Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-18

Des Moines, Feb. 16.-The state SEN
ate exonerates itself from all asper-
sions in connection with unnecessary
help or graft"
No evidence of dishonesty or that
any senator has personally profited by
anything that might be subject 10
criticism.
The governor was unhappy in MS
choice Of words when referring to this
matter and ought to be censured.
The system to which attention was
called has been gradual development
and is in need of correction.
Reduction in the extra help about the
Legislature recommended a radical
revision of employee lists in the interest
of economy.
The senate graft committee COM
pleted its report today. After re1err-
ing to the organization Of the commit
tee, the invitation to all to appear the
formal statement of the governor and
the taking of testimony the report
says
1--WE do not find in the testimony
heard, or in the investigation that we
have conducted, any matter or thing
that reflects in any way upon the non
esty honor, or integrity of this body
or any of it's members; nor 90 we ma
any evidence or fact from which de-
duction could be made that any mem
Der of this senate had personally pro-
fitted, directly or indirectly, in the Or
ganization of the senate, or in the con-
duct of it's affairs.
1--WE believe that the expression
pure unauthorized graft, as used by
Governor Clarke in his message to the
joint assembly, was an unhappy choice
of words to express the thought which
the governors reply to your committee
shows he had in his mind. and that IL
was unwarranted by the facts as they
have been disclosed to this committee.
your committee finds, however, that
the condition to which the governor
was attempting to direct the attention
of the assembly with Difference to the
Of the help of the senate
and the determination of the places
and the number thereof, is not the
work of any one general assembly, but
is the gradual development of sys-
tenn probably reasonable in it's concep-
ton but continued through inadver-
tence or lack Of care, and investigation
and is in need Of correction, as evidenc-
ed by the following statement Of fact
and suggestion disclosed to us by our
a. Weffind policeman carried on
the list of extra help Of the senate with
no regular duties and believe the SER
vicoS RI ho needless
"2. We find one assisting filing and
bill clerk who is earning the money
paid him, but who is almost wholly en-
ployed, together with similar employe
Of the house, in keeping up to date be-
tween fifty and sixty journals and bill
records in Offices Of the state outside
the senate and house chambers, with !
out authority of statute or rule, and,
excepting in very few instances,
merely to satisfy the requests Of state
employees outside the chambers afore-
said and at total cost to the state OF
$1,000 per session. and
we recommend that the practice be dis
continued so far as it concerns the
employee, in which event his
services will be unnecessary.
"3. We find an extra man employed
to carry the legislative mail from the
basement of the capitol to the assem-
bly, postoffice and another man regular
ly employed by the state, ready, will
ing and able to perform these duties,
and we recommend that the services of
the said extra man be dispensed with.
"a. We find three men employed IN
the senate cloak room in doing janitor
work and caring for the wraps OF sena-
tors and visitors, and believe that all
necessary and efficient service can be
easily rendered by two men, and that
the services of one of those janitors
may well be dispensed with.
IS. We find five janitors employed
in the senate chamber and committee
room, and one who has been authoriz- |
ed, but who has not reported, and be-
lieve that at least one Of these now |
as we'll as the one who has
no. yet reported, are absolutely I'm.
necessary and that four janitors can at
tend to all work properly and we'll
and without undue burden.
&c. We find three men at work in |
the office of the secretary of state who,
together with one who has been author
lied but who has not reported, are
charged to this senate as extra help !
These men are not now, nor will they |
be until after the session adjourns, do
ing work that pertains to this senate. |
They are employed in work that may |
be necessary, but which should be tax.
en- care of under the supervision of the
executive council and should in no |
wise be performed by men alleged to |
be needed because of work incident to |
this general assembly.
81. We find employed by the senate
a page as messenger in the state law |
library and recommend that the SER
vices of such page be dispensed with as !
IS. We find employed by the senate
one chief doorkeeper and ten assistants !
and that all are old soldiers, veterans |
Of the civil war, who have been employ |
ed pursuant to Chapter lab, Sec 1056-a |
Is. of supplement to the code, 1907 |
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