The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-05-22
THAT CAPITOL GRAB.
Newspapers Of State DO Not Take
Kindly to the Deal.

| Newspapers OF oCalo ~ wv A"No
| Kindly to the Deal.
williamsburg Journal Tribune:
Des Moines real estate sharks put
one over" on the feeble-minded chill
dren selected to make laws for a
whole state.
Waterloo Times-Tribune: Maybe
one reason why the Iowa legislature
ibid not pass a loan shark law is be-
cause the state might need the SER
vices of the loan shark before 1t
closes that 100000 real estate
deal.
The Cedar Rapids Republican sus-
gests that before Gov Clarke author
ICES the work of enlarging the capt.
tol grounds to go on he ought at
least TO be able to give the assurance
to the taxpayers of the state that
the expenditures will stop with the
$4,000. 900 specified.
J. w. Jarnagin in Montezuma Re
public: Just how the bill happened
to get through with SO little opposl-
ton is something of puzzle, put
the presumption is that the lack or
agitation is responsible. II the Des
Moines papers had boosted for the
Improvement it would probably nave
been defeated because it would have
stirred up the state and petitions ga
lore would have been sent in in oppo-
sition to the plan. But as 1T was
the system was worked quietly and
no particular opposition developed.
The Davenport Times contends
| that the legislature was not busl-
nesslike in arranging the enlarge
ment of the capitol grounds-that
private corporation would have in
sisted on getting options in black
and white at reasonable figures be-
fore announcing whether purchases
were to be made or not when 81
100000 is appropriated for the pur-
pose" the Times continues, land no
agreed price has been fixed for the
property to be purchased, what will
be the result? The question needs
no answer. 1t is apparent
Ackley World: Possibly Represen-
tative Huff, of Hardin, may be in
clined to point with pride" to the
fact that he voted for the two to sew
en- millions dollar expenditure for
capitol grounds Identification.
Not many of the representatives are
doing so; the bill was rushed through
as an elevnth-hour measure, the vic
iousness of which was understood
by the promoters if not by the argus
eyed watch dogs of the states treas
ury. There's good fight ahead and
most glorious opportunity for the
retirement of some of the representa-
tives who just fall into line for reg
ularity's sake. The gentleman from
Hardin appears to be in this class.
Denison Bulletin: Since the leg
islatuCe adjourned and people have
come to think more about what was
done, the big deal whereby two
million dollars was appropriated for
the purchase of about sixteen blocks
of business houses and residences
: in the city of Des Moines to be used
) for extended grounds for the state
f capitol is more and more puzzling.
/ All are wondering how the boosters
l slipped the big deal through when
half the amount of land would nave
5 been fully as good for the purpose
. and all that the state will ever need.
, 1t is said that the cost will in the end
. reach to at least seven million dol
| lars.
f Abba News: The extravagant ex-
penditure of money for identifying
the state capitol grounds may be
pleasing to the sight, but the same
expenditure on permanent road
| building would be far more profit
} able and more easily paid. And the
worst of it is, the 100000 thus
appropriated is probably only start
er, for when the larger and prettier
. grounds are provided the next cry
: Twill be that the state house is too
l small and not sufficiently imposing
2 and then a call for about 100000
f 900 more will be made for a new
, one. Then we will have a repetition
| of the Pennsylvania graft troubles.
r What's the use?
Keosauqua Republican: The Des
, MOines papers, now that the foolish
, and extravagant stunt of appropriate
, ing two million dollars, and then
) some, of the taxpayers money to
, buy a 56-acre addition to the capitol
= largely for pleasure resort for the
J people of that city has been pulled
. off, are arguing that it will not hurt
the political off1ce-holding future of
the members of the legislature who
voted the thing through. Could the
editors of the Des Moines papers
| hear the remarks made in almost
, every locality in southeastern Iowa,
: which is probably indicative of the
) sentiment over the state, they would
l have their understandings opened to
t the fact that when the time comes
t there will be very scant chance for
} many of these gentlemen being re-
2 turned as members of the next gen.
2 eral assembly. 1t might just as we'll
l be put down as matter of fact now
2 that the democratic managers will
e make this two million dollar flower
garden purchase the principal issue
against the republican state admins