Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-18
ESTIMATES ON TAX
LEVY QUESTION
MINORITY LEADERS ARE PREPAR.
ING FIGURES TO SHOW THAT
LEGISLATURE WAS ExTRAvA.
CANT.
Des Moines Bureau Of
The Ottumwa Courier,

formed OF the legislators as to the tax
levy OF next year and the year after,
based on the appropriations made for
the various state institutions are being
questioned by some Of the democratic
leaders and 1t is declared that they
are having prepared an argument to
show that the legislature which has
just closed was the most wasteful and
extravagent in its treatment of the
state institutions of any in history.
1t is recalled that the chairmen of the
appropriations committees estimated
on the last day of the session that the
tax levy would be 80 mills on the dol
lar. They said 1t might go to 3.3 or
possibly 3.4 tens for the two years,
but not more. Now, some of the demo-
Gratis, who are ever watchful for op-
portunity to make a point against re-
publican legislators. are claiming that
the tax levy will be much more than
this. and it is said they are preparing
to give circulation to estimates quite
different from those made by men who
had the figures at hand, When the
appropriations for the agricultural
college, the state university and the
state normal school were being CON
sidered by committees. the point was
made that If they got all they asked
the legislature would be subject to
harsh criticism by those seeking polit-
ical advantage In cry of extrava-
gance, but the president of one of the
colleges raised the point that as the
voters had that issue squarely before
them last fall and had refused to be
stampeded by any such cry, the legis-
lature was not warranted In cutting
expenditures down farther. According
ly the support funds were in fact in
creased and state expenditures gener-
ally were maintained at the standard
deemed necessary for the upbuilding
of all the state institutions.
A few years ago the state tax levy
was 3.5 mills on the dollar and for the
past ten years 1t has averaged about
mills on the dollar.
Capt. Thos. l.. Stevens of the adju-
tant generals office, and formerly a
resident of Glenwood, Iowa, 1t is
thought will have active charge Of the
preparation Of the soldiers roster as
provided for by the last legislature.
Capt. Stevens for some years has been
record clerk in the adjutant's Office
and is thoroughly familiar with the
records in the office and for that reason
particularly competent to look after
the work. He wiff-5e relieved tempo
1arily of his other duties in the office
in order that he may devote all his
time and attention to the roster. In adj
Gftion, other clerks will be engaged to
assist him In the work 1t Is the ex.
Iectation that the matter will be ia
ken up as soon as possible by the per-
sons provided for in the bill and the
work started on It's way.
The primary election law is to BE
given wide circulation. There will he
a copy printed for every 40 people at
state expense Some will have to look
over the others shoulders The state I
official register will contain the law
complete. 1t Is issued from the secre-
tary Of states Office and will be ready
for distribution in a month or two.
The legislature ordered 5000 copies
of the law printed In vest pocket
pamphlet size. In addition there will
be 10000 copies of the session laws
printed and sold to the lawyers, in
which will be the primary law.
$3.50
The state has no money with which
to investigate the prevalence of cere-
bral-spinal meningitis. The state
board Of health is alarmed and its
hands are tied. At the last meeting
of the board the spread of the disease
through the southern part of the state
was noted as an alarming condition
and the board appointed committee
10 investigate, and, having no funds
TO pay their expenses. asked the ex-
ecutive council to find the funds. The
council has answered that 1t has no
funds available for that purpose or
that it could legally use for that pur-
pose. In the meantime three cases Of
the disease have appeared in Polk
county near Polk City and the board
is still further alarmed. Nothing is
known Of the disease by physicians
anywhere particularly and still less by
the physicians in the west. It Is In
fictitious and the board has ordered
that there be no public funerals and
that all preparations taken in other
infectious diseases be taken in this.
At the same time the board is without
knowledge on which to advise the pub
lie as to methods of preventing the
disease. 1t is believed it is carried
through the discharges from the nose
and mouth.
w. w. Copeland Of Lucas county,
member Of the republican state COM
mittee, and Editor Long Of Osceola,
were in the city yesterday. There
are some down in our county who crit
icise the legislature" said Mr.. Cope
land in answer to question, "and then
theer are good many who are delight
ed with the work of the legislative
session. suppose 1t is So with every
legislature like it and some do
not; but apprehend there is not more
criticism of this legislature than Of
others. We are not talking politics
much in our section"
II am very glad the primary bill
was passed." said Capt.sHull, member
of congress. shall be entirely willing
to trust my candidacy with the voters.
And have long advocated this law
t. ~s.