Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-12-15
FARMERS OPPOSE
A PARCELS POST
oAo,AS
DISCUSSION rssas& lace BE.
FORE ss >oARD OF
-oLTuRE
Feature Of the Iowa Official Register
Will be Statistics Relative to the
Amount of Saloon Taxes Collected
and the Distribution,

Des Moines, Dec. 14.-Bruce Seaman
of Scott county gave the state depart
ment Uf agriculture some interesting
things to look about in his speech in
favor Of what is known as the parcels
post here this week. While the major
ity of those present opposed the reso-
luton which he offered large number
stood with him in support of the propo-
sition.
Tho Washington dispatches of that
date stated that the postal department
had reported an annual deficit of $10,-
100000 that morning, so Mr.. Seaman
and his friends had what appeared to
be very good basis for their PROPOSE
tion.
But Phil Schaller and some of the
other shrewd members of the depart
ment Of agriculture called attention to
the fact that they believed the pro-
posed parcels post would result in CIV
ing the department stores OF the big
cities tremendous advantage over the
country stores as now operated. He
said that as a farmer near Sac City he
desired to see the stores of that town
maintained and supported as it made
his land worth more. 1t was said
that Montgomery-Ward and the Sears
Roebuck outfit wanted the parcels post
bill passed.
This suggestion was enough to kill
the measure.
Gives Saloon Statistics.
One Of the features of the forthcom-
ing Iowa official register will be list
Of every town in Iowa, the number Of
saloons in 1t, and the amount of mulct
tax paid by them to the state, to the
county and to the towns Of the state
The last statistics of this character
were included in a report secured by
Auditor of State Frank F. Merriam
That was many years ago and was not
complete. 1t showed that about one
third of the counties still enforced pro-
hibitions. The new statistics will show
q larger per cent which are enforcing
the law.
It is believed that the report will
show mulct tax and lice se collections
from the saloons OF the state of more
than $2,000,000 year. In Des Moines
alone more than $125,000 a year is col
lected.
| The report will show. also, that the
highest license in the state is charged
in Des Moines where, in addition to
the .mulct tax. $500 is collected by the
city. So that from every saloon the
county gets $500 and the city of Des
Moines 5000.
| Agrlculturlsts Want $15o,oo0.
The state department of agriculture
will ask for $150,000, from the legisla,
ture for permanent improvements on
the state fair grounds. 1t wants TWEEN.
ty acres of additional land, and swine
pavilion and steel grand stand. This
will take ebout $150,000
The hoard Of control has proposed
appropriations for the state institu
tions, amounting to $945OO0. The state
historical building will take $15O,000 tc
complete and the adjutant general has
asked for $4,000 arsenal III which
he may house the war equipment Of
the state and his own offices. The tu
berculosis hospital will have to have
more money The amount asked by
1 the state educational institutions has
not yet been determined, but it viii
be about 100000.
The auditor of state has reported
that there will be 100000 available
for extraordinary appropriations by
the Legislature of this winter Already
more than twice that sum is asked fol
in various ways.
Leon Brown.