Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-07-02
LEGISLATURE HEARS
ABOUT STATE INSTITUTIONS
Legislative Investigating Committee
Report a scathing Arrangement
of officials.

REPORT Scath1ng Arrangement
of oficials.
Olympia.-The report of the legisla-
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
lngton that the entrance fees were $235,
when the legal entrance fee was but
$35, and that he collected in many
cases the larger amount, in some cases
1885, in 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-
port" 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 H. 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 ne
cessity for such a 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 a 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-
emf 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 a regard for the best inter
ests of the state.
Regarding the deficiency appropria-
ton 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 I'M
|
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
: yey by competent builders can deter
!. mine whether it is safe for occupancy
= The committee recommends that such
board of survey be Immediately EN-
ployed' lila
ings are inadequate and fire in any
of them must result in 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 IL
: very competent hands.
Discipline at State Prison.
e Regarding the state penitentiary the
t committee finds:
That the best of order and disci
+ pline are maintained; that Superin
a tendent Reed is to be congratulated
on the results obtained; that no land is
+ needed, and that jute should be pur
chased direct from India.
At State College.
The committee reports that its In
: 1:..4;o~ of tbe WASHINGTON State