Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-18
ROAST MONUMENT COMMISSION
Senators Pour Hot Sentences Into the De-
voted Iowa Body,
ITS AIMS AND MISTAKES DISCUSSED
Much Acrimony Exhibited Ms the
Various Advocates of Medaiiious
or No MednIiJons Voiced
Their Preferences.

@'N ~ ~ v ~ vi
military affairs in reference to the completion
CT the soldiers and sailors monument. The
majority report was as follows:
We recommend, first. that the commis-
ION be directed not to place upon the monu-
met the medallion, face or other repre-
ably participate in one or more active en-
gagements in the, war Of the rebellion.
S"econd-That the commission be author
.2ed to procure additional medallion por-
traits, not exceeding thirty-two in number,
80 mat zach reslment and organization from
war may have at least one representative
upon the monument.
Third-That the commission be requested
to have Its records rewritten, leaving out
all names or illusions by which it may be
determined whose faces or figures were in
tended to be represented upon the monu-
ment, and that no record leading to iden-
tificatlon be preserved in the archives of
F~ourth-That the commission be directed
to have inscribed upon the monument the
designation of each regiment and organiza-
ton, with its date of muster and discharge.
The minority report was as follows:
FNrst-We. are opposed to the appearance
4 any medallion portraits of any person,
wing or dead, upon said monument.
Second-Believing that the exaltation given
one soldier above another in placing the
condemned by a large majority of ex-union
soldiers living in Iowa, we cannot in jus
tice to our comrades, as we see It,, approve
the sentiment expressed in the majority re-
port.
Senator Hotchkiss made a lengthy speech
in favor of the majority, taking the ground
that harmony among the soldiers was more
important than a mere matter of detail.
Senator Lothrop criticised the legislature
Of 1894 for its righteousness in limiting them
to 80 niggardly a sum as $3.50, 600, which, he
said, was only about 10 cents for each in
habitant. The open and glaring partiality
of the commission in selecting representa-
tives from only a few regiments. without
any consultation with the Grand Army posts,
was alluded to-. There was not a regiment
or even a company that went from Iowa to
help put down the rebellion that did not
win honor or renown. How does It come,
he asked, that a man who was not an Iowa
soldier at all has a place on that monu-
ment? How does 1t come that a man who
never saw a rebel with q gun in his hand
Is honored, or why should the Second Iowa
have nine places on the monument while
the Third regiment is entirely unrepre-
scented? He read from the law creating this
commission, which prohibited the images or
medallions of any person connected with the
monument being placed or engraved thereon,
and said this positive prohibition of the
statute had been wantonly and shamefully
violated.
Senator Hotchkiss explained that the Sec
ond regiment was 30 recognized because
1t led the charge at the capture of Fort
Donelson, and answered the criticisms of
the senator from Woodbury. in detail.
Senator Junkin thought the discussion was
taking a very wide range. He felt that the
commission was composed of able, intelli-
gent and patriotic citizens, and that the
criticisms were uncalled for and in a large
measure undeserved.
Senator Eaten thought there was not a
very wide difference between the two re-
ports. The majority virtually comedies every
proposition contained in the minority report.
Ho was unalterably opposed to exalting one
above another;r and especially the officer
| above the common soldier. .a
Senator Kilburn thought the only ques-
tion was whether these medillionn should re-
main upon the monument or be pulled down.
IL this general assembly removes the
images and medallions of these brave and il
lustrious sons, who stained the bloody
heights at Fort Donelson, prevented Grant
from being driven into the Tennessee at
Shiloh, what reason can we give to their
descendants? Only one-that come other
equally brave and heroic veteran cannot be
thus honored.
Senator Waterman said In all the range of
history never has such a monument as this
under discussion been erected. If this shaft 10
completed as designed. you will find that
not a single Grand Army post in Iowa will
attend the dedication. He charged that Two
| members Of the comm,esion-a minorlty-had
performed the entire work, and should be
held responsible. He denied that the ques-
ton of medallions has never been submitted
to the Grand Army posts for their approval
or rejection. The main objection of the SOL
diers was the Partially in the distribution of
the honors. He was especially severe upon
the two members of the commission-whom
he did not name, but are understood to he
ID. N. Richardson Of Davenport and Mrs.
Cora Weed of Muscatlne-who assumed
charge ct the whole business.
Senator Healey said that under instruc-
TORS from the Fort Donelson Grand Army
post at Fort Dodge, he would favor the ma
jority report. He said the statement that
the majority report libelled the memory OF
the common soldier was a baseless olander.
To hnncr onn without maintaining pnnthar |
did not necessarily make an invidiOus dis
tinction between them. He maintained that !
the honor of the whole commission was in
volved In this discussion. and IL the senate
adopted the minority report, equal con-
domination would be visited upon all alike.
Senator Palmer, speaking in favor of the
minority report, also roasted the commission.
The discussion will be resumed tomorrow.
The Blanchard bill prohibiting insurance
boards CT rating and combines passed the
house. Martin endeavored to secure the ex-
emption Of state companies from Its pro-
visions, but received no support. The bill,
as 1t will become a law, absolutely prohibits
any combination or agreement between or
among fire insurance companies relating to
the rates If insurance, the agents commits
SIGN or the manner CT transacting business.
The penalty is a fine Of from 500 to 5000.
The auditor of state Is empowered to bring
before him and question under oath any en-
ploye of any company suspected Of violating
the law. and ia required to do so on the
written complaint or two CITIZENS. On any
official falling to comply with the require
ments of the auditor the certificate of the
company with which he is connected shall
be Immediately revoked. Provision is made
for an appeal to the district court Of Polk
county. Section 4 provides that the testi-
mory given by any officer of an, insurance
company shall not be used against him in
any criminal prosecution.
In the afternoon session In the house Mar
tins bin for the examination of private
banks was discussed at length. The bill was
defended by Martin. Potter, Brighton and
others. The opposition was led by Nietert,
Allen. Miller and Temple. all of whom in
sisted that the proposed legislation would
drive all private bankers out of the bust
ness. Mr.. Temple feared the passage of this
act would preclpitate such a financial panic
as the state had never seen. Brighton re-
piled to this challenge. On roll call the bill
was defeated by 81 10 30. The debate was
the most acriminOus of the session. much bad
blood being stirred up. Bells bill to remove
lnedalllons from the soldiers monument was
made a special order in the house for tomor-
row,
The house again by more than a two-thirds
vote emphasized its determination to let the
new code revision go over till another session.
A resolution By Hanger setting aside four
days OF the present week for experimentai