Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-01-20
LEGISLATORS TAKE RECESS
Adjourn Until Jan. 26, During
Repairs at the Capitol.
cuMMINs BEGINS NEW TERM


Governor, in Inaugural Address, Reit.
crates His Previous Views on the
Tariff observation-disclosures His Iowa
Idea" and Opposes standing Pat"
Des Moines, Jan. 19.-The keynote
of Speaker Clarke's brief but pithy
address when elected speaker of the
house was "He legislates best who
legislates least" and every legislator
would do well to paste this gem of po-
litical wisdom in his hat. The
speaker urged the members to inter
pose themselves as a barrier against
the flood of legislation seeking to
pour through the legislative halls and
assured them that a short business
session would be of benefit to the
state and would gain the approval Of
the people.
These words, so fifty spoken, prom
Use to bear fruit. and, indeed, the per-
sonnet of the thirtieth general assem-
bly, shows a clear-headed, business
like, conservative set of men. The
committee assignments also bear out
this prediction, for the important
committees in each house are well
balanced and the selection of chair
men is particularly fortunate. con-
servative men being put in these re-
sponsible positions. So it seems rea-
sonable to forecast session produc.
tive of good results, without radical
or disturbing legislation, and one in
which all measures that are passed
will have received careful and pains
taking consideration.
The Governors Message.
Governor Cummins' biennial mes
sage, which was read by him, by invi-
tation of both houses, before the joint
convention which met on Tuesday to
canvass the vote, was an able and
most comprehensive document. It
showed thorough acquaintance with
and great grasp of the details of mat
tiers of state and an earnest endeavor
to give wise counsel in matters of
legislation. 1t created something of
a sensation in it's disclosures con-
corning the alleged over-charging Of
fees for examination of insurance
companies by former State Auditor
Merriam. The law governing the mat
ter Of fees in such cases is very
vague and the message stated that
the books in the auditors office did
not show how much had been collect
ed, and, in fact, gave no information
on the subject whatever. The rec
ords were not completed when Audi
tor Merriam weEt out of Office, but
Auditor Carroll by direction of the
executive council, had ascertained
that for 116 examinations something
like $4,000 had been collected. The
governor says the men who made the
examinations have not had chance
to be heard and may be able to ex-
plain matters, and for that reason he
recommends that the matter be in
vestigated by committee appointed
by the general assembly, and if it is
found that the power of the state has
been used to extort money, that the
companies be reimbursed. Opinion
among the members in regard to this
recommendation seems to be divided
and it is not possible to predict what
action, If any, will be taken.
The recommendations relative to a
primary election law will doubtless be
followed by the enactment of some
law of the sort, though many of the
members do not agree with the gov
ernor in regard to the retention of
the delegate feature, which the gov
ernor endorses as giving the oppor-
tunity for the exercise of second
choice in case no candidate receives
a majority vote at the primaries. The
recommendation in regard to changes
in the inebriate law is well considered
as is also the plan of increasing the
scope of the auditors Office by the ad-
stead of creating new department
for that purpose. The governor
speaks of the needs of the state edu-
cational institutions for a number Of
new buildings, and urges the legisla-
ture to deal more generously with
these institutions. His suggestion
that the state should have a certain
supervision of the improvement Of
the roads insofar as studying the
characteristics of the various high
ways and preparing plans for their
betterment such plans to be submit
ted to the boards of supervisors of
the counties for which they were pre-
pared, for adoption, is novel and
seems to meet with approval.
State Finances.
The message very carefully reviews
the subject of state finances. The
governor assumes that the assessable
value OF all the taxable property of
the state, which was $637 ,937,386 in
1903, will not be materially changed
in the coming two years, and, figuring
ON 3-mill tax levy, he estimates that
the total receipts up to Dec. 81. 1905.
will be $6,999, 35458, and the fixed ex-
penses provided for by law, inclusive
of the unpaid balances of appropria-
tons still remaining in the treasury.
will be $3.50, 922.54 for the same pc
riod. This will leave balance avail
able for extraordinary appropriations