Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-25

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members of the commission the fact
tnat but one Iowa campony would
come within the provisions Of the law
enacted In New York respecting this
subject. That law fixes a maximum
figure measuring the surplus that q
company may acquire; but one Iowa
company has accumulated such sur
plus as would bring it within the oper-
alton of the New York law. II Iowa
should pass law on the subject 1t
either would be compelled to enact one
more drastic than the New York stat
ute or its terms would not be effective
until time, perhaps, wnen further or
different legislation would be desir-
able.
4 1t was the huge surplus Of the New
York companies which made the
trouble in New York. The handling
of the S9OOOO,OoO cash which those
companies had caused the controversy.
1t was pointed out during the last
legislative session while this subjeee
was under consideration that no diff
f1culties with respect to the Iowa COM
panies is possible as long as they have
| on hand such small surplus as to make
its manipulation not worth the effort.
! At the same time the perfect solvency
| and good business methods Of the Iowa
| companies were the subject of repeat
ed comment by those. even, who were
urging an investigation.
AS to fraternal insurance concerns,
the conclusion of the commission is
said to concur with that Of the auditor
| of state, Who has called the attention
OF the public and the legislature, many
times. to the fact that these companies
while furnishing honestly and faith
| fully conducted insurance. were not
organized on scientific basis and
| should be readjusted on a different
theory of rates.
1t Is not unlikely that the commits
sion will recommend the enactment of
law prohibiting the organization of
new fraternal insurance orders except
on higher rate basis, the adoption of
the American or actuaries' table being
regarded among insurance men as the
best criterion of what rates should be.
This recommendation and the argu-
ment made by the auditor Of state in
MS reports are in no sense an attack
on the fraternal concerns. The mo.
yves and business integrity of the
managers Is nowhere assailed by the
auoltor or the commissioners, II ia
purely mathematical proposition.
As TO the companies already formed
IL Is probable that law will be recon.
mended requiring them gradually to
.eauJust themselves to new basis
transferring their policy holders to the
higher and more adequate rate
Beds OF Rlvers Free to All.
Who owns the sand that lies under
the water in the bed Of the river
mat Is the question called to thu
attention of the state authorities oy n
M. MoFadden OF oskaloosa. The AZ
taches OF the Offices Of the secretary
OF state and the attorney general have
been reading the law books diligently
Tor several days to And an adennata
answer to the inquiry.
II was given up as hopeless. That
the river beds belong to the people
that Is the state-is even doubth,,
But that the state is trustee and ous.
todian OF the river beds that are stAl
IN use by the water ia certain. After
the water abandons the channel Of :
river, the statute gives the state fun
cite to the abandoned bed. II can saIl
the bed In that case. But while the
water Is using the bed the state can
neither sell nor leave the ground.
earth, sand or minerals which lie IN,
der the water. = =
At least that is the present view nj
the state house. A letter to that effeci
mas been sent to the Oakaleosa atten
ney. He will SO advise his client.
Oes Moines Leses Brigade Post,
II Is now practically certain that
Des Moines has lost it's brigade armu
post, despite the efforts of Congress-,
man Hull. The war department. has
purchased land for a brigade post al
indianapolis and started the work OF
construction. The reason for the
abandonment Of Fort Des Maines aa
a, brigade headquarters and the selec.
ton OF indianapolis. is the high price
asked for land south of the post at
Des Moines. Owners wanted 5000 an
acre for 1t, and the government re.
fuses to pay It. Fort Des Moines win,
be maintained as a regimental most
will not be any larger in the near
future.
Would Have Stone Pile.
A stone yard, around which che new.
county jail should be built is the lat
est suggestion OF Supervisor Prank
Morris. MY idea is to build the new
jail IN a square or circle with a court
on the inside which could be used for
breaking stone" said Mr. Morris,
Stone could be hauled in and out
and one man could watch forty to fiftv
prisoners. as there would be no wav
for them to escape. This would oh.
viate the necessity Of separate stone
yard
The Breath of life,
K Its q significant fact that the
strongest a.:imal Il i,S size, tire por.
MA, also has The largest lungs. Pow
erful lungs mean& powerful creatures.
How 20 Keep thu breathing orpaps
right should he mans chic fss; study.