Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-21
Muscatine Senator, Author of
Biennial Election Law, Dis
cusses Proposed Changes
LETTER TO COUNTY AUDITOR
Senator Titus Adopted This AS Being
Ono Of the Best Ways Of Giving the
Movement Agitated, the Proper
strensth-specuIation On Who Will
Hold Over.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

SOeClaI 10 IlneS-hepuDlCd
Muscatine, Aug. Ex-senator Titus,
author of the biennial election law, has
written the following letter to county
auditors relative to proposed changes
or Improvements in that law:
Now that biennial elections have
been fully established in this state,
l am interested in having the citizens
of Iowa satisfied with the change.
"In order to perfect the biennial
plan, it appears to me that the term
of office of county and township Off
GERS should be made four years, elect
ing one-half at the biennial period, and
the other half the next. This will ma
terially decrease the ballot, which will
complete change of county and town.
ship officers at one time. To select a
dozen officers from the state of Iowa
is a different proposition from choosing
them from the limited territory con-
tanned within a county. 1t is predicted
by some that this will create too much
competition for nominations, and that
the efficiency of the candidates will De
lost sight of in the desire to satisfy
the different localities.
1.-The change to the four year term
can be made by the general assembly
that meets next January. I am salts
fed if there is a general demand for
this modification, the members of the
,1,o
"In studying over the best plan to
inaugurate the movement in this di-
rection, decided to write the county
auditors of Iowa asking them to pre-
sent the matter to the September meet
ing Of the board Of supervisors. If the
suggestion meets with favor, will ask
the members of the board and your
self to take some interest for this
change, and at the proper time confer
with your next senator and representa-
tive.
II have no axe to grind in the mat
ter, and do not desire any more pub
licity than / have already had in con-
nection with the change; but 1 feel
that something should be done to give
the movement the proper strength.
at is possible may have the wrong
idea about the matter, and would be
pleased to have any suggestions from.
you or. the members of your board
that you care to offer. 1t is possible
you may be able to enlist the news
papers of your section in this cause.
even though they may have been OPP
posed to biennial elections"
Who Will Hold Over.
The letter from Senator Titus has.
raised a question In the minds OF
those interested as to which officers
would hold over two years to avoid
an election of all county officers at the
same time, which will be the case in
1906. This phase of the matter is not
touched upon by Mr.. Titus in his letter,
and leaves room for speculation on
the part of those interested as to who
would be entitled to hold over in case
the legislature sees fit to make the pro-
posed change in the term.
The sheriff, county treasurer, county
and county surveyor
will hold over next year by virtue of
the year being given them through the
passing of the biennial election law.
The officers who have not been given
any time in addition to that for which
they were elected are the clerk of the
court, recorder, auditor and county at
torney.