Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-03-25

tickets and other entertainments, and
the expense of the whole thing footed
up $40. When the committee came to
make out its report, it seemed best to
bulk this amount under the head of
'sundries." 1t read better. and wouldn't
indicate TO the people who were putting
up for the fund just exactly where the
money went. The report of the COM
mittee in the house will thoroughly ex-
onerate Speaker Byers of any suspicion
of having been influenced in any way
whatever by the building and loan
lobby. 1t will show that intimations in
Jackman's report We're unwarranted in
every particular. Further than this, it
will roast Jackman and Quimby to
turn, and show that in their haste to
make the contributors to the fund be-
heve that that they were "the whole
thing" they had used language unwar-
ranted in regard to the speaker and to
members of the house.
Another Juckman Letter.
On Friday another Jackman letter
was made public. 1t was sent out on
Monday, two days previous to the time
his "confidential' circular was sprung
in the house. This letter was another
appeal for money. 1t referred to the
fight made to secure the substitution of
the section governing the taxation of
building and loan associations which
was prepared by the federation for the
one which had been reported by the
joint committee on ways and means.
The section which was adopted is criti
cised as being San Ubiquitous measure"
Further on, the letter says: 1--WE believe
that this bill can be killed in the house,
or at least this part of it, if proper at
tention is given and means enough for
legitimate demands be provided" In
speaking of the law, the following
language is used: 81 do not believe
you have fully realized the terri
BILE energy that has been put
forth to put upon our statute books this
most vicious law" The section of the
bill which was adopted and which this
letter attacked so bitterly differed only
from the substitute proposed by the
federation in certain particulars which
would specially effect certain institu-
tions.
In the first place the bill provided that
where an association had reserve, ex-
pense or other fund, these funds shall
be taxed at the principal place Of bust
ness of the association as personal prop
erty of the association. The associations
are also required to keep correct list OF
the stockholders and ON or before Feb.
10 of each year to make verified state
ment of the value Of such stocks, which
shall be furnished for the use Of the as
SCISSORS i'll making their assessment. The
proposed substitute provided for the tax
alton of stock of the individual holder,
but it provided that the holders of stock
must give true statement OF the cash
value of their shares to the assessor, in
stead of having the statement made by
officers of the association. The provl-
sions for the taxation of reserve and eX-
pense funds did not appear i'll the sub
stitute. The result of this second letter
has been to make the enforcement of the
rule prohibiting visitors on the floor of
the house, except by invitation of the
members, more strict, and it is tolerably
| certain that there will be no opportunity
for any more lobbying in either body.
Reason For Explaining Sensation.
In what I have thus far written have
endeavored to show fairly and plainly
the truth as regards the big sensation. !"
| No one i'll Des Moines believes that
there is the slightest suspicion attached
| to any member or any officers OF
! either body in connection with the pass
age OF the building and loan law. Every
citizen OF Iowa should understand this
situation clearly and not feel frightened
lest there's big scandal behind it all.
The only bad effect which this "sensa-
ton" can possibly have is that it may
be reported in parts Of the state where
the true explanation is not known and
! create in the minds Of some q suspicion
that there may be something in it.
think, however, all who will read this
letter will have no difficulty in making
up their minds as to the exact truth.
There is another matter to which the
people of the state should give careful
attention just now and exercise sound
Judgment and common sense. Through
out the session thus far there has been
an attempt by some Of the papers of the
state to create an idea that there is d
scandal of huge proportions lurking
around among the departments at the
capitol and i'll the state printing and
binding offices. For weeks there have
been two investigating committees hear
ing evidence upon these points. The
evidence has been taken with closed
doors, but the gist OF it can be stated.
So far As the various departments of
| the state mouse are concerned Inc aCClOu
of the executive council in the transfer
of certain janitors to the payroll of the
custodian III order that they might be
continued after the appropriation had
been cut down, was simply based upon
section 1870 of the code which undoubt-
edly gives them the right to do as they
have done. The law also governs the
taking Of the census and authorizes the
executive council to provide for the col
lection of numerous statistics which at
best are of but very little value. The
most that the committee can find to
recommend is revision of these laws,
a curtaiIing of the practically limitless
power possessed by some of the depart
ments in the way of expenditures, and
the practical knocking out of the census
entirely. The latter feature may be
reached by the senate bill limiting the
state census to a simple enumeration of
the population and it's publication solely
in the official register. In regard to
state printing and binding the best
binders in the city of Des Moines and
elsewhere have made signed statements
to the effect that after investigating the