Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-02-12
(By George Gallarno)


(By George Gallarno)
Des Noines, a., Feb. .9-Banking
matters will be one of the foremost
topics in senate committees Of the
general assembly for the next fey
days. Senator l.. E. Crist, o. the War
ren-Clarke district, has given notice
that he will ask for consideration at
once of his bill which forbids officers
or directors of any savings, state or
private bank. whether at present w
der state control or not, to use any OF
the funds of the institution for other
than the regular business TRANSACTION 8
of the bank, and prohibits the loani:: 9
of the funds of the bank to any Off,
Ger, director, or employee of the back.
Violation of the provisions Of the at
is made q penitentiary offense. Sen
ator Crist declares that he realize s
the proposed law is a radical depart
ure from banking practices as they
have existed in Iowa, but he believes
it will accomplish much good and will
forever shut the door Of Iowa banks
against failure. He declares "The
banking business is great public
trust, and that it should be admins
tered for and in behalf Of the people
of the community in which the bank
is operating 1t is considered funda-
mental that the person who is execut-
ing public trust should not also be
the beneficiary of that trust; there
fore" he says, lit is an unwise policy
for person in charge of a bank in
which the money of community is
deposited to use that money for his
own private speculation" He further
says, in speaking of the bill which he
hopes the legislature will adopt: This
measure is intended to take away from
those operating the bank the tempta-
ton to use its funds for private specu-
lative purposes. 1t is a measure for
and In behalf Of the people. 1t will
place the banks Of the state in har-
mony with safe and sound banking
policy" The Crist measure is one Of
a half dozen bills or more now before
the assembly, affecting banks and
banking in the state, ranging from
Senator Doran's bank guarantee bill
to q measure which. while not COM
polling private banks to incorporate
under the state and savings law, puts
them under the bank examining de-
partment Of the auditor of state.
Many Election Changes Proposed
That there is much dissatisfaction
In Iowa over the system of primary
and general elections in vogue in the
state has become evident by the num-
Der Of bills introduced in the two
houses affecting nominations and cleo
tons. Not much of this disqueting
sentiment is felt against the primary
law, but that statute is declared by
many members to be unweildy and
burdensome, as far as it applies to
state officers. 1t is argued that the
voters are not able to know the quail
fications Of all candidates for the var
ious offices, and that outside Of the
aspirants for such positions rs United
States senator and governor, who in
the nature of things would make a
state wide campaign and form a wide
acquaintance, the vote would be cast
in a more or less hap-hazard fashion.
The four-year term for governor re-
solution is being considered in both
houses. 1t proposes a constitutional
amendment to that effect. Another
amendment resolution would provide
that the legislature shall meet only
once in four years. A third resolution
IL adopted would shorten the time be-
tween legislative sessions instead of
increasing it, and would have annual
assemblies.
The judiciary Puzzle.
The non-partisan judiciary law is in
for a lot of trouble, ranging from a
bill to abolish it altogether and 60
back to the old partisan basis Of cleo
ton, to another measure which would
provide for judicial district conven-
lions composed only of attorneys who
are qualified electors of their districts,
to meet and name their candidates for
judges, and select delegates from their
profession to meet in state convention
and name the candidates for supreme
judges.
The office Of state superintendent of
public instruction and the ninety-nine
county superintendent OF the state
may be put back on the political grid
iron II the legislators shall look with
favor on a bill introduced to repeal the
law adopted by the 35th general as
sembly making them appointive. This
law has not as yet been given q trial
and will not be In actual operation
until April Of this year.
Repealers Are Busy.
Besides the effort to repeal the judi
ciary election law, and the state and
county superintendent law, as above
noted, the repealers are endeavoring
to do away with the capitol extension
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