Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-15

cisn Of the practice. We Will all
agree, however, that the expenditure
of money In political controversies has
passed beyond fair and reasonable
limit. Other countries and other
states have attempted to restrict the
use of money Within honest bounds
through that very efficient corrective
Think the state of Iowa
should do likewise, * and l, strongly
recommend law that will require
not only Political committees. but
candidates for nomination and for
election, to publish their expehdi-
lures. -
Agricultural Department
One of the most gratifying develop.
ments of the state has been the Won
derful growth of the state fair, un-
der the efficient management of It's
board of trustees. Its entire cost to
the state, including the donation by
the city of Des Moines, has been
$1T9, 5o9.25 whereas the present
value of the grounds and buildings,
conseVatively estimated, is $685.
$50. The annual exhibition has not
only become a source of pride to the
people Of the state, but It's educa-
tional effect can hardly be exaggerat.
ed. Like all other such institutions.
it's needs multiply, and 1t Will de-
serve liberal assistance from the gem
eral assembly.
During the year there arose an
imperative demand for an extension
of the fair grounds toward the south
In the vicinity OF the present railway
station. Additional buildings are re.
CURED for cattle. horses, hogs and
sheep. These buildings must be situ-
ated proximate to the buildings al-
ready In existence, and therefore the
board of trustees believed that stK or
seven acres or land (Which has Seen
divided into lots) lying Immediately
south of the present line, ought to
be acquired. There was no authority
to make any such purchase. except
upon condition Of a sale of a part Of
the ground already owned. In this
situation the board of trustees, after
carefully consideringth the matter unani-
mously recommended to the ex-
ecutive council the sale Of forty
part of the grounds, not now In use,
and with the proceeds of such sale
purchase of the lots heretofore merl-
toned. The council, which had the
power under the statute to make the
sale and purchase, was deeply im-
pressed with the showing made by
the board, and felt that the further
development Of the state fair depend
ed upon the proposed enlargement.
At this juncture certain public spir-
tied citizens of Des Moines, who felt
that 1t would be unwise to sell any
part of the grounds now owned,
came to the rescue, and themselves
purchased the land and lots needed
for very reasonable price ($5,8T5)
and decided, them to the state Of
Iowa, with no other agreement than
this: that 1 would bring the subject
to the attention of the general as
sembly and-recommend, an appropri-
alton that would reimburse them for
the expenditure which they have
made. / do recommend the REIN.
bursement earnestly. There is no rea-
son Why these men should make q
donation to the state of iowa, and
they entered into the matter solely
BECAUSE the board of trustees and the
| executive council believed that the
/ Traditional land was in1neratfve1y re
cessary and that It n1tist be acquired
In time to permit the management OF
! the fair to make arrangements for
| Its use during the exhibition of 1907.
Enlargement Of the Pure Food Law
Last year the General Assembly
adopted a measure intended to pro-
tect the people from fraud and i'm
position in the sale Of adulterated and
unwholesome foods. 1t is now in OPP
GRAFTON and I believe that 1t will ac-
complfsh great good.
Those who are vitality interested IN
the live stock industry feel that sim
liar protection should be extended to
| live stock foods. / have examined
has been possible under the circum-
stances, and have reached the con-
clusion that their views are sound.
/ therefore recommend the enactment
of law with respect to such foods, 4
having the general scope and pur-
pose of the act of the Thirty first
General Assembly relating to pure
food.
j Railroads
Inasmuch as I feel compelled to
make a series of recommendations
that touch, directly or Indirectly, the
railroads within the state, l must be
Eallowed brief preface There has
been within the last three or four
the relations of the railroads and the
people, that those who manage rail-
4 road property and those who own rail-
road stocks and bonds seem to fear
that there exists a violent prejudice
which will result in unjust legislation.
. cannot believe that the fear Is we'll
founded. The discussion has been the
natural outcome of the marvellous In
crease In commerce, and the plain
attempt of railway managers to reap
the largest possible profit from the
unparalleled traffic of the time. These
managers, while they admit as a
mere abstraction the proposition that
la railroad has not the liberty or IL
cense of private property, cannot and
will not accept it as rule of con-
duct. They still believe, apparent-
!. ly, that they have a right to capital
lie not only present earnings, but
hopes for the future. They cannot
and will not, save theoretically, rec-
4 ognize that all persons and all locali-
ties must be given the use Of trans
portation facilities upon like terms
under like conditions.
There is no disposition upon the
part of the people generally or OF
any legislative body to take away from
railway corporations the management
of their property, or to deny them
full and adequate compensation for
the service they render. say to you,
and l hope you will bear 1t in mind
when you come to consider the rec
concentrations / shall make, that you
could not inflict a more fatal blow