The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-10-29

sell buildings and to plat and sell
Governor Square.
Real Estate Sharks.
In fact it gives the Governor and
Executive Council golden opportun-
ity that would make real estate
agents mouth water, and l am in
formed the Executive Council have
sub-let the job to Des Moines real
estate agents. No one suspects that
the Executive Council would specu-
late on this stupendous deal, but why
place temptation before the most hon
orable? Especially after Governor
Clarke and the Executive Council leas.
ed Wall Lake in Wright county to F.
r. Austin, a son-in-law of member
Of the Executive Council, for twenty
five years without consideration Of
value; one of the most fragrant and
unprecedented proceedings ever ex-
posed by the people and recinded by
order of the attorney general on &C.
count Of it's Illegally and savoring
Of peculation. I was informed by real
estate dealers in Des MOines that
much Of this property is being bought
by the state at prices far in excess
Of what it could have been secured
for before this law was passed. Not
withstanding the claims of the Gov
ernor and his friends, that the prop
erty being purchased could be sold
at profit, l am clearly Of the opin-
ion that after the demolition and
removal of the buildings, it could
not be sold, including the real estate
and what is realized from salvage and
buildings, at fifty cents on the dollar
paid by the state, and all this talk
Of the governor and his friends that
this vast park" can be sold at a
profit is rotten stall stuff, subtle and
unwarranted by the facts, to divert
and deceive the taxpayers of Iowa.
I am informed that the executive
council through their real estate
agents, paid $4,000 for one church
and $4,000 for another which after
removal or demolition both would not
bring one-fourth what the state will
pa, for them. A real estate owner
told that many properties are being
bought by the agent of the executive
council at double the price asked by
owners prior to the passage of the
Capitol Extension bill, and l think an
investigation would create an unsav-
Dry "scandalum magnatum," which
would smell to heaven.
The Veto Power.
The kingly veto power is vested in
the governor, and I do not believe
anyone of the former governors of
Iowa from Dodge down to Carroll
would have signed the capitol Exten-
sion Bill" railroaded as it was
through the 35th General Assembly,
without the knowledge or approval of
the people; but would have vetoed it
as "hasty, ill-advised and vicious legis-
lation" and, knowing as he did, the
methods employed in its passage,
many citizens will, no doubt wonder
why Governor Clarke failed to veto
it. Would the Old War Govern or
Kirkwood, the late Governor LARA
bee, or'even Governor Cummins have
signed the capitol Appropriation
Bill as passed by the 35th General
Assembly? I do not believe for a
moment that they would; but would
have promptly vetoed it. And Govern
or Clarke was recreant to his duty as
governor, knowing as he did just how
this law was drawn and clandestine
ly rushed through the Assembly, and
he was untrue to the people, when he
failed to veto it.
Will Cost Millions and Is Years to
Finish.
It is estimated that it will require
Is years to complete the Capitol Elk
tension as planned and it will cost
five millions, and the upkeep Of this
park will cost from Is to 20 thousand
dollars per annum to the taxpayers
of Iowa. 1t costs Des Mones about
100000 per annum to care for he1
parks, and the Capitol Extension will
be more expensive and cannot cost
less than $4,000 per annum to keer
all drives, flower beds, monuments
etc. And yet this immense cost Of
purchase, fitting and upkeep running
into millions, was rushed through the
35th General Assembly in one day
without amendment or discussion, and
did not consume four hours time in
both house and senate on April 8
1918, and not one taxpayer in ten
thousand had ever seen or read the
bill or ever heard of it as it passed
but while the hands of labor were
busy, on the Sth of April, 1913, this
| stupendous burden was placed or
farms, crops, live stock and all tax
able property, placing blanket mort
gage for millions on every farm ane
home in Iowa, and blanket chatte
mortgage on all personal property
tangible and intangible; on all live
stock Of all kinds, together with al
their increase for the next decade
which mortgages are first lien
prior to all other membranes.
Des Moines Not Responsible.
Gels Botsford, secretary of thu
| Chamber OF Commerce, of Des Moines
1 L T1~~,N