The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-10-07
THAT BIG INSURANCE JOB
official Details Of the Big Insurance Money
Deal Attempted by Governor Hunt and In.
surance CommisslOne p. N. Davis.

Deal Attempted by Governor Hunt and In
surancs CommissIone P. N. Davis.
Governor Hunts record is the issue ii
the present campaign and the facts an1
figures argue we'll for change. We
quote below from the Boise Statesman
the official statement made by State
Auditor {. w. Jones. The Statesman
says:
"The Statesman has come into posses.
sion of copy Of certified statement by
State Auditor Jones concerning the con.
troversy between that official and the
governor and the insurance commissioner
with respect to the holding back of the
moneys collected from the insurance
companies.
LAS had hereto ore been stated in these
columns, the insurance commissioner
refused to turn the money into the
treasury. Later the auditor called atten-
ton to the matter urgently informing the
commissioner that he would be obliged
to bring suit unless the money was
turned in promptly. As has been stated,
it developed that the governor had made
All arrangement to leave all the insurance
money in bank during the term. 1t ap-
pears he had tod the auditor he had
done SO, and urged that the latter desist
from compelling the commissioner to
turn the money over. The auditor could
not violate the law, and the upshot was
that the agreement with the bank was
smashed and the money turned into the
treasury.
1t seems, that because of rumors in
circulation concerning the matter, the
auditor was called upon shortly before
the state convention at Pocatello tor
statement that would know the facts 50
that no injustice might be done. The
state auditor furnished such statement
with his certificate attached, giving the
correspondence that passed on the SUBJ
ject and stating what had been said be-
tween himself and the governor in re.
ward to the matter.
COPIES of this statement, it seems. was
sent to Focatello and shown to a few
persons, though no general knowledge Of
the matter got abroad until the publica-
ton of the story in the Statesman.
"A Statesman representative recently
waited upon Mr.. Jones and requested
copy of the certificate for publican. Mr..
Jones refused the request, but as there
were already two or three copies in cir.
culatiod. after considerable delay a copy
of the certificate was secured, which is
hereto appended:
"The first report of Hon. P. NJ. Davis,
the state insurance commissioner of the
state Of Idaho. was due to the state audi
tors Office on May 1, 1901. Said report
was not made, and after waiting for the
same a reasonable time. l callel upon
Mr. Davis and called his attention to the
section Of the insurance law requiring
him to report to- the state auditor on the
first LAY of each month all business trans
acted by his Office for the preceding
month. He replied that matters were so
'balled up that it was impossible tor him
to make said report, but that the same
would be ready by June I, 1907. Said
report not being 6led ON June /, 1901.
nor for several days thereafter. made
an official demand upon Mr.. Davis that
he report the business transacted by his
Office for the months Of April and May to
my office immediately. A few days after
the communication was sent Mr.. Davis
called upon me and inquired as to the
length Of time he ia which to comply
with said demand. informed him that
under section 2o9 Of the Revised Statutes
he had 40 days. Said section reads as
follows:
"Secsion 2oo Whenever any person
has received moneys, or has money or
other personal property which belongs TO
the territory, or has been entrusted with
the collection, management or disburse-
ment of any moneys, bonds or interest
accruing therefrom. belonging to or held
In trust BY the territory, and fails 10
render All account thereof 10 make settle.
ment with the Controller within the time
prescribed by law, or when no particular
time is specified fails to render such an
account and mike settlement. or Who
fails to pay into the territorial treasury
any moneys belonging 10 the territory
upon being required 50 to ID BY the con-
trollet must state au account with such
peron, charging as per cent. damages and
interest at the rate of 10 per cent per an
mum from the time OF failure. copy Of
which account in any suit therein 10
prima facie evidence ofAhe things therein
stated. But in case the controller cannot
for want Of information state an account,
he may in any action brought by him
over that fact. and allege generally the
amount of money or other property
which 10 due to or which belongs to the