Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-09
LAW IS Troublesome
City officials OF he State Great
ly Confused Over Municipal
Elections Measure
is NOT EASILY INTERPRETED
Some, of the Attorneys Give Up Task
of Giving an Opinion as to Necessity
Of Elections This sprins-Terms of
Some Of the Officials Extended One
Yearstate Capital News.
Special to Times Republican.


ennially instead OF annually they may
have had no idea OF the trouble they
We're causing the city officials and
county attorneys of the state, or they
would have worded the law differ
entity. Letters are reaching the attor-
ney generals office every day asking
fer an Interpretation of the law. Most
Of them are unable to ascertain
whether they are to hold an election
this Year or not, and most of them
have been unable to get any enlight-
men. from their county attorneys or
city solicitors.
The purpose of the law was to make
city elections biennial instead of an
nual and to limit the number of wards
in certain cities TO not more than five
or less than two, instead of not more
than seven or less than three. as
the law has been In making the shift
there are complications. The new law
provides that in all cities there shall
be two aldermen at large and one from
each ward, and in towns five alder
men at large. The complications
come in regard to the lengthening of
some terms in order to get onto the
biennial basis The law provides:
"On the Organization of city or
town. or on it's reorganization after
change of its class. or at the first reg
ular election thereafter, a council shall
be elected as follows, except that in
those cities of the second class that
elect d mayor in odd numbered years
the term of those councilmen and Of
hcers expiring in 1908 is extended one
year: in those cities of the second class
that elect mayor in even numbered
wears, the term of those counclimen
and officers expiring in 1909 is extend
ed one year: and at the municipal
election at which a mayor is elected
in 1909 or 1910, as the case may be, the
council shall be elected in accordance
with the provisions Of this act: BY
the election. of two councilmen at large,
but if any city embraces within It's
limits the whole or partfof two or more
two of which contain 1000
or more electol's.5only one of the coun-
cilmen at large shall be chosen from
any one township. there shall also be
elected$at the same time one councils
man from each ward who shall be
chosen by the electors residing within
the limits thereof; thereafter the sue
cessors of such councilmen at large
and ward councilmen and officers shall
he chosen at regular biennial elections
and shall hold office for two years,
AS interpreted by some In those cit
les which elect mayors In the ODD
numbered years, there will be no cleo
ton this year, and terms of officers
expiring this year are extended one
year. The question is whether there
will he an election this year in cities
where the mayor is elected in the even
years. Terms of aldermen
expiring next year are extended one
year. The law does not say whether
there shall be an election this year or
not. The purpose of the law Is to
provide that hereafter all city Off
GERS shall be elected at one time for
a period Of two years, and that the
elections shall occur on the years when
1t has been customary heretofore to
elect mayors.
With the announcement yesterday
that Hon. John C. Crockett, clerk OF
the supreme court of Iowa, has been
appointed and had accepted the posi-
tion Of reading secretary of the Un-
tied States senate, Henry L. Bosquet,
deputy clerk Of the supreme court, has
announced himself as a candidate for
the appointment to the position made
vacant This appointment holds good
until January 1, 1909, by which time
a successor will be elected. Mr.. Bos-
uuet will also become candidate for
the position at the primaries next
June
The vacancy win be filled by the SUI
preme court, this position and that OF
reporter of the supreme court being
the only exceptions not filled by the
governor.
Mr.. Crockett is now in Washington.
His choice came thru a series Of tests
as to ability in which the contest mar
rowed down to three men-one from
Rhode Island, one from California and
Mr.. Crockett. He had the support OF
the Iowa delegation, Senator Dolliver
the name to the committee
and introducing him to the senator's
in charge Of the selection. Mr. Crock
ett's plans will become known upon his
arrival Friday from the east.
1t is likely that the shippers in the
Iowa Manufacturers association will
ask for rehearing in the matter Of
express charges, fixed by the state
commission.
DR.. A. c. Hutchins, the secretary Of
the association, yesterday wrote to
Messrs. Dennison, Martin and the 9TH
er members Of the committee, concern
ing the facts in his possession and his
with the railroad COM
the last of which was held
yesterday, and it is thought probable
that the committee will take action.
1t is understood that rehearing
would be agreeable to the commits
sioners who have manifested much in
terest in the showing made by the
shippers.
DR.. Futchins yesterday presented to
the board the schedule Of actual rates
of the Adams Express company. This
furnished 8. published sched-
ule to the board and it was used as
basis for the new rates promulgated
by the commission. On that schedule
the board reduced rates about 20 per
cent.
The shippers agents at Dubuque,