Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-11
.h0l|V[ Is QUESTIONED
Congressman Want President to
Explain Position in Insur-
ance Salary Cut
DOES NOT FAVOR THE LIMIT
Secretary Hitchcock Threatened With
Impeachment-charses of Extrsva-
aance in Conduct Of Business on the
Canal Zone Made BY Minnesota Con-
urs.srnan-W ashinston News.

nrsssman-W ashington News.
Washington, Jan. 11.-Just what IN
terest President Roosevelt has In main
tanning the salaries OF insurance off1-
Gals at the present high rates is
something congress will soon inquire
into.
The committee Of fifteen Of the life
insurance commissioners Of the various
states which met at Chicago last NO
yernber to frame legislation, are to
correct some of the evils Of the busi-
ness as shown by the scandals un-
earthed by the Armstrong investigat-
T ing committee in New York which pro-
posed among other things that a law
fixing the salaries Of the life insurance
OFFICIALS should be passed either by
congress or by the various state legis-
latures. The president heard pr the
proposed legislation and ten days lat
er addressed this letter to the super
intendent of insurance in the Distric,
Of Columbia:
"Will you read the enclosed mem
orandum? assume that you will not
indorse any proposal that the legisla-
lures shall AK the salaries to be paic
officers Of insurance companies.
would deem such an action OF ques-
stionable validity in law and unques-
tionably grossly improper, whether the
law would or would not permit 1t.
II can hardly suppose that there Is
serious endeavor to take such &C
tion."
In order that It might be understood
5 that the president OF the United States
was opposed to limiting the salaries
paid to insurance officials. Superinten-
dent Drake was authorized by the
president to send copies OF his letter 70
all the insurance commissioners OF
the various states.
The letter Of Mr.. Drake shows that
It was the original intention OF the In
surance commissioners of the various
states to limit the salaries paid to
presidents Of life insurance companies
to not exceed $4,000 q year.
Congress is interested In knowing
why the president enjoined secrecy IN
regard to his views on this matter, and
before the end OF the session a resolu-
ton will be drawn up asking him to
make public his reasons.
There are delicate insinuations made
TODAY that Secretary Hitchcock Of the
interior department may be impeached
AZ he persists in ignoring acts of con-
gress.
Mr.. Hitchcock at his own request ap-
reared before the special committee OF
the senate to explain what he believed
to be his statutory authority for with
drawing 100000 acres of Indian lands
from allotment in order to create the
forest reservation asked for by Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Wilson. Mr.. Hitch
cock declined to state his authority,
but said that Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Campbell had prepared a report
which would be made to congress and
that this report would justify the
course he had taken.
For the real thing In local govern
ment the canal zone leads all nations,
according to Halvor STEVENSON OF
Minnesota, who has just returned from
q trip to Panama
81 am not going to criticise what
saw down there" said Mr.. STEVENSON.
'sbecause the undertaking is Of such
gigantic character and tremendous re-
sponsibilites that 1t fairly takes a vis-
itors breath away when he beholds
the magnitude Of the canal.
"But a few things struck me as be-
ing rather peculiar. For instance, the
government erected a house of state
for the governor Of the zone and over
5000, 900 has been expended upon it.
There is no governor now to occupy It.
II the state OF Minnesota should exer-
else such judgment the officials who
were in authority would soon be GUST
ed.
Uncle Sam also erected residences
for the local judges. but they will not
live in them.
"a great hotel equal in style and ap-
puftances to any In New York and
Washington Is big losing proposition
for the government.
II paid IS a day there and the SER
: vice was uTSC CLASS, Uul CuS cApSuSSo
are i've times the income from the es-
tablishment.
ssThere are more than 10000 people
on the government pay roll in Panama.
"Good work is being done and there
are good men in charge Of the various
branches Of canal construction. It
will be nearer ten than six years before
it Is completed. We enjoyed the trip
because this is the dry season and the
weather was hne."
SHAW TO SPEAK AT BANQUET.
ssoretary Accepts Invitation Of Mis-.
souri, Society to Be Guest.
washington, Jan. IA committee
representing the Missouri Society Of
the City of New York, consisting Of
walter Alexander, William J. Woll-
man and Burton Thompson, called on
Secretary Shaw and secured his ac-
ceptance of an invitation to be the
guest Of honor at q dinner to be given
by the society at the Waldorf-Astoria
on january 81. It is expected that
notable company will be present.
rL> Ald Aan and t1eA NAnu