Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-01

WILL PUT 1T INTO POLITICS
Lodges Will Sign Petitions to Lesis.
Iators in Effort to Defeat Proposed
Law-Fraternal Leaders While Not
Denying Fundamental Principle, De-
mand Education to Change.
TO Times-Republican

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 1.-Active prepara-
tons are being made by the fraternal
insurance men of the state to fight the
raising of the assessment by operation
of law. as is likely to be recommended
by the insurance investigation COM
mission now at work on q report to
the legislature. When A. r. Talbot, OF
Lincoln Neb., one of the directors of
the Modern Woodmen of America; z.
w. Halves, of Rock Island, head clerk
of the same order, and some other in
surance men, were in the city recently.
to appear before the commission in op-
position to any legislation on the sub
iect the matter was talked over by
them after they had appeared before
the commission, and it was agreed
then, so it is learned now, that at
whatever cost the proposed legislation
should be defeated.
1t is pretty we'll settled that the COM
mission will recommend the passage OF
law fixing a maximum rate for ira
ternal and mutual assessment COM
panies. On this supposition the fra>
ternal men propose to carry on cam
paign, and declare that they will have
a resolution from every fraternal camp
in the state of Iowa opposed to the
proposed law. In addition to securing
the resolutions, they propose to bring
pressure toN bear on the legislators
thru the local lodges in the county
W here the legislator lives.
AS showing the determination of the
fraternal men to defeat the proposed
legislation, one of the head officials of
one of the biggest companies in the
country is quoted as having said, while
in this city, that his company would
bring every one of its head officers to
the state at the next session of the
legislature to lobby against the pro-
posed measure, rather than to allow
such bill to pass.
There is no attempt on the part of
the better-informed fraternal officers
in any of the companies to deny but
that the rates must be increased be-
fore long. Head Clerk G. w. Hawes
and Director A. r. Talbot, of the.
Woodmen, and many others, have adj
mitted this readily on the witness
stand before the commission during
the past summer. But they claim
that it would never do to fix the higher
rates by law, partly because of the fact
that in other states there would be no
such law, and partly because they
claim the higher rates are not now
needed and further that the members
of the order will be better served if
delay is had till they are educated to
making the increase, themselves.
The next investigation by the city
inspectors in. the office of the state
auditor, will be the affairs of the city
Of Atlantic. According to the new
law the auditors office is required to
investigate the accounts of every city
of 5000 population or over, at least
once every two years. Cities of less
population must be Investigated if the
city council or mayor or certain num-
ber of citizens demand it. Atlantic
asked for an investigation of its af-
fairs, and will be accommodated. There
are but twenty-five cities of the state
with population of 5000 or over.
Since the examination is to be not
oftener than. once in two years the
examination of the accounts of these
can be made by the bank examiners
or insurance examiners between times
with their other work, but if very
many of the cities of less than 5000 ask
Co ft,o -0rly
qure additional help in the auditor s
office Furthermore. if any city of
more than 5000 has been examined
once, it can be examined second
time on the request of the city council,
mayor or certain per cent of the citi-
zens. If many of the cities demand
a second investigation within the two
years, it may further increase the
work so as to require the appointment
of inspectors especially for that work.
Two companion bills to this law for
the inspection of the accounts Of cities
will be introduced at the coming ses-
sion of the legislature. One will be
the bill to inspect the accounts of coun-
tv treasurers and supervisors and
the other will be bill for the inspec-
ton of the accounts of public service
corporations. The latter is the idea
of some of the officials and leading
spirits in the League of Iowa Munici-
palities. 1t is claimed now by these
officials that they are unable to get
a fair accounting from the public serv-
ice corporations, and in granting fran
chises the public does SO with its eyes
shut, for the reason that no one has
an adequate idea as to how much
profit there is in the public service cor
porations. An investigation and, ex-
animation of their accounts by inspec-
tors from the state auditors office
would disclose the exact situation.
Patents for loWans.
Wa shinRtn1l . C. Oct. 1.-The fol-