Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-07
Legislature to Be Asked to Ex-
tend Time For Annual
Militia Gatherings
ADJT. GEN. THRIfT's REPORT
Suggests One Regiment be Taken on to
jamestown Exposition-state, and
Water Company in Quarrel Over
Capitol Fire Protection = Des
Moinss Gossip.
Special to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican
Des Moines, Dec. IA ten days ell
campment for the Iowa National guard
instead of one of eight days, is one OF
the things wanted by the guardsmen
from the Legislature the coming ses-
sion, according to the report made to
the commander in chief of the state
militia by Adjutant General Thrift.
General Thrift recommends that pro-
vision be made for two days longer
camp. He believes that under the
present system the boys get just fairly
started when they have to break
lcamp. Two days additional would give
1.-TWO full days for real work, and as
more work is being required OF the
guardsmen now than ever before, the
time is much needed. 1t would mean
added expense to the state but in the
estimation Of General Thrift it would
all be money we'll spent. The S1st gen
eral assembly made some radical
changes in the law as relates to the
militia, and to carry out the new pro-
visions of the law the adjutant gener-
| al asked of that assembly an appro-
/ priation of 100000 year. 1t was not
given, but the adjutant general was
told to take it up with the 32nd general
assembly. This he will do. He asks
an increase of $4,000 per annum in the
allowance for the guard.
The recommendation for an appro
priation to begin the construction of an
arsenal on state land near the state
house already purchased and dedicated
to that purpose, is renewed. General
Thrift, in his report to the governor,
filed yesterday, points out that the
property of the state is increas sing rap
idly in quantity and value and that the
temporary provisions for the same are
insufficient. The state property is
housed in rented store room. No es-
innate is placed on the cost of an ar
senal but it should be made large
enough to contain the offices Of the
adjutant general.
General Thrift also recommends that
provisionsbe made for taking one regi-
ment of the guard to the exposition at
Jamestown. He states that by giving
the regiment this trip in place of q
camp the added expense to the state
would not be great. He believes the
members would make the trip without
being paid a per diem for the additional
| time
The state of Iowa has yet to settle
| with the Des Moines Water Company
in the matter of fire protection for the
state capitol. 1t is expected that the
capitol commission will in a few days
have test Of the water mains that
have been laid about the state house
and of the standpipes in the building.
No water has eyer been turned on these
pipes. There is a disagreement be-
tween the commission and the Des
Moines water company as to the terms
under which water will be turned on.
The water company insists on putting
in meter to register the amount of
water that would be used in case of a
fire. The commission does not. believe
this to be necessary, and it was not the
agreement. When the commission
started out to put in the fire protection
system for the state house the Des
Moines Water Company desired TO
have the contract and made an offer.
The commission had another offer at
about $1,000 less and this was accepted.
A main has been laid in the capitol
grounds all around the building with
numerous hydrants, and there are five
interior standpipes leading up to the at
tic. 1t is believed the water company
was piqued at not getting the con-
tract for this work and has been max
ing it as disagreeable as possible for
the state of Iowa. Inasmuch as the
fire protection pipes do not have any
connection with the service pipes any
where and there can be no water used
except in the case of fire, the COM
mission. representing the state of Iowa,
does not see what excuse there may be
for meter Only on the superstition
that the state is to engage in stealing
water can a meter be advocated. In
all probability the matter of ERECTING
satisfactory arrangement with the
company will be put up to the legisla-
ture.
The state capitol is unquestionably
in a far safer condition as to fire than
ever before, but as a matter of fact
there will always be some danger so
condition it was finished twenty-five
years ago.
Attorney H. w. Baily for the city,
in the street car franchise suit in this
city, in the federal court yesterday
disclosed the meat in the cocoanut
when he showed that the resolution
which was passed by the city council
ordering the street car company to va
cate the streets was drawn by an at
torney in the employe of the street car
company, and presented to a member
of the city council to introduce
This fact was disclosed by the tes-
timony of one of the witnesses in the
suit. The attorney who was the au-
thor of the resolution was A. c. Alber-
son. now in the claim department of
the street railway company. The city
council ever willing to please the street
car company was ready to pass the
resolution and did pass it. but City
Solicitor W. H. Bremner fortunately
was able to insist on some changes
Attorney Baily argued from the fact
that the company was anxious to get
into the resolution matters that would
throw the case into the federal court.
The fact of interest to the public is
that the city council was so ready to
pass a resolution which they knew had
been written by the attorney for the
street railway.