Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-10-20

Arrled vastly Increased number OF
passengers during the first year I'M
der the 2-cent charge. This was In
spite of the fact, also that excursions
were not run during the past year by
the railroads Of the state. If popular
priced excursions had been run, az
In former years, it is believed that
the number of passengers carried
would have vastly Increased even
over the Increase shown by the re-
ports In the regular course Of bust
ness. Reports from half dozen of
the smaller lines in the state to the
railroad commission disclose the fact
that In each case the revenue from
carrying passengers increased during
the year of the 2-cent charge. Not
alone that, but the gross and net
earnings Of most Of the railroads
show either an increase or figures
about equal to the remarkable record
Of two years ago.
Raise New Point az t. Taxation
Puzzling questions relative to
the assessment Of corporation stock
are as old as assessment Jaws them.
selves. but Two Ice companies Of Des
Moines and the Kirkwood hotel have
sprung brand new one and Judge
brennan has knotty problem to
solve. The question is whether or
Of Tao 1<ko al
companies shall be assessed at their
face value or at their par value. The
Independent Ice Company, the Iowa
Ice company and the Kirkwood hotel
are appealing from the assessment be-
cause they say their, stock was az
sessed at 500 per share. when 1t will
not sell for that. The Iowa Ice com.
lpany has consolidated with other COM
panies and alleges Its shares to be
worth nothing; The Independent, Ice
company and Kirkwood hotel
say, their stock Is worth much less
than 500. A special section governs
ice and coal companies. fixing the
assessment on the average valuation.
The city contends that statute 70.
lating to the assessment of any cor
poration should govern in this case
So far as known, the question has
| never been raised before and in v'ev
| OF seeming contradiction Of the two
statutes. Judge Brennan must go en-.
tirely without precedent.
Schools Are Crowded.
The Des Moines school board at its
last meeting neither accepted nor
refused the offer of the city library
board to use the vacant rooms In the
city library for office quarters. It 10
probable though that . negative re.
port will be made at the next meet
ing of the board.
Delegations from both Oakland and
Grant Park school districts were
heard by the school board In regard
to the overcrowded condition OF the
schools in those districts. The base.
ment room In the North Des Moines
High school, which Is used for some
! of the children Of the Oakland school
and to which the patrons object. was
considered by the board to be dry
ised the Grant Park district next year
but something will be done I'm.
mediately to assist in the transporta.
ton of the smaller children who live
In the outskirts of that large school
district.
New Book on Election Laws.
Secretary Of State w. s. Hayward
and his office force have prepared q
new book on the election laws OF
Iowa. Because Of the many changes
incident to the installation of the new
primary system. the amendments to
the law and changes brought about
by the biennial election law. the old
volume was insufa cient The new book
| Is aidenti, al with the old In appear
snce and binding and will be OF the
press in q few days. It will then be
distributed. at once.
kstchum and aoylan inspect.
Railroad Commissioner N. s.. Ket.
chum and Chief Clerk BoyIan of the
boards ONCE went to Gypsum, near
Fort Dodge, to inspect an sinteriockins
switching plant Of the Illinois Central
In, that place. The Centrals tracks
crOSS kucTo To- SUCH Al extent That ~
erected plant Of Its own for the
safety of the train crews.
County Auditor Lew Burnett has
officially reached the conclusion that
the new voting machines shall be
used at the election three weeks
from next Tuesday. The voting
machinee law specifically provides
that the electoral ticket of each
| party may be voted altogether by
| the voter II he sees At, and pro.
vides specifically for the way that he
can scrstchnthe electoral ticket If he
/ sees At. This meets the point rais,,
| ed with regard to that matter.
| The law SO specifically, covers: the
/ points raised In the objections made.
| to the use Of the machines that the
suditor declares they can be used.
| Good Guess.
"Do you know, sir, that am very
particular with whom my daughter
spends her timer" said the pompous
] father.
''ThenyI suppose you are away from
home most of the timef" said the
L amart routh-YonkArss Statesman. "a.