Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-01-11
sTATE SENATE TO INVESTIGATE
METHODS OF LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANIES IN IOWA
LAWS ARE INADEQUATE
Molsberry Bill to Extend Terms of
Printer and Binder One Year-Lit-
tie Excitement at First Sessions Of
the Thirty-First General Assembly.

y
Des Moines, Jan. 9.-(Special. y
Senator Molsberty today offered res
olution providing for the appointment
OF committee to Investigate life in
surance companies. The basis for the
resolution is that investigations in
other states have disclosed that the
interests of the insured are not prop
erly safeguarded and that the Iowa
laws are inadequate as to taxes and
conflicting. Besides the inquisitorial
power of the state auditor is limited
materially. Therefore a Joint com
m1ttee Of three senators and four rep
resentatives is proposed by Mols-
berry to Investigate and examine into
the business of the life insurance COM
panies doing business in Iowa with
reference to the methods employed by
the said companies and their rela-
lions to other corporations, the sala-
ries paid, securities and Investments
held, etc. The resolution was refer
red to committee
To Extend Terms.
Molsberry offered bill today ex-
tending the terms of the printer and
binder one year and adjusting the
terms of office OF all officers to the
biennial election amendment Court
right offered a resolution to refer the
whole matter of the tenure Of office
and terms to a special committee of
the senate which carried, taking the
Molsberry bill.
The house did no business Of i'm,
portance. @
Little Excitement.
The only excitement attendant upon
the opening days of the general assem-
ply was that occasioned by the jockey.
ing of the members for the So day
jobs for political henchm en- and de-
serving applicants of one kind and an.
other. Though there was a certainty
that practically all of the former en-
ployes of the thirtieth assembly would
be selected. large number of appli.
cants for places appeared and the poll,
ticians began early to jockey and trade
for friends.
But in the case Of Mr.. Knoulton OF
Mitchell county the legislature had a
unique experience for never before In
the knowledge of any man connected
with the assembly or the state house
did man who got a legislative job quit
it voluntarily. Mr.. Knoulton spent the
week before the legislature convened
in Des Moines and met all the mem
bers. He assidously set him self to Sc
cure election as clerk Of the house to
fill vacancy and was elected without
material objection, the fourth district
and Mitchell county being conceded
the place. There was in opposition a
preacher who removed o year ago from
la Us nne HNf T.
alone and had no connection with the
machine, combination or politicians. I,
was known from the beginning he had
no chance in the world to win and
when the caucus was held the name ol
Mr.. Knoulton was found written there
Nerve Gave Way.
But when the assembly came tc
choose the assistant secretary an6
carry out the republican caucus slate
10 and behold the Representative of Mr.
Knoulton withdrew his name and the
election had to 60 over to the next SEES
sion. Mr.. Kepford was conceded the
place then.
Mr.. Knoulton's nerve gave way
Some one said in joke that it was
due to the fact that Mitchell county
politicians who have held other Offices
| have absorbed the full supply allotted
to that county. But in any event when
he came to try reading to the house
his nerve gave way and he decided te
quit. Yet he had been sheriff eight
| years.
The subject of discussion among the
members today is what shall be done
with the O'Brien county contest.
Former Representative Whitmel
does not deny chat he has removed
from his district but he says that the
law which makes that a disqualified
ton and creates a vacancy on account
/ of it is unconstitutional and invalid
| The Youde people claimed the legis
lature is not the place to try the ques
ton Of the validity Of statute pass
| ed by 1t.
And as long as the sole question Il
whether the statute Is unconstitution
al there are few who think that the
| legislature will have the nerve to de
clare their own law bad and seat {
member though he is not resident o.
| fbo diof,ic+ ho caaIrc RI rnprocap{ ~