The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-07-02
|LEGISLATURE HEARS
ABOUT STATE INSTITUTIONS
Legislative Investigating Commute,
Report Scathing Arrangement
of Officials.

~ AAPAo' Ano A0Poie VI Lnc leg16l8'
tive investigating committee, trans.
mitted to the legislature with the
message of Governor Hay, finds:
That J. H. schively, as deputy. in.
surance commissioner under Secretary
of State Sam H. Nichols, almost in.
variably represented to insurance com.
panles asking admission into Wash.
ington that the entrance fees were $685.
when the legal entrance fee was but
$35, and that he collected in many
cases the larger amount, in some cases
$685., in a few cases $135, and that in
no case did he transmit to the state
treasury more than $35 of said collec.
tions. That he had no legal authority
to collect any such fee in excess of $35
That the amounts collected for .admis.
sion or for verifcation and first re.
Iport' in excess Of $35 were demanded
and collected wrongfully and wholly
without warrant of law.
That it is impossible accurately to
determine the total amount of fees SO
collected wrongfully by J. H. Schively
but from the evidence received from
about one-fourth of the insurance
companies transacting business in this
state the committee finds that the fees
so collected will aggregate several thou.
sand dollars and that Sam II. Nichols
and J. H. Schively have been the bene-
ficiaries of such fees.
Need Reform in Treasurer's Office.
Regarding the state treasurer's of.
fee the committee finds:
That there is not now nor has there
ever been any ledger account kept by
the auditor or the treasurer Of the Sc
curities belonging to the several
school or other special funds; that
the treasurer seems to realize the me-
cessity for such set Of accounts,
but deems it advisable to await the
action of the accountancy board be-
fore inaugurating one.
That all securities in these funds
have been checked and the commit
tee presents list of all such securi-
ties as should be and are in the hands
of the treasurer.
That proceedings should be institu.
ted to cancel all tide-land contracts
represented by tide-land notes in the
hands of the treasurer, all of which
notes are long past due.
School Department O. K.
Regarding the office of superintend-
emit of public instruction the committee
finds:
That all vouchers for two years have
been gone over and found regular in
form and show economical manage
ment and regard for the best inter
ests of the state.
Regarding the deficiency appropria-
tion of $500 made by the 1909 legisla-
ture, the committee finds that without
it the department would have been
hampered and would have personally
lost $3.50, advanced by him for postage
stamps.
Faults in Medical Lake Asylum.
Regarding the eastern Washington
hospital for the insane the committee
finds:
That the cement floors in all parts of
the new buildings are cracked and
uneven, that in certain rooms the CEN
ter of the floors has settled from one
to two inches; that the settling un-
doubtedly occurred during the con-
struction Of the building; that other
minor defects in finishing the build
ing were noted; that the building is
entirely safe, but that in accepting the
building and paying the full contract
price therefor the board of control did
not exercise proper regard for the in
terests of the state and deserve CEN
sure for neglect of duty.
That in the north wing of the main
building, erected in 1898, the walls are
badly cracked and only complete sur
vey by competent builders can deter
mine whether it is safe for occupancy.
The committee recommends that such
a board of survey be Immediately en-
ployed
That the fire escapes on all the build.
ings are inadequate and fire in any
of them must result in a large loss
of life, and that it will be criminal
for the state not to Immediately pro-
vide for suitable fire escapes.
That the institution is at present in
very competent hands.
Discipline at State Prison.
Regarding the state penitentiary the
committee finds:
That the best of order and disci-
|pline are maintained; that Superin-
tendent Reed is to be congratulated
on the results obtain-d; that no land is
needed, and that jute should be pur-
chased direct from India.
At State College.
The committee reports that its in.
Ivestigation of the Washington State
college at Pullman was hurried and
that further investigation is neces.
sary before a complete report can be
mazda