Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-14
PUBLIC TO BENEFIT GREATLY
FROM NEW LAW REGULATING
COUNTY FUNDS.
st5,ooo,ooo IN CASH
MUST DRAW INTEREST
Largo Sums Thrown Away or Pro.
sented to Bankers in Previous Years
Establishment Of School Treasurers
Would Also Help Working Mems
Pensions to Be Made Issue.
Special to Times Republican.

Special 10 lines. .tSSDuDIlCdn.
Des Moines. June 14.-The real I'M
portance of the new law which be-
comes effective July 4 requiring coun-
ty treasurers to place the county
funds at interest at least for per
cent. is realized when one stops to
consider what it means to the state at
large.
George l.. Dobson, treasurer of Polk
county, who was very aggressive dur
ing the Legislature in getting passed
the law which requires treasurers to
put public money at interest estimates
that there is an average deposit of
county treasurers In the whole nine
ty-nine counties of the state of U.s.
100000. This means the taxpayers over
the state will receive as interest on
their money 100000 per year. This
great saving will unquestionably be
effectual in reducing the levy in some
districts. 1t is rather appalling when
NeAAPStS CAS Stpp " tohSlNSi tlidl QuI IlB
past years this three hundred thou
sand dollars has been thrown away. or
rather given gratis to bankers in the
state. And as 1t Is per cent Is low
rate of interest for the bankers to pay.
The thirty-third general assembly
which adjourned last winter was asked
to so one step farther. but did not.
That will probably be one of the acts
OF the next general assembly That is
to abolish the office of school treas
urer and permit the county treasurer
to act in the capacity Of treasurer for
the school districts in the county
wherein he holds office. Under the
present law the county treasurer coll
lects the money and turns 1t over to
the school treasurer who pays no in
terest on the money and Is generally
a banker. Data gathered by Mr. Dob
son indicates that there is an aver
age deposit Of school funds in Iowa ol
100000. On this money the taxpay.
ers are now getting no interest. II the
last legislature had passed the Law
abolishing treasurers and thrown the
money into the hands Of the county
treasurer who must now put 1t at in
terest the taxpayers would have fur
ther saving of 100000. Taxpayers. i,
is generally predicted, are not going to
overlook the value to them of such a
law and it is put down among tfiose
who are informed as to general senti-
ment thruout the state that one of the
laws certain to be passed by the Thir-
ty-fourth general assembly is one
aboishing the office of school treas
urer with provision for putting the
money at interest with other county
funds.
OF considerable political significanc,
are the resolutions passed by the Stat'
Federation of Labor in annual session
ct Dubuque. and they will unduestion
ably furnish material for liberal dis
cussion before the election of the mex
legislature.
One of the most important demands
made by the federation is for the es
tablishment of an aged working man
pension. This resolution was framed
by Mr.. Boettger. of Davenport. VIII,
was one of the house members from
Scott county In the last general as
sembly. The demand Is one in exac
WIlIl lUe SOtldilStlC ueIIlaI1ui
now being made by the socialist part,
in France. There they are demanding
an aged working mans pension anc
also ask that fund for this be created
by an income tax. The Iowa labor or
ganizaton in it's resolution makes n,
reference as to how the state will raise
funds with which to pay these pensions
Lawyers who have considered the res.
olution say that 1t would be imprac
ticable at this time to have such stat.
law. for aged and disabled WORKING
men from all other states where ther,
was no such provision would flock t
Iowa
Another interesting demand is on
that the state establish an employment
bureau In order to furnish men witt
work. There Is, however. a deeper sug
gestion in this resolution. 1t is tha
I'VE demand that the public guarantee
every willing worker an opportunity t.
earn a living. as matter of civic rlgh.
To this end we demand that the nation
the states, cities and other publ,
bodies. engaged in whatever industries
and make whatever public improve
ments may be required to carry ou
this object" This Is movemcn
toward the establishment OF state an,
municipal trading stations, such al
are now operated in Scotland by nun
icipalities. The resolutions of IN,
trades assembly are this year NOR,
socialistic than ever before. 1t Is take,
by many to be indicative that tn,
working men Of this country are abou
to make the general demands beini
made in France for an income tax ant
a pension for aged and disabled work
ers. This is along the socialistic pol
icies OF taking away from those wh'
have the more and giving to those wht
have none. Anti-socialists in France
argue against the plan by saying sucl
would encourage laborers to squande
their earnings with the assurance the,
would be cared for in old age and ther,
would be no necessity OF thrift ant
saving on their part
On June Is and 1s the annual meet.
ing OF the Iowa State Swine Breeders
Association will be held here and OF
June 16 and II the American Asso.