Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-25
Mr.. Cummins Submits Report to
Legislature Covering South
ern Monument Trip
COMMITTEE ONLY AT FAULT
Used More Than Appropriation Thru
a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Says
He Paid His Personal Expenses Be-
cause He Knew "Parti.an and Per-
sonal Malice Would Spill its Venom" ."
to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. Ex-Governor Cum
MINIS submitted to the legislature to-
day the report of the joint committee
Of the four battlefield monument COM
missions, regarding the dedication OF
Iowa monuments on southern battle
fields. and a statement of the, records
Of the cost and the reason why the
commissions of old soldiers exceeded
the appropriations.
In submitting the report the COVER.
nor vigorously defended the soldiers
from the imputations recently put up
on them and from the attacks OF pol
iticians. The governor stated that the
members of these commissions all
were veterans, gave of their time freely
and that they can never be repaid for
the service they performed, and that
the expenditure Of money beyond the
appropriation Is explained by them be-
cause of a niisapprehension as to the
amount available. He further declared
that he was merely am invited guest
and not one penny OF the appropriation
was paid out for him or his staff or tor
anyone invited by him. He took with
him, at the expense of the state, five
of the members Of his military staff.
four being civil war veterans and one
Spanish war veteran. Two others vol-
unteered to go, and paid their own ex-
penses. All the state sfficials and 9TH
ers whom he invited personally paid
their own expenses s7 he paid the
expenses of his wifes w the journey.
He also paid his personal expenses, all
tho he could i'll afford to do so, simply
,abeeause knew that partisan and per-.
sonal malice would spill Its venom over
even such a mission" He denounced
those who had called the solemn dedi
cation ceremonies a junket or pic
mic.
During the reading of the governors
message in the senate DR.. Newman,
the secretary, who is adjutant of the
G. A. R., broke down completely, be-
ing so much affected by the words of
the governor. The governor stated
that the bills for the journey showed
1863 more than the appropriation, and
upon the advice of the attorney gem
eral all expenses were paid outside OF
the travelling expenses OF the soldiers
who are members Of the commission.
It was then found that there was
enough to pay 20 per cent of these ex-
penses and this has been done. The
remainder they have paid out of their
own pockets. The governor also stated
that not one of the orators invited for
the dedication was paid for his serv-
ices, or received anything more than
his actual outlay. In conclusion, he
said:
For the personal arrows directed
toward me / care nothing. They have
ceased to sting. But for the sake Of
the old soldiers whose fame these mon
uments perpetuate and for the honor
of the state, no man shall. If word OF
man can prevent it, degrade this holy
tourney dedication to the low level of
a junket" /.
The senate passed the legalizing acts
Of mayors in taking illegal acknoWl-
edgements; also a bill increasing the
pay of members of boards of supervis-
OrS ana giving tnenl pay loA oloAnoee
work.
The house passed the Des Moines
school consolidation BILL also bill to
provide that purchase of voting ma
chimes be submitted to a vote of the
people.
When the governors report was read
in the house, Chairman Miller of the
democratic state committee, arose and
made further explanation. in which
he withdrew his apology previously
made to the house. He insisted that
his speech was part of the commit
tee report. Chairman Jones again pro-
tested against having Mhler's speech
paraded as committee report when it
was not SO.