Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-09
IS FOR Law.
GEORGE Il. woopeon DECLARES
THAT COAL CAMP is NO
VICIOUS PLACE

Negro Lawyer Asks Governor Cum.
minis on Behalf of Buxton Citizens,
for q Law Compelling Towns Like
the One 10 Question to incorporate.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE 4
Des Moines, Bureau Of the Courier.
Des Molnes, Jan. s..
George H.Woodson of Oskaloosa has
presented to the governor the claims
of the people of Buxton for self-govern-
ment. He has specially objected to the
claim made by B. @. Buxton, or said
to have been made by him, that the
grand jury of Mahaska county was In.
f1uenced by the saloons IN its repre-
sentation to the governor and the
members Of the legislature respecting
the fact that Buxton has no local self
government and therefore is more or
less a lawless community.
Cur. grand jury is not built that
way said Mr. Woodson, at the office
OF the governor, to a newspaper man.
1T was not Influenced by the saloon
men and If Mr.. Buxton ever made the
charge he has done the jury a grave
injustice. All our people in that sec
ton understand perfectly why the jury
took the action it did. 1t wants Bux-
ton cleaned up. The town has 5000
people, more or less, and no local
peace officers except two justices of
the peace, two constables and one dep
uty sheriff. The town wants to be in
corporated so that 1t may have a local
government and employ a police force
and such machinery for enforcement
of law. as to control the element which
is inclined to make trouble.
For most of the people of Buxton
are law abiding and are deeply cha
grined by the notoriety which 1T has
gained by reason of the crimes COM
mitted there What they want is a
law requiring all towns of more than
500 people to be incorporated. Under
the law as 1t is, a town may grow to
be any size and need not incorporate
if 1t does not see fit to do SO. OF
course almost all towns do incorporate
but in this case the coal mining COM
pany owns all the property and there
is no way to proceed unless the law
actually requires Incorporation.
THAT is what the people of Buxton
are asking Of the legislature and will
urge it upon the members of the legis-
lature."
Mr.. Woodson is the colored orator
and lawyer Of Oskaloosa. He deliver
ed the annual address before the Des
Moines council Of the Afro-American
league here this week. He is president
Of the state council. Most of the resi-
dents of Buxton are colored and are
law abiding, but Of course as in any
community of that large size there are
those who are not.
Cun1mins and Extravaganza.
The latest assault on Governor Cum.
minis in which he is charged with ex-
travagance because he bought a car
pet or two for the executive Offices,
has appealed to the people here as en-
inently ridiculous, and has fallen per.
fectly fiat.
Just as sample Of the lack Of
power Of the governor and the whole
executive council, an incident that oc.
CURED in council meeting day or two
ago may be mentioned. Bills were
presented by members of the legislat-
i've commissions which have been in.
vestigating different subjects during
the recess Of the assembly, and the
council was on the verge of allowing
then--a purely clerical and magister.
| ial performance-when attention was
called to the fact that the assembly
had provided for the payment of the
expenses in joint resolution instead
of by an act Therefore, the council
turned down the bills and the legis.
llature will have to pass an act proyid-
ing for the payment of these bills be-
| fore they can be liquidated at all from
the state treasury. The council Is as
powerless as child to order them
| paid for provision has not been made
by the legislature for their payment.
And so when the governor or the
Cummins administration is charged
with extravaganza because two addi
tional insane hospitals have been built
on direction Of the legislature 1t is sc
ridiculous as to react on those who
have perpetrated the charges.
State Expenditures.
In brief here are the figures of state
expenditures for all purposes during
the administrations of the respective
governors as shown by the reports OF
| the auditors Of state:
! Governor Larrabee.
First term $2,921, 612.S1
! Second term ;. -. -. >. 2,825,004.74
Total :. -. 49,. -. .s5.746617.5s
Governor Boies.
First term /. ...... 1904, e365s
Second term ). ... .... 3,768,424.7 ~
Total .$6,812,4s1SC
Governor jackson.
One term, total ...... ..s3.677, 047.Se
Governor Drake.
One term, total .s4,731, 764. 80
Governor Shaw.
First term ..... -. s4,1s6, SO
/ Gnoon1 fau A i, Nh