The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-03-04
FARMERS AG|TAITE.
one COUNTY SEAT
committee Appears Before For Madi-
son Commercial Club and
Makes Its Position
Known.
KnoKUK rs TO BLAME?
one Would Think 50 From Reading
About the county's Sins
Laid 70 Our
Door.
KHoKuK rs TO BLAME?

The committee which was appointed
., the recent meeting OF the Farmers
institute at Donnellson to agitate the
ono county seat proposition. has be-
sun it's work They went to Fort Madi-
Som this week. and talked before the
commercial club there. The follow
ing is from the Fort Madison Demo
crat and is given for what it is worth:
The For. Madison Commercial club.
Al its meeting OF Tuesday evening.
was waited upon by committee OF
three representing the county oranges
who announced the action taken at
the Donnellson institute relative to
the establishment Of but one county
seat in Lee county. The committee
consisted of Warren Beebe, Alex
Togev and Frank Manshiem and they
desired an expression from the COM
mercial club as to the attitude the
voting population OF the city would
stand on proposition, raised through
the oranges. In establishing only one
court house. AS the matter had not
been given previous attention by the
club and other business matters were
to be taken up during the evening,
thre was no expression made and the
question was taken under advisement,
to be- given consideration at some
future meeting convenient to the
grange committee.
Warren Beebe, who acted as
spokesman for the visitors. briefly
stated the position taken by the
grange members. The increase of
taxes was primarily the cause for the
action and at the Donaldson meeting
the argument had been advanced that
the maintenance of two court houses
in the county was one Of the chief
reasons for the advance OF assess
ments. Mr.. Beebe stated that at the
present time he believed the voters
OF the country districts would be al
most unanimous in an expression for
only one court house. established
either at Keokuk or Fort Madison,
though Fort Madison, being the legal
ly established county seat and the
more convenient city, was naturally
favored
Some Opinions Given.
Several Of the members OF the club
were heard on the subject. Hon. j.
P Cruikshank questioned the advis-
ability OF taking any stand before 1t
had been carefully considered, noting
the dificulties which had attended
county seat wrangles in Lee county In
the past. During the course of dis
cussion it was suggested that the ex-
pense end Of the matter be ilvesti-
gated, with the thought that it might
show no reduction by combining the
court houses, inasmuch as. the amount
of court business WOULD not be les
sened and the savings might be more
: 'ian Offset by the added expense OF
travel from Keokuk and the lower
district. The doubt was expressed
that the county Offices would be main.
tanned at any less expense in one
court house than In two.
At the same time the benefits Of the
subsidiary court house at Keokuk
we're questioned. Figures showed that
the bulk Of the court expense is at
Keokuk, as we'll as the majority OF
the enormous expense Of free keep OF
tramps. The bridge tax case was cited
as indicative Of Keokuks position.
Bridges and Tramps.
There Was referred to the occasion