Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-02-18

Investigating Committees Appointed
There VIII He No whitewashing-Cen-
sus Work Severely Criticised.
DIES MONIES, Feb. 15.-The extra ses-
sion, it seems, is not to pass without it's
sensations, and the past week has wit
messed several Of them. The first was
the springing by Representative Funk
Of an omnibus investigation resolution
asking for the appointment Of COM
mittee of five members of the house to
investigate the different departments of
the state government. The preamble of
the resolution set forth that it had been
charged by the newspapers that there
was decided lack of economy in the
expenditure of public funds, and that
the interests of the state demanded that
there should be an investigation. Mr..
Funk is the chairman of the house COM
mittee on ways aud means, and is one
of the leaders Oh the Republican side.
No sooner had this resolution been pass
ed than Representative Lambert Dem
offered resolution asking for the ap-
pointment of committee of three to
investigate the claims of overcharges on
the part of the state printer and binder
in the matter of job work done for the
various state offices. This resolution
was also adopted, and Speaker Byers
subsequently increased the committee
to five members. The committee ap-
pointed under the Funk resolution con-
sists of the following members: Rep
resentatives Funk, Lauder, Davis, Voel-
ker and Baker, the two latter being
Democrats. The committee to look
into the job work consists sof Represen-
tatives Lambert, Temple, Brant, Jay
and Smith, Of this committee Messrs.
Lambert and Jay are Democrats.
In speaking Of his object in moving
the appointment of the general commit
tee of investigation, Mr.. Funk said:
"There have been so many statements
made i'll the papers that it becomes our
duty to look into the matters that are
charged. If we do not the Democrats
will say that we dared not do it. If it
should happen that anything wrong is
discovered it will not hurt the Repub-
ican party to expose it, even if the
WIOlSuOeIS are IsCpuDllCduS.
Census Work Criticised.
There is much talk among some of the
members regarding the census and some
are ready to declare that it contains
much that is of no practical utility, and
that i'll many ways it is SO inaccurate
that it is of no account. There is also
criticism upon certain methods which
are said to have prevailed in the bureau,
but these rumOrs are so vague that no
dependence can be put upon them I'M
less they are substantiated by affidavits,
and witnesses thus far have not con-
frmed them. There has also been much
said i'll regard to the large expense of
the janitOr service in the various Offices
The last regular session undertook to
cut down this expense by curtailing the
appropriation for janitors, but the men,
bers were considerably surprised to find
when the report of the custodian of the
capitol building had been consulted that
the deficiency i'll the j2nitor fluid had
in manner been made up by placing a
number OF the janitOrs Oh the custOdi-
ans pay roll. This matter, says Mr.
Funk, will be inquired into.
The investigation into the state print
er's Office will probably be directed to-
wards the prices which are charged for
the various kinds OF work. The eX-
pense OF the state printers office during
the past year was about $43, 600 and
during the year previous twas in round
numbers $685. 600. The decided increase
the past year was largely on account of
the publication of the census report. A
dispassionate examination into the sit
uatiOn so far as one can make it without
having recourse to testimony of wit
nesses, and without fear or favor for
any one, has convinced me that the law
governing the prices to be paid for this
work might be amended in some partic-
ulars so that there could be cOnsid-
cradle saving in the prices paid for
blank work and for work where there
are several Qualifications" The state
printer admits 4 considerable profit in
the blanks, but says that on the jour
nails and some other kinds OF work there
is loss, so that the profits on blank
work sort of ''evens up" matters. am
certain that there is no scandal con-
nected with the Office and if the price
paid for the work aggregates large
sum at the end of the year the remedy
is in readjustment Of the scale of
prices and q more liberal use of the blue
pCiiSil oA OllO pSil VI VIZ SOIll DIIClS VI bllt
various department reports. At this
time am ready to venture the predic-
ton that some such recommendation as
this will be the result of the investiga-
ton that the committee will give this
department of the states expenditures.
Mild Senatorial Sensation,
The senate mas also offered mild sort
of sensation in the investigation line.
Senator Carney offered d resolution for
the appointment of joint committee to
look into the conduct of the state insti-
buttons. The resolution was adopted
and referred to a committee to formu-
late joint resolution ON the subject.
The committee reported resolution for
the appointing of three members of both
house and senate to inquire whether
any Of the trustees or regents of any of
the state institutions have been receiv-
ing more in the way Of fees and mileage
during the past two years than they are
allowed by law. The committee will
also investigate the manner in which
contracts for the purchase Of supplies
for the various institutions are let and
further as to whether the products of
xho IN itufionc ora ,,Ool l,., bo o%I,on;