Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-19
FIRST AND ONLY RECOMM ENDA.
'rloN TO DATE DECLARED
BE lMPRAcTlcABLE.
WOULD COST STATE MORE
THAN PRESENT SYSTEM
STATE Also Would Stand to Lose on
Doubtful Checks Coming From Out
eide State-Railroad Bills Discussed
shy committses-Nsws Of the Leeis-
laturN.
,ecial TO Times-Republican.

Special TO Times Republican.
.pes Mo1nes, Feb. 1e-First fruits Of
the expert probe under direction OF
the committee on rerrenchment and
reform are declared to be not wholly
ripe
A bill has been introduced, as re-
suit Of the inquiry into state account
ing methods. to require that every state
official or board shall turn over each
and every day all money received for
the state. The present law is that
prior to the 18th Of each month all
money received prior to the frs, Of the
month shall be deposited with the state
treasurer. The excuse for the pro-
posed change Is that It would be Of
great value to the state in adding to
the daily balances on which interest is
received.
A former state official, not now in
office, has made a careful computation
and Ands that, upon the basis OF past
business, this would increase the daily.
balances for the state in Des Moines
banks about $4,000. which would make
a profit in interest to the state OF
about 81 400.
But it Is certain that II the plan was
nut into practice 1t would require an
additional clerk in the office OF state
treasurer, and it would cost in time in
the various Offices enough TO amount to
four or five other clerks. But that Is
not all. for it would have to be re-
required Of the state treasurer that he
accept the checks and bank drafts
which come in each day, and assume
responsibility for them, whereas now
each state Official has time 10 run these
checks thru the clearing house and to
get returns from the east before the
account Is closed. There are on some
days literally Thousands OF these checks
and drafts received at the state house
by various officials and departments.
To force the state treasurer to assume
responsibility for all OF them and to
make an accounting for the same would
be big task One Office last month
received rs checks which were not
correct as to the amounts, and he
made refunds after cashing these
checks. Under the proposed system
how would the matter be adjustedo
And, for instance. the clerk OF the su-
preme court frequently receives checks
for very large sums OF money. to pay
for fees and for judgments. and 1t is
Impossible for him to divide the same
as between what goes to the state and
what goes elsewhere fo- some time
Turning over Of daily receipts would
Tot be possible In his case or in that Of
others.
- Unless the experts are going to turn
up something better than this they VIII
not earn their $50 per diem, so the
members say.
Two railroad bills were discussed by
the committees yesterday One was
1.-The train crew bill defining what
should constitute train crew. and
how many men should be employed to
handle a train The intent Of this bill
is to make it safer for travel and more
certain that each and every train is
cared for. But Judge Cook, James G.
Davis and others appeared and showed
It ought to be called bill 10 destroy
efficiency in the handling Of trains,
They declare that no hard and fast rule
will be Of value in this connection. At
the other end Of the house there was a
discus sion Of the locomotive headlight
bill, and w G. Bierd, vice president Of
the Minneapolis, and Mr.. Davey, assist
ant master mechanic Of the Burlington,
appeared with others to oppose legis-
lation on this subject.
Capt John D. Brown, head OF the
C. A. R., and other veterans Of the war,
urged before legislative committees
yesterday the adoption Of the bill 10
make an appropriation 70 sid in paying
the expenses Of the survivors Of the
battle Of Gettys burg on journey to the
Battlefield when the semi
celebration Is held Captain Brown
also urged the bill to appropriate to
nay for a big state encanpment this
year We are going to have one Of the
greatest encarpments in our history
he said, land probably there will never
be another like it."
e If the bill authorizing payment in any
sum to bank directors for attendance
at directors meetings becomes a law
with the record standing as made yes
terday, there will be some question as
to what the courts would do about the
matter on a test case. The bill as it
passed the senate legalizes a per diem
2 to savings bank directors for board
meetings without limit II was offered
as a substitute for the bill as reported
from the committee on banks. Senator
McColl, chairman Of the committee on
banks, voted TO sustain the committee
and against every amendment offered.
But the record as made shows McColl
voting for the amendment which final
iy became the bill. If the record has
s=hcwn him voting against the amend
1heilt then the amendment would not
have carried. He will have the record
corrected, of course; and then it will
ai,ow that the amendment was not in
4act adopted, but was passed as the
I bill.
~ Another Of the bills of the better
q schools commission was presented yes
Il terday. 1t revises the law as to county
normal institutes and makes it entirely
clear AZ to fees, also permits a twoday
session Of the institute. Il is intended
to make the way easier for teachers