Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-16
DEDICATE DRAKE LIBRARY
De1 Nsines People Participate in the Cert
monies at Oentsrville.
COAL MINERS AND OPERATORS TO MEET
state CounciI starts an Investigation
of Fees Paid by Insurance Conn
panies for Examination by
state Omcials.
COAL MINERS ANO OPERATORS TO MEET
CFrom a stan Correspondent

" IoHh q SldA OAitSfbAhthA|
DIES MONIES, Jan. 15.-(Special.)-A
trainload Of about 300 persons started from
Des Moines this morning for Centerville,
where the formal dedication of the Drake
free library took place today. The delega-
tion from here consisted largely of the stu
dents and faculty Of Drake university and
they went as a compliment to General
Drake, to whose generosity the free library
in Centerville is wholly due. A band of
music and an orchestra was taken along
and a glee club from the university. Gov
ernor Cummins accompanied the party and
this afternoon delivered two addresses in
Centerville in connection with the dedica-
| tion. Miss Alice Tyler, secretary OF the
State Library commission, also spoke
twice. as there were two large meetings
for the dedicatory services. The Drake
free library is housed in a building costing
something like S25, 900. the gift OF General
Drake to the city, which has long been his
home. He has also given largely to other
things in his home city and is very popular
there. This is one Of the few libraries
started in iowa without the assistance Of
Carnegie.
Coal Miners Meeting.
The annual meeting of the miners Of
District No. 10, Mine Workers union, will
be held in Des Moines March 4 next. The
| district includes the northern Missouri
mines and there are eighty-four local
unions having a membership of % 800. The
report OF the treasurer will show that de-
spite the large payments on account OF the
| anthracite coal mine strike, the union has
SIS, 900 in the treasury. At this meeting,
which will be held in conjunction with a
| committee Of the operators, the wage ques-
1 Nton for anofhar yaor will ha cptt1nd II Is
understood that the miners will insist upon
a slight increase in pay to correspond with
the increased cost OF living at this time.
The miners will also make another and
more unusual proposal. and that is that an
agreement be entered into between opera
tors and miners fixing the price OF all coal
marketed. This will be done so as to pro-
/ tect both the public and the operators and
! prevent any excuse for refusal OF the OPP
/ orators to raise wages. 1t is now believed
this agreement can be secured and that It
| will improve the coal mining situation ma
terially.
salaries OF Judges.
A question has arisen as to the pay OF
district judges in one or two instances in
the state. The last legislature increased
the salaries of district judges from $1,000
a year to $500, but did not fix any time
for the raise 20 go into effect. The attor-
ney general held last summer that judges
appointed to fill out vacancies after the
law went into effect could not get the
shigher wages because they are merely fill
ing out terms, and the constitution forbids
an increase offs SALARY during the term for
which an officer is elected. But in some
/ instances the district judges who we're ap-
pointed last year were reelected at tho
| NIa-on,kor .IanNIrn To- and uarvad Inv election
In November and December. and they now
claim the increased pay for those two
months. The attorney general has been
asked for a decision on the point.
Lincoln Day at a University.
The trustees of the National Memorial
university organized by the Sons Of Vet
Grams at Mason City and recently opened
for it's first year are arranging for a spe-
cial program on Lincoln day at the uni
versity. The purpose Of the special meet
ing is to increase the funds of the uni
versity, and prominent speakers have been
secured from all over the country. In
addition the people OF northwestern Iowa
have been invited to take part in many
ways. The university is said to have made
an excellent start. One fine building was
erected and others are under way, and the
GlIOllDlChN IA hAoN yNoA - NAoS 10 $500
about 100.
Investigate Insurance Fees.
The state executive council has directed
the state auditor to address a circular to
the insurance companies which have been
doing business in Iowa the past thirty
years asking them to make reports to the
auditor on the payments made to insurance
examiners and Others from Iowa on account
- l. .N,Nn Qhn -nanHde
of the insurance department do not dis
close what fees have been received mol
what examinations have been made. In
view OF the recent scandals in connection
with the examination of eastern companies
and the allegation that examiners from
iowa have been making extortionatt
charges for examinations, the state ex.
ecutive council desires a full investigation
II the companies cooperate with the au'
ditor the state will have a complete record
Investigate Coal Taking.
The railroad commissioner of Iowa have
received numerous complaints from mer.
chants and others in the matter OF rail.
roads approPriating coal consigned to bust
ness men or dealers. The railroads hav,
been in the habit Of taking this coal oil
the ground that their operation is a public
necessity and such action is therefore justi
fed, and it Is stated at the office of thu
commission that this has been upheld b!
the commission because Of decisions OF tn
courts TO that effect. Now some of tn,
complaints are TO be pushed before tn
commission so as to secure a definite de
cision from the commission on this ques
tion. II is the belief Of the dealers tina
no decisions OF the cour& have made
rule such as that indicated and that the!
, will finally hold that railroad employees hay
no more right to take coal belonging 4
another than have other individuals hart
: pressed for fuel.