The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-12
STATE PRIMARY
LAW IS NEEDED
BIENNIAL MESSAGE OF THE GOV.
ERNOR OF IOWA.
Corruption Rife TN the Nomination OF
Party Candidates-Over- Capitalize
alton Again Denounced and Board
TO Check 1t Recommended - The
Educational Interests and Ihelr
Requirements.
Special to The Journal.

Des Moines, Iowa. Jan. 12.--GoVernor
Cummins delivered his biennial message
TO a joint session Of the senate and house
of representatives at noon to-day. strong
recommendation for a state primary law
plans for the government of corpora lions,
protection for the statehouse against fire
and its rehabilitation, sanction OF new IN
surance legislation and encouragement OF
state institutions are the features Of the
message. Corruption in Iowa primary
elections is recognized by the governor
who says:
II believe that public opinion has grad
ually ripened so that now there is a pre-
ponderance OF sentiment in favor Of some
regulation that will insure common de-
cency and fairness in the nomination or
candidates for office"
The governor believes there is practical
ly no unfairness in the conduct of general
elections, but says that the manner In
which caucuses party primaries and other
proceedings are held have become intol-
cradle
Tho delegate convention. Governor Cum
Minis believes. should be preserved, to In
sure representation for the people in the
event second choice must be made. The
governor regards the plurality rule as a
weakness, and would substitute a ma
jority rule in primaries givlag a delegate
convention the right to nominate In case
no candidate receives a majority.
Over Capitalization.
IT had an opportunity in my inaugural
address two years ago to define to some
extent my views upon the organization. OF
corporations" says the governor The
history of the state we'll as the coun-
try since that time demonstrates beyond
I controversy that in the organization Of
corporation the law ought to limit the
issuance of capital stock to the amount
: actually paid to the corporation for it.
~ Gu can do your constituents no bet
ter service than to so amend our laws
as to make 1t certain that the capital
stock Of a corporation, together with any
bonGeu indebtedness, shall not exceed the
money or value Of the property coming
\ into possession of the corporation as the
consideration for such stocks and bonds.
+ The most serious menace to the prosper
ity which the people Of the United States
enjoy Is over-c capitalization"
Governor Cummins suggests board tc
be composed Of the members Of the eX-
ecutive council and attorney general, said
board to examine all articles of incor-
poration prior to their filing with the seq
rotary Of state.
Pardonlng Policy.
Speaking upon the subject Of pardons
= Governor Cummins said:
4 I have been guided in the main by this: If
4 a prisoner could show a good life prior to the
commission of the ofense and the circumstances
indicated that the crime was what ad,,, may De
and did not proceed from criminal habit, and
If, upon fun investgato5' there seemed it, te
4 have inclined toward giving such prisoner &
4 chance to become respectable, self-supportinl
4 | do not believe that a board Of pardons II
necessary. So long as the governor Is required
the f e take 5hs tbs
1 cation which precedes the parole can be carried
forward just we'll in the governors Office
4 as anywhere else.
! Governor Cummins recommends change
lin the inebriacy law 1.-The plan of con
dining inebriates with insane is bad 70
dthe inebriates and for the insane" he says
"A one-year sentence Is recommended IN
governor believes inebriates should be pu
to work to help pay their way and guarde
Hby walls and attendants. In the event o
escapes, as has been frequent under tn
present law, the governor would have in
ebriates taken back to prison the same a
criminals tried and sentenced.
Insurance Legislation.
The attention Of the legislators Is oil
rected to State Auditor CAROLS repo1
on insurance. The governor says:
L concur in the recommendation Of the audito
y that he should have authority to employ at
Yearly salary an examiner and actuary, wit
/ such other clerical assistance as may be neces
> sary. 1t is impossible to engage competer
. pany for the compensation authorized; an
there Is no practicable provision of law for tt
employ ment of actuary. The people al
vitality interested in knowing whether the insu
ance companies with which they deal are solver
or insolvent, and when the time comes for q
examination it Is of no value unless made b
/ an upright, competent and skilful examine
and actuary.
/ Accompanying the message Is an e1
90 haustive financial report. The governt
recommends that as far as possible stat
, funds be loaned out at interest on suret