Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-03
State Executive Council Issues Statement
on Insurance Examination.
TEACHERS FINISH UP THEIR LAsoRs
Incoming Auditor is Checking Up the
Securities in Possession of Press
ent Incumbent-Change
Iowa Building,
(From a Stan Correspondence

tton OF eastern insurance companies and
the fees charged therefor, The statement
only partially eXonerates the state auditor.
An opinion by Attorney General Mullan
was included, in which the attorney gem
eral holds that the law Is not exactly clear
as to whether the state auditor has the
authority to make the examinations with
out an order from the council, but he holds
that under the head OF foreign insurance
companies is meant all those not in Iowa.
In regard to fees, he holds that the state
auditor must make a report on examina-
tions and fees and make It part of his
official record. This has never been done.
State Auditor Merriam presented a letter
from Secretary Shaw, who was member
of the executive council when Merriam
first went into office. in which Shaw states
that he recalls the discussion of the matter
and the verbal authority given Merriam
This is verified by ex-Secretary Dobson
Mr.. Merriam made the statement to the
council that he has a record of his exam
nations and 1t is part of his Office record
and he will include a statement OF fees
received. With this statement the matter
will drop. The auditor is censurable for
not having made a public record of his
examinations before and Of the fees re-
ceived. No action will lie against the state
auditor by the state or its officials and the
matter Of the reasonableness of fees is for
the companies to decide.
Teachers' Association Adiourns.
The closing day Of the State Teachers
association meeting was without incident.
The feature was the annual address OF
State Superintendent Barrett, in which he
reviewed the progress of educational work
Il, h., a.. 4.
satisfies indicating that while the average
monthly wages Of male teachers shows an
increase. because of the smaller number OF
those who are engaged. the wages OF female
teachers show decrease. He insisted that
the state must pay higher wages IL the
schools are to be kept going. He recon-
mended the Indiana plan of regulating the
wages by state law, by a system Of fixing
1t in proportion to the grade Of the teacher
as shown on her certificate. Mr.. Barrett
highly commended the plan of rural school
consolidation and the transportation of
pupils, which is gaining ground rapidly in
the state, and each year sees a larger num-
Der of schools consolidated. In regard to
manual training in schools, he recon-.
mended that a course be provided for train
ing teachers in this work at the State Nor
NAL school. The most important legisia,
tion ever enacted by any one legislature
was by the last one in Iowa. The COM
pulsory education law was the most Inn
portant, and almost OF equal Importance
was the one relating to normal work In
academies and high schools He sharply
denounced the tendency to continue educa>
tional work along the line of partisanship
and said that competent educators and su>
perintendents should be retained as long
as they are useful.
In the state association meeting, after
the election of officers, as recommended by
the committee last night, there were re-
ports on the legislation accomplished and
a general report on resolutions The reso>
lutions favor efforts for better salaries.
The effort made to have the educational
council abolished failed and it will con-
tinue.
Checking Up the Securities.
B. F. Carroll of Bloomfield, who will next
week succeed F. F. Merriam as state au-
ditor, is engaged IN going over the securi-
ties in the Office of the auditor of state
There are several million dollars worth of
these placed on file by the insurance and
other companies. They will be counted be-
fore the office is turned over.
The Board OF Railroad Commissioners
will reorganize for the year next Monday
and probably elect Colonel D. A. Palmer
chairman. e. A. Dawson is the present
chairman. $685. W
Land Case Against state.
An appeal to the supreme court has been
taken in the case of the controversy over
land at the Fort Madison penitentiary. A
small tract Of land belonging to the state
and used as a part OF the prison yard Is
claimed by R. r. Curr4er. The trouble
arose originally over some errors in the
survey OF the town plat at Fort Madison.
The Keokuk superior court decided In favor
of the state.
The articles of incorporation of the Dem
Ocrat Publishing company OF Atlantic we're
filed with tho secretary OF state today. The
capital is $4,000 ]. W. Cuykendall is
president and Edwin P. Chase secretary.
The Teton Telephone company OF St. An
thony, Fremont county. has incorporated
with 100000 capital, @. S. Turrill of JEFF
ferson Is president and L. E. Turrill secre-
tary. Notice has been given OF an increase
in the capital stock OF the Northwestern
! Telephone company Of Clarion from $4,000
to $4,000.
Iowa Building TO BE Changed.
| 1t is probable that the Iowa building at
the exposition in st. Louis will be some
what smaller than the plans which were
/ selected by the commission two weeks ago
| The architects submitted their plans tc
| Director OF Works Taylor who approved
them in general and gave them high COM
mendation, but suggested that they might
with propriety be made for a somewhat
smaller building and be changed to sui
! the exact location. This will be done, as II
was feared that the building planned could
not be constructed within the cost al
lowed, The plans will be perfected a
| once.
Implement Dealers,
] The executive committee Of the lows
! Implement Dealers association has de
cided upon Davenport as the place Of meet
| ing for the association the next time. Il
was expected that in view Of the successes
OF the meetings in Des Moines they woulC
be here but some members of the associa
tion have been unfriendly to Des Moinei
for several years.
| nwurws HgnU