Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-01-24

1t is claimed under such a provision
the people would in reality De their
own Lawmakers and that all acts
would come direct and be more close
ly in touch with public sentiment.
The provision is made that the chief
executive shall not have power to veto
any measure which has been placed
on the statute books by the referen.
dunn, and that in future legislatures
after the amendment is adopted all
bills shall have an enacting clause
reading: BE it enacted by the peo-
pie of the state of Iowa" The reso-
luton was referred to the committee
on constitutional amendments, where
the likelihood is that it will rest dur
ing the session.
State Printer and Binder.
At the joint caucus of the Repub-
lican members of the legislature held
in the house chambers Emory English,
the representative from Polk county,
was nominated for state printer and
Ed Chassell, the representative from
LeMars, was nominated for state bind
er, to take the places of the present
printer and binder, Messrs. Murphy of
Vinton and Tedford of Mt. Ayr. The
election came after warm contest, in
which the opponents of the successful
candidates made an effort to postpone
action until the legislature had taken
some definite move in regard to the
| nf oy;D, On INV
the biennial election law. This move
ment was defeated on a secret ballot
by vote of 20 to AZ, and Immediately
afterwards Mr.. English was named
for state printer by vote of 70 to 3S,
his opponent being Mr.. Anderson Of
Indianola. The election of the NOM
inees will undoubtedly follow in an
other joint convention to come soon,
but there is evidence OF move on
the part of their opponents to render
their victory barren of fruit. The
terms of the present officials do not
expire until JAN ]. 1907, and should
the legislature decide they come under
the list of officials whose tenure of Of
flee must be extended to make the BIZ
ennial law operative throughout, they
will hold over until 1908. In that case
the new legislature to be chosen next
fall would have the choosing of NOM
inees for the place, and as its mem
bership will not be in any way bound
by the acts of its predecessors there
are likely to be many more candidates
in the field.
Insurance Question Prominent.
The resolution for the investigation
of all Iowa and other old line life in
surance companies doing business In
the state still lies dormant on the
speakers table, but there is no evil
dence of lack of interest in the sub
ject. The members of the legislature
are being flooded with circulars both
for and against investigation, and
many policyholders are writing to
their representatives. The first cir
cular sent to the members was issued
by President c. E. Rawson of the Des
Moines Life anS In 1t he took the
stand that the state auditor had re-
Gently examined the Iowa companies
and that any other examination or in
quiry by the legislature would be a
reflection on the work of that official.
This letter was followed by one sup
posed to emanate from the companies
having home Offices in other states,
but doing business in Iowa. It was
in opposition to the Warren bill which
was measure for a much milder
form Of examination than the Mols-
berry resolution, and declared that the
Iowa companies, If they were being
conducted rightly, should court, rather
than evade, the closest scrutiny. Mr..
Molsberry declares in his movement
he is only actuated by the desire to
accomplish the greatest good for the
policyholders of the state and that he
Is not aiming to punish any man or
to strike any company. He says he
has received many letters from policy
holders commencing his action, and
that he will be pleased to hear from
others either for or against the move
ment. His only desire, he claims. is
to get at the true state Of affairs. He
denounces as the purest nonsense the
claim that he Is Influenced by anyone
In the position he has taken. In this
connection IL can be stated that Lieu
tenant Governor Herriott is in hearty
sympathy with the movement for an
examination. He says It will be much
better for the companies, If there is
nothing wrong In any of their acts, to
have the matter publicly proclaimed
than to endeavor an evasion of an in
vestigation, no matter how far-reach-
ing 1t may become. The lieutenant
governor Is also in favor of the crea.
ton of an insurance commission for
Iowa on the lines adopted by Wiscon-
sin and other states. While the
work which is now being done In the
Office of the auditor of state is gen.
orally satisfactory, Mr.. Herriott be-
lieves 1t has become of such vast i'm
portance to the whole people of the
state that it should be placed In a
department by itself and that thor
ough and competent actuary should
be placed at the head of the depart
ment and have full control
Many Bills Are In.
In two weeks fully $50 bills for new
laws for the state have been intro
duced In the legislature. A number