Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-10
bookkeeping or carelessness in the
handling of funds would pay for a good

bookk keeping or carelessness in the
handling of funds would pay for a good
many public examiners.
1--WE had an illustration in our coun-
ty," says Mr.. Furry of the necessity
for some provision for examination of
county books by experts. We have had
a lot of trouble over county offices in
Hardin, growing out of the tax ferret
matter and some time ago the board
deemed 1T wise to employ accountants
| to go over the books of all the offices
and to determine exactly the condition
of affairs. The board employed for that
purpose the two men who We're en-
ployed by the state in going over the
states books the past year. Some one
objected and threatened injunction pro-
lceedings. The law was looked UP and
! 1t was found that the board had no
irower to employ accountants to make
the examination and settlement. All
| that can be done is to employ some one
| to assist a member of the board in
making the annual settlements. Now
everybody knows that the average
member of the board of supervisors in
Iowa is not competent to go over the
county books and determine just what
/
or one we'll versed in bookkeeping
would find it hard to go thru the books
and satisfy himself fully as to their con-
dition. This is a work distinctly for
experts, and that is what the bill con-
templates. And l believe the bill will
NEE. with general approval when it is
understood. 1t provides for exanlina-
tions of county offices just as thorough
1 l.1.I c.x,
banks. state and national, and / do not
see why 1t is not just as important that
we know what is being done in county
offices as in the banks"
There may be some opposition to the
| bill from the counties where the book
| keeping system is crude. In some of
the counties no effort has ever been
made to put the bookkeeping oil high
plane, and this Furry bill contemplates
that good bookkeeping shall be done in
large and small counties of the state
alike.
| Representative jerks, of Pottawatta-
| mie county, is sorry that the judiciary
commiVee so summarily disposed of the
bill to prohibit the marriage of whites
and blacks. He says that there is
stringent law against such marriages
over in Nebraska and the result is that
where such unions are contemplated
the couples come over to Council Bluffs
and stay there. This is not pleasing to
the people of Council Bluffs. The real
| objection to the Anderson bill, as 1t
came before the committee, was not
that it interfered with the rights of
people to form incongruous unions. but
in the manner of determining the same.
1t is probable that Mr.. Anderson will
bring In another bill of similar import,
but containing a provision that where
such marriages are made perjury will
be committed in swearing to the facts
I of color This would bring the casesun-
der the ordinary rules of evidence.
| The mix-up in regard to Iowa war
claims is not as pleasing as it Is inter
esting. Apparently there are factional
differences as to what ought to be done.
/ Capt. Lothrop has been hard at work
on the case and got it as far along as
the court of claims in Washington. But
this is regarded as only beginning. In
fact but few believe he will ever be
able to get any large proportion of the
claim for the state. and yet all now
agree that it is worth while pushing the
matter as hard as possible. The senate
judiciary committee approved the bill
to employ Lothrop and then the ways
and means committee took it up and
turned it over to a subcommittee. Now
o letter comes from Senator Allison to
the effect that the bill is not before the
court of claims at all, but is in the
treasury department. where all that re-
mains to be done is to verify the ac-
counts. At this juncture the whole
thing has been held up to await fur
ther investigation. 1t is believed that
the letter by Allison was written under
misapprehension of the facts, but If
not then the program will have to be
changed somewhat. If there is no oc-
casion for doing any work on the claim
there will be no excuse for employing
some one to do the work.
1t is not believed that the bill to abol
ish days of grace on notes, drafts and
checks will be passed by the house even
II the vote on the same is reconSidered.
There appears to be deep prejudice
against any bill favored by those who
are interested in banking. One of the
members of the committee on banks
ard banking Saturday remarked that it
would not be long until some bills are
before the house in the interest of the
doctors and the farmers and some 9TH
ell classes. and then look out for a clash.
The bankers do not relish the idea of
being beaten just because they are
bankers.
ToDAY's COURT DECISIONS.