Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-12-27
AT The STATE CAPITAL
Des Moinex. Dee -. 1901

nes Moinex- Dee -. 1901
Members OF the state executive
council were called together for the
purpose OF consulting with Attorney
General Mullan In reference 10 the
matter OF bringing action against ex-
State Binder Late Young, TO recover
S4,7ss-3s, which he is alleged to have
overdrawn during the two years ne
was Ske incumbent OF that ONCE
M Mulian stated in communication
to the council that the report OF the
expert accountants. Phil H skinner
and W c. Hedges. gives largely their
conclusions and not statement Q,
specific facts upon which 2 sesA
opinion could be based. When the
council received the communication
there was an immediate conference
arranged and Mr.. Mullan was called
In to personally state his findings OF
the experts report He explained that
he could not bring an action 10 re-
cover with only the findings OF the
experts on which to form basis OF
suit. Mr.. Muilan stated the character
| of the information he wanted and the
members of the council decided upon
w. NJ. Wiicoxen of Des Moines, as an
accountant. fitted to procure the IN
| formation A resolution was passed
| instructiny Wr. WiIcoxen tn cooper
ate with the Attorney general IN get
ting facts as distinguished from con-
clusions.
| &c. Cottreu CT Plymouth county
| has filed contest papers with the sec
| rotary of state and viii contest the
| election of E. o. Fields as representa-
| tive. Mr.. Cottrell was elected as
representative On the democratic tick
| ct two years ago. He was defeated
| for reelection by Mr.. Fields, the re-
publican nominee, by vote OF H.
Irregularities in the count are al
| legged. The papers have been filed
with the secretary of state by Mr. Cot
| trelps attorney.
The committee of the executive
council that was named at a recent
meeting to select expert accountants
to examine the state departments held
meeting and agreed on chief &C
countant and assistant. A. L. Dino.
of Alta, former clerk OF the revenue
department of the auditor OF state, S
Office under c.. G. Mccarthy. was
C. Clements of Marengo, one OF the
state bank examiners, was selected as
assistant. The committee was unani-
| nous in turning down p. II. Skinner
and w. H. Hedges, the experts who
made the examination OF the state
Offices last year, and who made allega-
tons of overcharges of S4,79S.33 by
ex-State Binder Young in the biennial
period ending last January, not to
speak of rudely stirring up the oil
inspectors, the mine inspectors and
| nth hr1y O. n
administration.
The board of control employees were
made happy by the announcement OF
substantial increase in salaries for
the coming year. The salary Of Secre
tary F. S. Treat was increased from
$500 to $4,000 year. This is the
statutory limit of the salary OF
the secretary of the board
About a year ago Mr.. Treats
salary was increased from $1,000 tt
$1,000. A. B. McCown, the accountant
of the board, has been granted an in
crease to $1,000 a year. His former
J salary was $3.50. Nearly all of the
: employees in the Office Of the board
were advanced. The increases add
about 81 900 year to the salary list
All of the employees of the boards
long period and the members feel thei1
efficiency warrants an increase ii
salaries.
The Polk county board Of supervis
ors has voted to alter its orig1na
: proposition to purchase twenty Gil
/ max voting machines and will pur
, chase but hree. This is done, it Is
understood, because the city refused
:. to expend any money in that direction
; The county agreed to buy twenty ma
, chimes if the city would purchase hal
: that number. The city has refused tt
do this and the county was compelled
i, to cut the original order to three.
A. H. McVey of North Des Moines
has been appointed district judge t
fill the vacancy caused by the deatf
of Judge w. F. Conrad, of Polk coun
. ty, by Governor Shaw.
: State Librarian Brigham has filed
with the governor his completed re
/ port, the twenty eighth biennial one
: from the state librarian. The feature
of the report is the recommendation
? for an appropriation of 100000 tt
, complete the historical building, where
r place is required for the miscellaneou!
! part Of the state library. 1t is asked
< that the position of cataloguer for thu
: library and historical department bt
? created instead of renewing the ap
preparation of $4,000 for cataloguinl
. the state library. Another change re
( uuested is the creation of the Office O.
, stenographsr and bookkeeper at a lib
eral salary. 1t is asked that the travel
= 4 ~ &l~ l