Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-08

NO WAY OF SECURING REDRESS
Docs Not Recommend Return Of the
Money to Insurance Companies -
House Passes Bill to Reduce Number
of Employees in Lesislature-Salaries
Increased.
Special to Times Republican.


Des Moines, April S.-The joint COM
mittea ON retrenchment and reform to-
day reported to the legislature the re-
suit of It's findings in the case of Mer-
riam and Beehler. accused of exhorbi-
tant fees charged In examination OF in
surance com 2anies In the closing days
of their offic. as auditor and insurance
examiner Tie report condemns in un-
measured terms the practice OF these
two men in making unwarranted and
excessive charges and of collecting rail-
road fare and other expenses to and
from Des M,)rnes to far eastern points
for each on. of the number of COM
panies examined on single eastern
trip The report concludes, however,
that there Is no way to secure return OF
the money, s.s the state has never had
any interest in the fees. Suggestion Is
made that the companies should have
made complaint before paying the bills
if they deemed them exhorbitant.
i.nously. the bill to reduce the number
of employees of the Legislature especially
the number ,yf committee clerks and eff
feet saving of about $3.50 day In
expenses du!ing the session.
The committee on retrerlchment and
reform introduced a bill to abolish the
fee system practically in all cases In
the state and require all money collect
ed by boar,is and commissions TO go
into the sta. treasury The same COM
fnistee repeated n Joint resolution fixing
the salaries OF clerks and employees at
the state capitol for the next two
years, providing salary list of over
$4,000 year and increasing it about
$4,000.
The souse passed resolution au-
thorizing investigation of gypsum
mines, and report to the legislature,
and also resolution asking the con-
gress to reduce the postage on the IL
brary books.
The future of the one board idea for
the state educational institutions Is a
fruitful topic Members feel certain
that If there had been sufficient time
to have got the bill in shape for work
ing it would have gone thru. IT will
be recalled that two years ago the
legislature was caught the same way
hy an imperfect bill introduced near
the close of the session and that nnaf-
ly the judiciary committee recommend
ed it for the consideration of the pres
ent general assembly. Now the present
general assembly passes the idea over
to the next one with the following
resolution and recommendation, which
will be much more tangible:
"Resolve6l, That there be appointed
by the speaker three members OF the
house and by the president of the SEN
ate two members Of the senate, who
shall constitute commission 10 In
yestigate, examine and consider the
different systems of management su-
reryision and control of the educa-
tional institutions of this and other
states, to acquire all information pos
s:ble with respect thereto. to the end
that the system best approved and
most pract cable to the successful OPP
GRAFTON, management and development
of such institutions be ascertained and
to report in writing its observations,
suggestions and recommendations not
later than Sept 1. 1905. The report
herein provided for shall be addressed
TO the governor of the state and by
him comm inicated to the Thirty-firs
general ass embly at the opening OF the
session The members OF said COM
mission shall be allowed their actual
travelling and other expenses incurred,
which shall be presented by an item
lied and verified account to the execu-
tive council and when allowed shall
be paid out of any funds in the treas
ury not otherwise appropriated
. =
In view of the uncertainty as to the
passage of the biennial elections
amendment there is no positive as
surance that all members of the pres
ent assembly will be back for the
1'hirty-ilrst general assembly, and
therefore The presiding officers will
have to exercise some care In select
ing this commission if 1T is expected
that the members shall not only re-
port. but be on the floor of the next
assembly TO fight for what they pro-
pose.
When Secretary of State Martin re-
.ceived a copy of the bill relating to
the collection of vital statistics he at
once discovered that provision was
made for vast amount of additional
work in lis office and much expense
without any way of spaying for the
same 1t requires the secretary of state
10 furnish the blanks and books and
receive the certificates and to verify
them and to report back and to the To-
cal authorities and to keep records
and then there is a provision that for
the certificates of vital sta
tistics somebody shall get % cents for
each one, but no provision for auditing
t',a Kills or paying the same The
blunder was the result Of hasty action