The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-12-25
CAPITOL EXTENSION DECISION.

The Republican has never expect
ed the supreme court to hold the
capitol extension act uncOnStltutlon-
al as a whole. The state has we'll
settled policy that warrants can be
issued against all levies ordered by
the legislature without awaiting the
actual collection of the money. Any
other rule would seriously Interfere
with public business. Each session
of the legislature provides revenue
for the ensuing biennium, either by
special levies, general taxation or
by fees and special taxes on corpor-
ations and specified business. The
legislature has before it carefully
prepared estimates of the probable
income from various sources and it
appropriateS accordingly 10 say
that no part of the public moneys
could be anticipated would be to
block public business until money
was paid in, which would then mean
the carrying in the public treasury
of vast sums of money.
In this connection it is interesting
to recall just what the legislature
proposed to do in the matter OF capt.
toll grounds extension. 1t provided
that levy should be made for two
years and that for the succeeding
eight years a levy should be made
sufficient to produce $4,000
year. 1t then provided that the ex-
ecutive council should anticipate the
entire two million dollars to be thus
raised by issuing certificates The
supreme court holds that the legis-
lature could levy such taxes, but
nothing can be anticipated beyond
what will be produced by the levy OF
the first two years. 1t in effect de-
clares that the anticipation OF the
$1,20O,OOO to be raised in the next
eight years is illegal so far as its
anticipation is concerned. IT this
does not knock the props from under
the entire scheme, we would like to
know what to call the decision.
The legislature estimated that its
special levy for capitol grounds ex-
tension would yield about $500, 900,
but the executive council increased
the valuations to such an extent that
the receipts for that purpose will be
in excess of 100000, thus putting
over 100000 upon the taxpayers
which the legislature never intended
should be collected.
The decision will have but one
practical effect, to put the question
into state politics. Every member
and every state officer who backed
this legislation who is again a candi-
date next year, will have to face an
indignant constituency. 1t is inter-
esting to contemplate what the re-
publican convention will do with this
question. Every legislative candi-
date will understand that to indorse
the proposition will mean much op-
position and possible defeat. To turn
down the act of the legislature,
which it is understood has the per-
sonal support of the governor, would
mean a virtual reputation of the
state administration.
But Governor Clarke, and the 9TH
er members of the executive council,
can take a course in harmony with
the decision, which would remove all
friction. 1t is estimated that the
cost of the grounds and the improve
ments necessary before any buildings
are constructed, would be about two
million dollars. The council now
has only about half that sum at its
disposal. The purpose of the legis-
lature cannot be carried out under
the decision of the court. The coun-
Gil can spend the money for grounds
as far as it will go, but that means
that when the legislature meets one
year from next month, the state will
own lot of rubbish, and the whole
question will then pc up for consid-
Grafton. The Republican submits
that the only sensible plan is for the
council to let the entire matter rest
till the legislature meets.
The state needs some more land
and it needs additional state build
ings The million dollars which then
will be on hand can be used in the
purchase of some additional grounds
and the erection of an office building,
or if, as some claim, the state is ia
vorable and the legislature, such ac-
ton can be taken as will give the
state the needed money without wait
ing eight years, as would be neces-
sary under the decision of the court
BY taking this course the COVER
nor can submit the entire matter to
the legislature, which alone should
bear the responsibility, since the
court has blocked the plans of the
last legislature. The governor owes
some such course to the people Of
the state.--Iowa City Republican.