Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-21
Floris. June IL 1913.

$50 = iOAAo, JUNE ~ 1JIOs
1t has been with interest that
have read your items, and editorials
regarding the capitol extension, also
tters by Senator Weber and Rep
resentative Mitchell. However neither
Of them have said how they voted
Senator Weber said he opposed the
bill. as did Mr.. Mitchell, and | do not
doubt their word, but they did not
vote against It, Senator Webber is
recorded as absent or not voting on
this bill On page 1875 Of the senate
journal, and on page 1902 of the house
journal Is the record of the vote and
Mr.. Mitchell is absent or not voting
on this bill. Your Representative
Bradley did vote against the bill and
Is so recorded.
AS to the capitol extension there Is
more than one point, Of view, and it
may be possible that all that was
mapped out was not needed, and pos
,sibly not over half of it, but there is
time coming when it can be used to
good advantage to the state, and there
was time when it could heve been
purchased at a very much lower figure
than now, and the claim that 1t will
not increase is not reasonable, nor in
keeping with the record Of real estate
values in Iowa. when even the farm
lands have doubled in value in the
last 10 years, or very little over that
length Of time, and no one for single
minute believes, that We have reached
the top Of the prices of real estate.
Many believed that we had reached the
top when land reached 500 per acre
in Iowa, but no one Is surprised when
any is sold over 5000 per acre, and ex-
|pect 1t to go higher.
The executive council, our highest
officers in the state have charge of the
securing the property outlined in the
bill, and were limited In number Of
ways in the purchase, and the limit Of
money to be expended, and were not
forced to anticipate the collection Of
the taxes, but were given the privilege
to do so, If they thought best. Until
they did anticipate the collection Of
the taxes, and issue the certificate. in
what way is the state under any obli-
cation to any one, and when 1t should
be collected, and the property pur-
chased at reasonable price, and the
bill gives ample protection against ex-
|tortion, where is the state any other
than benefited? That it was pur-
chased, or contemplated, to furnish a
park for Des Moines, might be said by
every one of the board of supervisors,
when they improve county property
In the county seat. This county is UP
to date in county improvements, and
we are proud of them, and expect to
keep them that way. Our capitol
building is the finest, and think the
grounds would be nicer and wonder.
fully improved by a purchase Of a part
lat least Of that mapped out, especially
next to the railroad tracks. and 1t was
|argued before the committee on ap-
preparations that if the state did not
need all that was taken up, 1t could
be sold back, and restrictions placed
in the contract concerning the i'm
lprovements which help to beautify the
grounds. The amount of taxes is very
fsmall to each person, and If there was
mo increase in the values in Iowa dur
ling the next ten years, it would mean
about 81 for every $4,000 of property
assessed in the state, and payable in
Ito installments, SOC for the first 2
Iyears, and 121kc for 8 years.
l am glad the suit is started as it
will determine the right of the legis-
lature to vote a millage tax for any
purpose, and also answer the question
| of whether the legislature should let
each tax payer know by his tax re-
ceipt, what his money Is spent for,
which in large measure can be done,
by having all taxes. or appropriations,
listed as millage tax.
Geo. F. Carson.
Injured in Fire
or hr1,iced nv fall. aDn1y Rucklen'S