Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-30
ASKS FOR
MORE POW Err
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES
MAKES REQUESTS.
BROOKS BANKING BILL
keokuk County Senator Tells of His
Reasons for Asking That Stock.
holders Make Senai-Annual Reports
-CaIderwood's Bill Not Yet Ready.

| ''S'SSsS 'uohV TSSARt'ftiltidul ElCROFI'
-caIderwood's Bill Not Yet Ready
[BY LEON BRowN.l +.
Des Moines Bureau of the Courier.
Des Motnes, Jan. 90.
This afternoon at 2:30 o'clock thu
committees on cities and towns of thu
| two houses met in joint session in thu
senate judiciary room. Senator Court
| right is the chairman of the senate
committee and Representative Buchan
an OF the house committee. These are
considered among the most important
committees in tho legislature. They
have more vital and close relation tt
the interests of more people than mos
OF the committees.
Committee issHeard.
The meeting was held today to give
chance to be heard to Mayor A, N.
| Alberson of Washington, Mayor F. X.
stebbins of Iowa City. Mayor f. M.
Norris of Mason City. City Clerk "A. G.
! Gates of Newton. Mayor P. w. Martin
of Waterloo, T. G. Pierce of MARSHALL
town and City Solicitor w. H. Brem-
ner of Des Moines. These compose the
legislative committee of the Iowa
League of Municipalities. They were
here to present to the committee the
request of the league for the enact
ment of the following laws:
What is Asked.
Extending to cities of the second
class the. power to own and acquire
waterworks.
Extending to Incorporated towns the
power to order construction of sewers
ana assess the cost to benefited prop
erty.
Extending to all cities of all kinds.
including special charter cities, the
power to own and build sewage and
garbage disposal plants, condemning
land therefore and to maintain such
plants.
Giving to cities the power to make
tax leVles for constructing city build
ings.
Giving cities the power to establish
street Improvement districts.
Giving counties the power to employ
attorneys and pay the expenses thereof
TO resist appeals from the hoard of
review in tax assessment cases.
10 require uniform accounting BY
cities and to require examination Of
CITY accounts g, by the auditor of state
Brooks Bill Discussed.
The proposition Of Senator Brooks
for the appointment of a committee Of
stockholders in every bank to examine
the condition of the institution, and
make semi-annual report, rather sur
prised the bankers. They did not ex.
pect that the difficulty Of too much
confidence in officers would be gone
about in that way.
Gives His Reasons.
Down in our county there was a
bank which depended on its cashier"
said Senator Brooks, talking of his
bill. "He made the reports, and the
stockholders took his word for gospel.
That was the Sigourney Savings bank,
whose cashier recently committed sui
eide. 1t now is charged that he falsi- |
fed his report. If a committee of |
three of the stockholders is required to |
report semi-annually on the condition
of the bank, some one will know its
actual condition except the very offic-
ers in whom there may be too much |
confidence. That is the reason for pro.
posing the measure. I believe it will |
meet with endorsement"
Could Enforce Present Law.
Other bankers have called attention
to the fact that already there is law
requiring the directors to report on the
condition of their banks. If this is en-
forced it is believed it would be suffi-
,ient. Sometimes they neglect this or
AXE The officers reports as sufficient
basis. Would not the stockholders dol
he same thing?
CaIderWood Has No Bill.
mol have not framed bill cover
ng state inspection of private banks"
said Representative Calderwood to-
lay. Mr.. Calderwood is understood
among the legislators to be ready to
introduce such a bill If no one does.
I am not prepared to talk about the
natter to any extent" he continued.
I understood that Chairman Head Of
he banking committee of the house
planned to introduce such a measure.
asked him about it and he said thatI
le expected that some one else would
10 it. I am informed, however, that
ne is for such law"
Are in Favor of Measure.
The fact is that both Mr.. Calder
wood and Mr.. Head are earnestly in
,avor of it. They see no reason why
private banks should not be required
TO do business on the same basis as
The state and savings banks which
have reports to make four times al
year. Mr.. Head has an interest in five
private banks.
eff the legislature does not pass al
aw to make these concerns report and
10 be examined" said Mr.. Head, you
will perceive instantly that it will bel
much easier to tax them than it nowf
Is. That am in favor of. Il am in
,avor of putting the banks of.the state j
al under the state supervision. That
say as a private banker. believe
he legislature will enact such aflaw.nl
"They ought to be under state superb,
vision, 'said Mr.. Calderwood. 81 agreeE
With Mr.. Head in that respect Ffcan.