Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-24
officials at the Glenwood In
stitution Say the Situation
&
Shows Improvement
cuMMINs AND INSURANCE CASES
Many Have Asked to Take Hand In
tho Fight Against the Present Re.
oime-The Dos Moines Street Rail-
way Franchise Situation Reviewed.
Other State News.
Special to Tlmes-Republioan.

Special to Tlmes-Republioan.
Des Moines. Nov. PA letter from
the superintendent of the school for
the feeble minded to the state board
of control states that there have been
no new typhoid fever cases at the
institution since November IL, and fur
ther reports that to date there have
been twelve well defined cases among
the employees of the institution and
twenty-three among the inmates. This
shows greater per cent Of cases
among the employees than among the
inmates and may be due to the EN-
ployes being careless themselves about
obeying the rules as to drinking boiled
water while being strict. with the In
mates of the place. It Is believed any
way that as there have been nc new
cases since the 18th the trouble has
been effectively checked. The institu-
zion has had assistance from the
Methodist hospital at Omaha In addl-
tional nurses, the supply at the Glen
wood school proving insufficient.
~ sss
Stories that Governor Cummins has
been given proxies for insurance COM
spanies are oNerdrawn. Governor Cum
minis has from the first Of the nsur-
ance troubles refused to take any part
unless there should be a general de-
mand. There have been some letters to
him asking him to take hand. There
have been letters recently from policy
holders asking him to accept proxies
but he has refused steadily to have
anything to do with the matter unless
siderable number OF policy holders. He
does not care to .accepSt proxies from
a few enthusiastic admirers. and give
his time to go east to vote the proxies
OF only few policy holders. He has
taken the position that he would con-
slider 1t duty in case there should be
a large number Of Iowa policy hold
ers demanding It, but there has not
been large number thus far.
The crux OF the Des Moines City
Street Railway franchise question
which will be brought up in the dis
trict court here Monday is disclosed in
one paragraph printed in a local paper
stating that the resolution introduced
by Alderman Whitney ordering the
street railway tracks torn up was
written by Attorney Albertson, Of tha
claims department of the city railway.
The Des Moines papers are just now
printing columns on the question of the
franchise Of the Des Moines City Rail-
way Company. In the multiplicity of
material being printed the public is be-
ing bewildered and 1t is not at all un-
certain hut that this Is gratifying to
the railway company. The case is un-,
doubtedly OF considerable interest to
other cities in the state of Iowa az
much the same questions may arise ir
other cities in time.
There has for years been question
as to whether or not the railway COM
pany has any franchise under which to
operate. The council has made con-
tracts with the company as to extend
ing lines and the like and the matter
has been running on for some years
Business men have recognized ana the
officials of the street railway nave
recognized that sooner or later the
question would come to an issue and
have to be settled. Prominent busi-
ness men who are members and OF
ficers Of the Civic League determined
that the question should be settled
now and so started the action, as citl-
zens of the city, Instead of the city
council recognizing that the time had
arrived when the question must be
settled and then joining in and con-
senting to a friendly suit in the courts
to determine the matter, the council
began to do everything 1t could to
play into the hands of the railway
and passed a resolution ordering the
tracks to be torn up in twenty-five
days at the end of which time II the
tracks are still In position the city
solicitor is authorized to begin action
in the courts. This of course gives
the railway company an opportunity
to begin injunction proceedings II 1t
wishes and thus select the court in
which the action will be tried. OF
course no one expects or wants the
tracks torn up
The franchise or alleged franchise
or contract under which the city is
working calls now for small per cent
of the net earnings Of the company to
be paid to the city but there never has
been a cent paid. Some months ago
it was discovered that the railway
had published in a street car journal a
financial statement giving a glowing
account of it's financial condition and
gross earnings. A local paper printed
the statement and 1t kept the COM
pany busy for weeks explaining
1t. 1t is proposed now by the company
to increase the per cent of net earn
ings paid to the city to per cent
and get a twentyflye-year franchise,
but there is no greater assurance that
anything will be paid to the city under
that than at present. 1t Is the policy
of the company to issue bonds to the
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