Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-14
BOOkBENDlNC TOO CHEAP
Manufacturers Of Blank Books Hold Con-
ference at Des Moines.
TROUBLE OVER PRINTING STATE SEAL
state superintendent Barrett Reports
"A Growing Interest in the Com
sOIidation of Rural
schools.
cFrom a STAFF Correspondent

(From a Staff Correspondent)
DEs MONIES, Feb. 13-(special)-A
state meeting OF .he bookbinders and blank
book makers OF the state of Iowa was held
here today and organization effected for
mutual benefit. There we're representatives
present from Dubuque, Sioux City, Council
Bluffs, Davenport, Keokuk, Cedar Rapids,
Waterloo and a number OF other cities, in
Guiding heads Of firms and companies and
the statesmen for different houses doing
business in the state. There we're about
fifty present at the meeting, which was
held in a clubroom at the Savory house,
and 1t was held quietly. The purpose Of
the meeting was to consider trade matters
and especially the condition of labor and
prices. Members Of the association say that
1t will be necessary for the blank book
makers and dealers in county supplies to
get more for their goods IL they are to
continue in business; that there has been
an increase II the cost of labor and ma
terial and that there has been no CORES
ponding increase in prices. This is the
first meeting of the blank book makers for
several years. Their business with the
state and county offcals runs into i'm
mense sums every year.
COunterfeiting n State Seal.
The new state auditor, B. F. Carroll, has
just compelled George A. Miller a printer
of this city, to turn over to him the cuts
from which he was printing the facsimile
OF the signature of the former state aud
itor, F. F. Merriam, and putting on cer-
tlfcates issued to insurance companies a
counterfeit of the seal Of the state auditor
of Iowa. 1t had been customary for the
companies to secure these certificates from
the state auditor with the genuine seals
attached and for this the state received so
cents for each. After the new state aud
itor entered his ofice he discovered that
the fees from this source had stopped. He
investigated and found that Miller was
printing these certificates in large quanti-
ties for the Northwestern Life and Saw
ings, the National Life and Trust, the Mu-
tual Life and Savings, and formerly for the
Security Life and Savings, which latter
had Auditor Merriam as It's president. The
heads of companies and the printer claimed
they had recei yed permission from the
former state auditor to make copies Of the
seal and his signature. After consultation
with the attorney general the new state
auditor demanded the cuts and put a stop
to the practice, as the state law is rigid
against counterfeiting the seals for pur-
poses of deception aud fraud. The matter
has created something of a sensation as the
companies named are oficered by men high
in financial affairs
Iowa Hardware Men.
At the session Of the retail hardware
dealers this morning, the discussion turned
on the jobber and after transacdng the
business and electing officers the conven-
tion adjourned. The convention one year
from now will in all probability be held in
Des Moines.
Resolutions we're passed thanking the off,
GERS Of the association for their efforts
which had resulted in the success of the
convention and the growth and prosperity
of the association. Resolutions were also
passed endorsing the bill prepared by the
retail grocers of the state changing the
wage and salary exemption law and urging
the legislature to adopt it.
The selection OF officers and members oi
the executive committee resulted as fol.
lows
Presidents. r. Miles Mason City.
SeSTetarvNH g Vincent, Fort Dodge
Treasurer-A c. Veith, Oakland.
Executive Committee-Jacob Selther. ]. +
Psason Pay H. q Lsdfssfss g. ssfFsr 1 H. knfta kes 4
Keating. Paul DeVol, L. A Guam, c. E
| Hass.
Rural school Consolidation.
State Superintendent Barrett left at nooI
| today for Muscatine county, where thi
| evening he will address a teachers meet
| ing at Atalissa, and tomorrow Afternoon
will speak at a farmers institute at VIII
! liamsburg Mr.. Barrett has received thi
week several evidences of the great in
terest being manifested just DOW In tn
rural school consolidation. He today re
ceived a letter from the publishers Of
rural journal in Chicago asking for in
| formation and documents relating to tn
subject, as they are engaged in an effor
to get favorable legislation in Illinois. H
received information that the state super
intendent of Minnesota is about to issu
a leaiet on the subject. He received
letter from the principal OF the schools a
Prairieburg stating that there is mrrh In
terest in the subject in Linn county, an
asking for documents and information. H
is also asked to come and lecture on tn
subject. From the principal Of the Lloy
township central school in Dickinson count
he received letter stating that they hav
a good, four-room township school an
have just sold all their small school house
and sites. Another township In the sam
county is considering 1t. The state super
intendent is invited tc deliver com
mencement address there. Superintendent
Barrett finds this sort Of interest in man
places in Iowa and is speaking on the sub
ject at many meetings
New Iowa Corporations.
The articles of incorporation OF tn
John U. May. trustee, Limited" Of Clin
ton, have been filed with the secretary {
state. This is a company to build an cleo
trio interurban line from Davenport I
Clinton. The capital is $4,000.
The Northern Rural Telephone compan
Of Clay county was incorporated capitG
$4,000. by C. W. Creams and others.
The Peoples Light company OF Dave1