Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-08-17

The aduitor is profoundly convinced
that fraternal beneficiary associations
for the interests Of whose members
and policy holders he has the most
loyal regard should increase their
rates to the national fraternal or Am
erican mortality tableR
He regards the deferred dividend
policy as bad institution but would
allow companies to reserve contin-
gent surplus of from to 20 per cent,
Issuing an annual statement to policy
holders showing the amount and dis
tribution on the books and requiring
the fund to be carried as constant
liability.
He would abolish the discrimina-
ton which exists between what are
known as participating and nonpartic-
ipating policies.
He would require all life insurance
policies to embody the complete and
detailed contract without reference to
any other document or article.
A, law fixing the minimum rate for
assessment insurance would preclude
the necessity of a law eliminating this
class of companies.
The auditor believes that compan-
les should be required to publish full
annual statements, but he does not
believe it wise to require the publica-
ton of the reports of state examina-
ton OF the companies, except at the
discretion of the department.
The auditor would require frequent
accountings by life companies to stop
the practice of making extravagant
estimates, the chief evil in the pro-
curement of business.
Vouchers for expenditures amount
ing to more than 800 should be re-
quired of all companies.
Salaries Of officers receiving more
than $4,000 should be published an.
nually.
Proxy giving should be stopped.
Auditor Carroll gives qualified sane
ton to the idea Of the establishment
Of an insurance department instead
of the combination of the department
with the Office Of the auditor. as q
department thereof.
The investment of the $20,000,000 OF
life companies on deposit with the
auditor of state in the form of secur-
tiles, is highly commended by the
auditor.
Lawyers for Divorce Reform.
One of the very important national
meetings Of the month is that Of the
divorce reform congress at st. Paul
Immediately preceding the meeting Of
the American Bar association. Gov.
ernor Cummins has appointed i've
Iowans to attend the conference, In
response to the invitation from the
organization. The delegation from
this state will be-:
s. .. Rinker, Rock Rapids.
N. b. Coffin, Des Moines.
M. ]. Wade, Iowa City.
George G Scout, Sioux City.
Howard j. Clark, Des Moines.
All of these gentlemen are lawyers
of high standing and the congress re-
ferred to is made up largely Of law.
yers who have special knowledge Of
the extent of the evil that the con.
gress seeks to remedy These lawyers
also expect to attend the American
Bar association melting SO that they
are able to discharge both commits.
sions with ease.
Recently, at the State Bar associa-
ton of Iowa, a successful effort to
take forward step on the subject
of divorce law reform was baked by
reconsideration at a subsequent meet
ing. The lawyers generally were anx-
ious to go on record in favor of means
to prevent the growth of the divorce
evil, but the expense of making q
transcript Of the evidence of every
case seemed to frighten the associa-
ton.
1t is believed that the Iowa delega-
ton to the national reform congress
will take an advanced view on the
subject and support such reasonable
recommendations as may lead to re-
forms in this matter. Uniform laws in
the states furnish the only immediate.
ly efticacious reform.
State Levy Is Reduced.
The state levy for the year has been
reduced by the executive council from
80 mills to mills, which will make a
material reduction in the amount col.
lected for the running expenses of
the state.
The 3.2 mills levy brings in an in.
come Of approximately $4,000 I'M
der the valuations annually while the
new levy will net the state $1,9s3, 900,
which sum is ample to care for the
expenses Of the administration.
The change is considered one Of
the most important rulings Of the ex.
ecutive council in regard to the ques.
ton Of taxation.
iowa a Healthy State.
Iowa is one Of the most healthful
states in the union. according to fig.
ures compiled by the public health
&nd marine Hospital service This
data gives the mortality statistics for