Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-02
Iowa
IOWACANPAICN WILL Be DULL
Possible Contest in Only Two Of
Offices to Be Filled.
CONGRESSIONAL SCRAP ONLY HOPE
Eight and seventh Districts Promise
Lively Contests for Representa-
tives-same Old Talk About
Army Hesdquarters.
From a STAT Corr.spondent.)

From q staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES. Aug. I-tSpecial)-The
next campaign seems almost destined to
be the driest the state Of Iowa has ever
had. With two exceptions It so happens
that there Is not a state official Of any
kind but that precedent gives him another
term. These two exceptions are in the
office Of state superintendent, Mr.. Riggs
having had the usual three terms and rail
road commissioner now held by Colonel
d. J. Palmer.
Colonel Palmer has broken all the
precedsnts the state Of Iowa ever had. He
will have occupied the position Of railroad
commissioner within three months Of four
teen years when the term expires to which
he is elected. He has been there so long
that there is a hint that precedent would
continue him there indefinitely. There is
an army candidate for state superintendent
in the field already. but none at all for
railroad commissioner so it is quite within
the realm Of possibility that there will
be but one state office over which there
Will be any contest at the primaries next
June.
Under the surface there is some little talk
Of opposition to Governor Carroll, who has
had but ono term. There have been ono
term governors of Iowa in times past. but
they quit at the end Of the first term for
business reasons. Opposition to Governor
Carroll seems to be centered about people
who thought they were going to get APP
pointments and didn't. Most people be-
Hove there will be no opposition to Gov
ernor Carroll and that the only contests
will be on tate superintendent with the
possibility Of one on rsilroad commission.
offices to he Filled.
Nominations must be made for governor,
lieutenant governor, secretary Of state,
auditor of state, treasurer of state. clerk
of the supreme court. reporter OF the SUI
preme court, two supreme court judges to
succeed Judges Evans and Deemer and
two railroad commissioned to succeed
Palmer Eaton. with the exception Of those
noted above there Is not the slightest
doubt but that each OF the other state Of
fices will be conceded another term without
opposition,
There will be more or less lively times
in congressional district politics in some
districts. In the eighth for instance there
is a democrat serving as congressman in
a republican district. Since Hepburn was
defeated there are many who would like
to serve the district. There SENT to be
no doubt in political circles, but that Judge
Towner will be a candidate though he has
lot announced himself. Probably ex,
Senator Dan Turner will be a candidate
and there is no certainty but that Colonel
Hepburn will again be a candidate. II is
understood that A. 1. Smith OF Mount Ayr,
1AA u,as S-Ez. 49,
burn will not be a candidate again.
Two candidates, Judge Prouty and Senator
C. c. Dowell, are already out at work in
the seventh district. Judge Prouty is max.
ing his campaign on the tariff question. II
is presumed that Congressman Hull will
be a candidate again.
Remodel POstOffIce.
AS soon as the postoffice moves to the
new building now being erected on the riv-
er-front- the old postoffice building at the
corner OF Fifth and Court avenue will be
.~entirely remodeled at a cost OF $50. 900. An
official from the Treasury department will
reach Des Moines in a few days 10 make
specifications for the work and prepare
to ask for bids. The entire inside Of the
building will be removed. A spacious fed
eral court room will be arranged instead Of
the cramped one used at present, and the
officers headquarters will be removed from
r Fort Des Moines to the new building. Cells
will be built in adjoining the United States
marshal's offices where prisoners can be
detained for short terms and during trials.
At present they are kept in the county
jail. 1t is understood that an effort will
be made also to get the government to
move the department army headquarters
from Omaha TO Des Moines to rooms In
the remodeled building.
State Has New Town.
The official designation OF the spot out
In the woods between Cedar Rapids and
Iowa City where the State tuberculosis hos
pital is located Is "Oakdsle." The govern
, ment has established a postoffice there
by that name and the Interurban has
named its station that. The state is now
erecting seven new cottages there, which
will double the capacity Of the hospital,
making 1t capable Of caring for 200 pa
tents.
Farm Land Values Raised.
Farm land values were raised a total Of
nearly 100000 by the executive council
when it came 10 equalize things. II was
intimated before the council got through
with the work that both land and railroad
VALUES NOulu DC lCit the Aule - the year
before, though II was known that some
equalization would have to be made in
farm values between the various counties.
When the council got through with It's
work It was found that in twenty-five
counties there was an increase and in but
one was there a decrease. In Johnson the
? assessment was lowered 3 per cent. The
, total increase is E,79s, 900. The railroads
/. we're raised a little over $50 O0.
b, Are Baths NecessaryT
Since the executive council refused to
o X the bill of P. A. smith Of the State
Board OF Control for 50 cents for a bath,
the question has been raised whether or not
a bath is a necessity Of life. The state
r allows the travelling and hotel expenses OF
officials and employees when travelling on
state business, Members Of the council
took the ground that baths were neces-
sary the same as meals and lodging. but
the majority claimed that Il is an tndi-
vldual matter TO be taken or not as the in
dividual sees tit. so the board refused TO
o X the bill. Hereafter officials and EN-
ployes who travel for the state II they
wish baths must engage hotel rooms with
baths attached and charge II all up as
hCtel hill