
the costs, even tho the city does de-
rive a portion Of the tax, but that the
exnense must be met by the county, as
any other Indebtedness that the coun-