The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-12-26
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL

NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines. Dec "a. 1901
The program arranged for the next
quarterly conference of the superin-
tendents and heads of state institu-
lions will include a prayer by DR.. J. F.
Kennedy, secretary of the state board
of health, on what has been accom-
plished by special institutions for in
ebriates; a paper by Judge Kline, of
the board of control. on facts and
statistics regarding institutions for
the feeble minded: a paper by Mrs.
johnson, of Red Wing, Mimi, on the
duty of the state providing for
orphans and other dependents; a
paper by DR.. Volding of this city, the
newly appointed superintendent of the
Cherokee hospital, and another paper
by an author whose name has not yet
been announced.
The supreme court has refused the
application of the river frontiers" for
a renewal of the restraining order that
prohibited the Polk county board of
supervisors from letting a contract
and going ahead with the construction
of the new court house. The restrain
ing order had been dissolved some
time ago and the petition for it's re-
newal was generally construed as the
last hope of the faction opposed to
the construction of the new building
on the site of the old. The effect Of
the courts action is to insure the early
commencement of the structure. The
contract will be awarded at once and
work will likely begin early in the
spring. The hearing of the applica-
ton for a new trial will be considered
by the supreme court in January, but
will not interfere with the letting of
the contract and preliminary work.
Members of the state executive
council were called together for the
purpose of consulting with Attorney
General Mullan in reference to the
matter of bringing action against ex-
State Binder LATE Young, to recover
$4,79S.33, which he is alleged to have
overdrawn during the two years he
was the incumbent of that office.
: Mr.. Mullan stated in a communication
to the council that the report of the
expert accountants. Phil. H. Skinner
and w. G. Hedges, gives largely their
conclusions and not statement of
specific facts upon which legal
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
thn rfc' ~y+ ,l,..
he could not bring an action to re-
cover with only the findings of the
experts on which to form basis of
suit. Mr.. Mullan stated the character
of the information he wanted and the
members of the council decided upon
w. M. Wilcoxen of Des Moines. as an
accountant fitted to procure the in
formation. A resolution was passed
instructing Wr Wilcoxen to cooper
ate with the attorney general in get
ting facts as distinguished from con.
clusions"
j. c. Cottrell Of Plymouth county
has filed contest papers with the sec
rotary of state and will 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 IS.
Irregularities in the count are al
legged. The papers have been filed
with the secretary of state by Mr.. Cot
trell's attorney
The committee of the executive
council that was named at a recent
meeting to select expert accountants
to examine the state departments held
a meeting and agreed on chief &C.
countant and assistant A. l.. Dino,
of Alta, former clerk of the revenue
department of the auditor of states
Office under c. G. Mccarthy. was
agreed upon as chief accountant. C.
G. Clements of Marengo, one of the
state bank examiners, was selected as.
assistant. The committee was unani-
nous in turning down P. H. Skinner
and w. H. Hedges. the experts who
made the examination of the state
offices last year, and who made allega-
lions of overcharges of $4,79S.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
one or two other branches Of the state
administration.
The board of control employees were
made happy by the announcement of
a substantial increase in salaries for
the coming year. The salary of Secre-
tary +. S. Treat was increased from
$1,000 to $4,000 year. This is the
statutory limit of the salary of
the secretary of the board.
About year ago Mr. Treats
salary was increased from $1,000 to
$1,000. A. B. McCown. the accountant
of the board, has been granted an in
crease to $1,000 a year His former
salary was $3.50. Nearly all OF the
employees in the office of the board
were advanced. The increases add
about $1,000 year to the salary list.
All of the employees of the boards
office have been in it's employ for
long period and tie members feel their