Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-20
MERRIAM MAKES A DENIAL
Says He Has Charged No Extravsgant Fees
Against Insurance Companies.
SELECT PLANS FOR THE IOWA BUILDING
supreme Court Passes Upon a Number
of Cases. Among Them Affirming
Conviction of sale for
Murder


DIES MONIES, Dec. I9.-(Special state
Auditor Merriam returned today from New
York, called back by kilograms telling him
Of the accusations which have been made
against him and the complaints OF insur-
ance companies that he is engaged in max
ing examinations not needed and making
extravagant charges therefor. The matter
was taken up in the state executive coun-
ell, Of which he is a member, and discussed
with a view to seeing II something could
not be done to prevent his examinations,
and It was decided that the governor should
refer the matter to the attorney general
for his opinion. This has not yet been
done. Mr.. Merriam makes complete denial
OF the charges which have been made by
insurance men. He denies that be ever
charged a fee Of $3.50 for two half days
work in making an examination. He says
that all the examinations made were in
pursuance of notices sent regularly long
ago, and that the companies have made no
objection TO his examinations save possibly
IN two instances. He denies that the in
surance companies are leaving the state
because of his examinations and exorbitant
charges or oppression. A few companies
have left the state, and the number will
probably be four before the end Of the year,
but these have all left because Of the
standard policy prepared by the attorney
! general and promulgated by the state au-
ditor. The story that a large number OF
the companies had left the state is en-
tirely false. Mr.. Merriam does not intend
to ask for an investigation, or to call for
specifications, but says he is ready to con-
fer with members Of the executive council
or others at any time and state the situa-
ton fully.
--a - 81 --a UN-.-l..
The Iowa commission on the Louisiana
Purchase exposition has been in session
all day considering the plans for the build
ing to be erected and the selection OF a
supervising architect.
! The commission this afternoon selected
a design for the Iowa building, 1t being a
handsome one. with a central tower. The
design selected was prepared by Proud
foot & Bird Of Des Moines, and they will
supervise the construction. The cost OF the
building will be $44, 900.
The commission decided upon dividing
the work into thirteen different depart
ments and assigning one member to each
of the departments and a committee was
appointed today to make this assignment.
A large number OF applications have been
received for places with the commission.
Murder Case Affirmed.
The Iowa supreme court today decreed
that ]. w. Sale must serve his fourteen
years sentence for killing James Robin
son at Shenandoah during the district fair
a few years ego. Sale and Robinson had. a
quarrel over their gambling of the night
previous and a fight ensued, in which Sale
stabbed Robinson to death and afterward
expressed satisfaction therein.
Gets n Third Trial.
A reversal on second appeal was one
Of the rare events OF the day. In the
case of the conviction Of orris Wolf in
Poweshiek county for assaulting Mary A.
Dale, the case goes back for a third trial.
The following are the decisions rendered
today;
State against ]. w. Sole, appellant; Page
county, Judge Green; second degree MUIR
der; affirmed; opinion by McClain.
j. II. Burnett, appellant, against Howard
Hensley; Taylor county, Judge Towner;
fraud; affirmed by Deemer.
Mayette Spicer against Webster City, ap-
p%ellant; Hamilton county, Judge Weaver;
damages; affirmed by Ladd.
p. F. Sullivan against Lawrence Garvey,
appellant; lease; dismissed by the court.
J. w. Bishop, appellant, against O'Brien
county; O'Brien county, Judge Gaynor;
affirmed by the court.
Sioux City & St. Paul Railway Company,
appellant, against O'Brien County O'Brien
county, Judge. Gaynor; recovery OF taxes;
Sheldon x Sheldon, appellants, against
Bigelow & Bigelow; Story county, Judge
Whitaker; reversed by Sherwin.
Silas Cory, appellant, against Fort Dodge;
Webster county, Judge Whitaker; reversed