The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-30

~.
established. 1t is true went to chi.
cago at the time of the Republican
National convention along with score
OF other states and federal officials
and hundreds of other patriotic Iowa
citizens. The governor refers to four
days in which he says | attended the
convention in June, 1908 | did go to
the convention, but | was in Chicago
Two days. On each and every one of
these days to which he refers | attend
ed 70 business matters in connection
WIN my once of state pharmacy COM
missioner, some of which | took with
me and some of which was forwarded
10 ME 1or attention, SO that my bill |
Tor the month of June was and is in /
exact accord with the law and is fair
That bill was approved by the state
executive council in the course of reg
ular business. Auditor Carroll, whose
ONCE contributed largely to the throng
OF loWans at the convention. had bet
ter knowledge then than he has now as
70 my trip to Chicago, and his respoil-
sibillty-if there was any error in the |
blll-was greater than others of the
executive council, for it was his duty
as state auditor to refuse to draw the
warrant If he had any doubt as to the
correctness of the bill. He did not
then regard the matter as of sufficient
Importance for even an inquiry.
Since Governor Carroll has seen fit
to rest his case on four days .nvolv-
ing $40, l am willing to join issues
right there; and | here and now as
set that as to these days and every
other day for which a perdiem was
charged the bills were correct. that
on each and every day service was
actually rendered. and the bills con-
formed substantially to the rules and
precedents which had been laid by
Auditor Carroll himself as a member
of committee of the executive coun-
Gil. The fact is that when the execu-
4 tive council took over, under a new
law, the task of auditing the bills of
the pharmacy commission it was de-
sired that some general rule be fixed
with regard to our bills Governor
Cummins, as chairman of the council,
appointed a committee consisting of
Auditor Carroll and Secretary Martin
to investigate and report. This COM
mittee conferred with me and one of
my colleagues relative to what should
constitute days work in reckoning
our per diem. Auditor Carroll stated
that the law did not recognize parts
of days and that they found on investi.
, cation that precedent and the decis-
ions of the supreme court entitled us
to charge for each and every day up
!. on which we performed any service
in connection with our Office and that
we should make our bills accordingly
unless advised by the council to the
[ contrary. No different vice was Civ
en- us and my bills have been SO made
/ for the past Ave years, and as such
t were approved by the council and the
; warrants drawn by Auditor Carroll.
: What he calls "the Objectionable
S features" of loosely organized de
partments" is referred to by Governor
+ carroll, and he has had prepared {
2 bill to abolish the pharmacy commits
C sion, in support of which is being in
!. dustriously circulated that the com
S mission is a burden to the TAX payers
3 The facts refits this contention. Tht
e published report of the state eXecutiv,
= council for the biennial period ende'
d July first last shows, page 1T, tina
g the pharmacy commission turned int
e the state treasury In fees collecte'
t over and above all expenses $4S,5Sa
e ..e office Of the state auditor, thel
directed by Mr.. Carroll, see page 81
s turned over to the state IN excess O
n expenses for the same period $47,284
e The taxpayers may judge for ther
IS selves as to the necessity for aboiisl
n ing commission which on an exper
r. diture of less than $4,000 year re
IS turns net profit to the state of owe
it $4,000, just because Governor Caro-
e does not know whether a certain So
was earned The office of state aud
n tor has a force of not less than 20 PEI
" sons and the expense the last year c
Ie the six years under Auditor Caro-
d was rot less than $4,000. but the dt
n partment returned less profit to tn
le state than the pharmacy commission
d. am at loss to understand VIII.
Id after having approved my bills for fiv
n wears, he should suddenly discove
d. that the warrants he has drawn wer
~ wrong. 1t is true that as resider
ly of the Tenth district | supported tn
m candidacy of my neighbor, Gov. Gar'
De and opposed the candidacy of Mr.. Ca
IL roll. but do not feel that | should
Is thus punished for that attitude. Go
IN Carroll discloses. however, that
n hopes his accusations will result In tt
as massage OF two bills-one to give nj
ed the appointment of a new state boal
er without any restrictions and to legl
sr- late out of Office score of the a
IS pointees of his predecessor. and ii
other to give him authority to SUI
he marily remove any or all appoint'
rs state officials and to place his frlen.
at in office. This would give him Il
Of most powerful political machine ev
er- devised for furthering the ambition
st is rumored he entertains of gong
it the United States Senate
ch In conclusion l would say that u
lis state executive council, which h
err full responsibility in all business m;
he ters of the state, has not so far as
am aware, made any change IN
Ter rule regarding the accounts OF Co
err missioners of pharmacy since the mi
lp- ter was settled by the commlttee
nd ferred to, nor has the counch ever ca
be- ed in question any bill of mine
ng informed the council has been co
Ext pletely ignored, both in regard to !
Tor January bill, which was before 1t, a
ass % IN tho Jnue hill, | have been at