Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-12-29
NOTES FROM the CAPITAL


The statutory time for serving mo-
ice OF contest has passed, In the case
u The two men who claim to repre-
sent O'Brien county in the house OF
representatives.. 1t had a:.e.S, sup-
posed that George r. Wilmer. wnv
vas member OF the Thirtieth gen.
sral assembly, would contest the
election of Charles Youde, elected
% the Thirty-first general assembly
It special election held in Novem.
ser. But he did not serve notice.
sut this Is case which Is perfectly
,nique. It is not an ordinary elec-
ion case, because Mr.. Wilmer was
lot candidate before the people at
he time Mr.. Youde was elected. So
t is likely that the statute regulat-
ng contests dues not apply to this
use, and that 1t will be settled by
he house under the provision which
makes the house the final and con-
'lnsive Judge Of the eligibility Of Its
members. But who shall sit during
The disposal of the contest? Both
ren claim to be incumbents. 1t will
AXE the house some time to consiuer
he case and 1t would seem that In
Ne meantime O'Brien county will be
Without representation. Represent
tive Whitmer's claim Is that he was
'uly elected to the house in 1903,
md that he still represents O'Brfen
,ounty; but the auditor OF that
,ountv certified to the governor that
fr Nhitmer had removed from the
county, which operated to make a
'acancy, and the governor called a
,neciaI election to fill the vacancy
nd In this Mr.. Whitmer did not par.
'cipate, while Mr.. Youde was elect
nd. Both men hold certificates. The
aw provides than in contested cleo
ions the man to whom certificate
'ssues is the incumbent, pending the
'ecision Of the case by the. legisla-
ture. But, as stated, this case ~
absolutely unique. Mr. Whitmer re-
'es, also. on the fact that the hien-
nial elections amendment expressly
~~ovides that the terms Of members
# the assembly were extended. Be
'rg one of the members he claims
''s term Is extended by that pro-
'ision.
Governor Cummins has committed
he sentence of Thomas I. Jehb Of or
4umwa, who was serving in the pen
'tentiary at Fort Madison for forgery.
hat he might be able to get to New
York in time to see his aged mother
IN Christmas day. Jebb had served
our years of his sentence and had
brt year longer to serve. He
had the highest record of conduct.
The case involved many pathetic
lectures and the misfortunes which
Jebb undoubtedly suffered were re-
,ponsible for his downfall. He was
IN insurance agent. His mother,
who is more than eighty years OF
,ge, has not known that he was In
prison. The rest Of the family knew
It. They are of the very highest
standing In New York whence he
came. He left for New York IN
time to spend Christmas with his
mother for the first time In four
wears. This Is the only thing in
he form of Christmas pardon
Which issued from the executive Office
This year.
Chief Of Police James W. Jones In
his annual budget just filed with the
police commissioners asks for double
the number of policemen now in the
city and double the expense for the
police department in salaries and in
cidentals. The chief holds that the
past inefficiency of the department
along some lines has been due to the
fact that fifty-six policemen must
patrol fifty-four square miles and the
men are poorly paid He asks for an
increase In all salaries from his own
down. The increase would bring the
total salary up from 100000 per
lnnum to $10S,000 per annum.
While large part of this proposed
increase is distributed among forty
new men asked for a good per cent
is for advances alone. &
The collateral inheritance tax on
the Callahan estate amounts to $780,
$685. Its payment to the state
treasurer Is made with the under
standing that a refund will be granted
If further calculation as to the tax
shows that there is an excess pay
ment; and If the state establishes
claim to additional taxes-which is
,nlikely-they will be paid.-Dec. rs
was the last day Of tie period allowed
by the law for the computation Of the
lax. After that date interest at 8 per
,ent would be added to the amount OF
the actual tax when at last It should
be determined. Therefore the trustees
desired to pay the treasury the sum
agreed upon. The largest sum in the
$4,000 tax paid by single benefi'
ciary of the Callahan will. is that paid
by the Talladega college. The mum.
ser Of beneficiaries interested in the
settlement is probably in excess of
ifty. The appraised value Of the en-.
tire estate was SLOT. 6S6.05. OF the .
requests, $4,000 was exempt from
he collateral inheritance tax. The
sum OF 5000, 490.89 was found to be
taxable, but on account Of the de.
serred estate In some Of these be-
quests, the present worth was found
TO be $79O,170.92. 1t was on this sum
that the tax was calculated.
There are four cases Of smallpox
in West Union. All are under strict