Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-20

The following from the heOSauQua
Republican throws considerable light
on the capitol grounds extension case
in which j. W. Rowley Of Keosauqua
and others are seeking to enjoin the
state from collecting levy OF $4,000
900 for the purpose of additional
grounds about the state capitol build
ing at Des Moines:
Last Friday The Des Moines Regis
ter and Leader, in its lately developed
zeal as guardian of the acts OF the
state executive council, devoted over
column OF its space In reviewing an
editorial in the Keosauqua Republican
OF couple Of weeks ago, wherein we
had denied that county supervisors,
township trustees, members OF town
councils and school directors are
responsible for the unparalleled boost
In taxes that will be found entered OF
record at the county seats OF Iowa
next spring when tax paying time Is
at hand, the result of the 40 per cent
raise in assessed valuations OF real
property the state over by the execu-
tive council. In it's effort to excuse the
council. which is composed OF the
governor. secretary of state. auditor
OF ElaLc anu IPCdSuiCl " oSs~'S' 49,
Des Moines paper says:
The executive council did not enact
the law, nor did the last legislature.
Before the time for equalization OF as
sessments an indignant citizen took
the matter to the courts and secured
an order upon the executive council TO
OBEY THE LAW, WHICH THE
COUNCIL DID rather than ENTER
INTO A PROTRACTED LITIGATION.
The emphasized words In the fore
going remarkable utterance are OF
our underscoring. Surprisingly remark
able are the conditions OF obedience
manifested by that executive Dody.
One Des Moines Judge said 1t, ana
that ended it, all to avoid protracted
litigation"
And then what? Why. ever since
this frame up 40 per cent raise, the
indiscreet schemers have, IN tneir
exuberance, been congratulating each
other that this increase will give them
half million dollars more for the
capitol ground pull. even II the su-
preme court allows 1t for only>the first
two years
Now, how about the capitol grounds
extension suit? Two Judges, Hunter
and Apologize, conceded fully as able
iurists as the Des Moines Judge, de-.
creed, after an exhaustive hearing OF
arguments from attorneys on both
sides. that the capitol grounds ex-
tension act, covering 100000 that
the taxpayers are expected to pay as
a starter, was unconstitutional be-
cause It was not submitted to and ap
proved by a vote Of the people. Did
the governor and the other members
OF the council submit as they did in
the first instance? Hardly. In one
case they manifest the disposition OF
the .Iamb'' familiar to bible readers.
IN the other instance they. become at
once a bunch of bucking bronchos
familiar to those who have trained as
cowboys on the ranches OF the west,
and SO intense do they become IN their
bucking that they hire other lawyers,
at the expense Of the state, to assist
the attorney general and his deputies
in trying to force the people away
from the privileges OF exercising the
only referendum guaranteed them by
the organic law Of their state.
No, Mr.. Row!ey is not, as The Regis
ter and Leader asserts, bitter
against Governor Clarke" But Mr..
Rowley is astounded! Mr.. Rowley and
his paper were for the nomination Of
Mr.. Clarke and they did all in their
power for his election, but wnen ne
Joined with others at Des Moines in
converting the capitol building into a
political designation house wherein
members Of the legislature were Sc
duced into violating a plainly worded
mandate OF the constitution OF the
state chat the humblest citizen can
understand without the aid Of inter-
! probation Of the courts) into support