Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-27
HOUSE CAUSES MIDDLE
Resolution Censun'ing Secretary
,.ot Executive Council an Adj
mitted Blunder
MEMBERS THE GUILTY ONES
If Funds Have Been illegally Diverted
Asseblynen Are ResponsibIe-Brind
ley and His Stamp Requisition-De-
velops That He Is Not an EmpIoye Of
State But Has Been Used.
necial to Times. Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb 27-"It seems thai
We made a bad mistake in passing thai
resolution censuring the secretary oil
the state executive council for refusing
TO dole out stamps to a Mr.. Brindley to
be used In sending out letters for mem
bers. said Representative Meredith yes
terday. From what am now Informed
Brindles has no right to stamps as he
is not an employee of the state and no,
in charge of any department entitled
to supplies at state expense"
The first thing that will confront
members on their return from their
vacation will be a suggestion OF a gen
eral inquiry into the alleged violation
Of law in the misuse of state funds by
members of the house who have util-
Ted what is called the legislative ref
erence bureau for collecting informa-
ton for them.
On Thursday a resolution was hur.
riedly passed by the house demanding
that the state furnish a Mr.. Brindley
with stamps. 1t appears that Brindley
wanted $50 worth of stamps and Act
ing Curator Harlan. of the historical
museum had issued requisition
therefor on the supply department. The
department was directed to turn the
stamps over to Mr.. Brindley who has
desk in the law library. The requi-
sition was refused. Mr.. Davidson, the
secretary. wrote note to Mr.. Harlan
calling his attention to the fact that
the requisition must come thru the
head of the historical department and
that 1t was not customary to furnish
supplies to persons outside the depart
naent. The controversy was carried to
the house. and Secretary Davidson inn
mediately wrote letter to Speaker
Feelay stating the facts dn the case
and calling attention to the law and
ITO the further fact that to furnish
postage to any one not authorized by
law would be at my personal expense
There it rests.
Brindley Not on Pay Roll.
Inquiry at the office of state auditor
yesterday showed that Mr.. Brindley is
not on the states pay roll and is not
connected either with the historical
museum or the historical department,
SO Tar as the records show. 1t was eX-
planned by member of the house that
Brindley Is in fact a teacher on the
faculty at Ames and is on the pay roll
Of the college, that he came here some
time ago and started in to do a line of
Investigating for members of the house,
that he has written out many letters
for members to get information re-
kardirig certain bills, as for instance
the bills relating to quarantine. to pub
lie utilities and to taxation, that he
has secured postage from the state
supply department for this work on be-
half of certain bills and pending meas
ures. It appears that only a few of the
members have known of his work, and
that so far as can be ascertained his
position is almost unknown In the SEN
Ate. He has made use OF committee
clerks for letter writing and has car
Red on general correspondence for the
members. The members themselves
can not secure postage from the state
tho able to secure other supplies.
INQUIRY showed that Mr.. Brindley is
not employed under the direction Of
Mr. Brigham, who is the head of the
historical department, nor by Mr..
Small, who IS at the head of the law
library. Miss Rosemond still holds the
position of clerk in charge Of the leg
isiative reference department, which
position was created at the last ses-
sion and she has secured all the post
age needed for this department thru
proper channels,
state Council Acts.
The state executive council donsid-
cred the matter, yesterday and it is
probable that THE council will make a
special appropriation for postage for
Mr.. Brindley on representation ct
some of the members that he has been
very useful to them in getting proper
ly presented to the committees their
bills. Unless this is done bill Will
be introduced making an appropriation
for postage for him. The letter placed
on file with the house by Secretary
Davidson IS as follows:
my attention has been called to .
resolution passed by the house this
morning in reference to postage for The
legislative reference department. The
Thirty second general assembly under
Joint resolution No. S provided for
legislative and general reference as
sistants as, will be found on page 2S5.
To that position Miss Rosemond has
been assigned, as I believe, by the truss
tees of the library. This department 10