Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-18

pare them and their value is not
question of dollars and cents for the
reason that dollars and cents could not
replace them. Besides there are costly
books and materials of all kinds and
he objects decidedly to moving the de-
partment into any building that is less
fire proof and less protected than the
capitol. Besides the labor the state
has spent thousands Of dollars on the
work Of preparing the material and
the state could not afford to hazard
the material for the further reason
that some Of 1t never could be re-
placed. After this showing 1t is very
doubtful whether the geological sur
vey moves out at least to any rooms
less desirable than tho ones they have.
At the request Of the state board Of
medical examiners the attorney gener-
al has given an opinion as to the itin-
Grant physicians licenses. The state
board is not particularly friendly to
itinerant licenses. It wanted to know
whether or not it had to issue them
or whether 1t had an option. The at
torney general in effect tells the board
that 1t has no option and must issue
them when the applicant complies
with the law but advises the board that
1t is warranted in going to the extreme
in the question of satisfying itself that
the applicant does comply. He points
out that the applicant must have ply
sician's license as provided under 1876
before he can get an itinerant license
and furthermore must satisfy the
board as to his competency and moral
ity. Attorney General Byers calls at
tention Of the board to the fact that
the law was not enacted to add rev.
enue to the treasury, although 1t re-
ouires license fee Of $3.50 and he
therefore advises the board that 1t is
justified in protecting the public health
by exercising all its authority as to
competency and morality. There are
only six itinerant physician In the
state.
For some reason or other there are
not as many bidders on the big con-
tracts as there were In former years,
at least not on the state work. Where
formerly on anything over $4,000
there were from six to a dozen bidders
Nowadays there are two or three
Sometimes there is but one. When
the city opened its bids for the big
100000 river Improvements it found
only one bid. The state mad but one
bidder on the Glenwood building, a
wing to the custodial cottage. During
the hard times the contractors had diff
ficulty in getting contracts. Now the
contracts have difficulty in getting the
contractors. Various explanations are
being given for the changed condition.
Contractors say there is a great deal
of work but they say too that con-
tractors are careful about taking con-
tracts for the reason that the price Of
material goes up every night and they
are liable to lose money.
-:o:-
According to all appearances at least
the charges Of bribery against Manager
Hippee Of the Des Moines Street Rail-
way company, and Mr.. Hadley, the
manager of Folks forces, are to be
dropped. The last grand jury in 1906
failed to indict though the evidence
was given to them good and strong.
Then the forces Of reform got vigilant
and saw to 1t that there was some at
tention paid to the manner in which
the next grand jury was drawn. This
attention lead to an action in court in
which the grossest irregularity in the
manner Of drawing the grand and petit
juries was disclosed and the jury lists
were thrown out. Then there was two
months delay and more till the legis-
lature had passed a bill that would
provide a means for setting new
grand jury. This done the grand jury
began the grinding out of petty cases.
The big fellows were allowed to go by
because the grand jury was too busy.
Then again incidentally 1t was pointed
out that while j. d. Whisenand, one Of
the most honored and respected citi-
zens Of Des Moines, Il banker and a
lawyer, was on the grand jury, and the
public was given the impression that
all the other members of the grand
Jury were of the same mould. Incl
dentally ii became known that a
brother of one Of the members of the
former grand jury who had voted
against Indictment of Hippee and Had
Hey was on this jury. It was further.
| lllOT6 Cudt ecu ludI OhiS VI edO LhC1A-
bers of the new jury was foreman OF
one of Folks farms, though this has
never been proven Another member
is son of one Of the carpenters in the
employee Of the street railway. One or
| two other members nave been active
in politics. Citizens think it strange
but still believe this is a good jury
and have hopes.
l.; log.