Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-21
PASSING OUT JOBS
GOVERNOR CLARKE MAKES WIG.
oRoUs PROTEST TO LEADERS
OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
SAYS TOO MUCH PURE GRAFT
After Respectfully Listening to Advice
Given BY Chief Executive the soIons
Proceeded to Make Their Appoint
nents AZ In the Past.

l
| Proceeded to Make Their Appoint
ments As In the Past.
Des Moines.-The old political sys-
tenn Of employing help in the legisla-
ture was used by the senate and the
house Of this session against the per-
sonal advice and urging Of Governor
Clarke.
Before the number of employees and
the manner OF choosing them had
been settled upon, Governor Clarke
called republican leaders OF both hous-
es in to see him, according to the re-
port, and asked that they do away
with many Of the legislative jobs and
fll others, on aestrict basis of merit.
What he told the leaders was, In
substance, that there was entirely too
much pure graft in the employment of
help, that there were many jobs which
fitted no other purpose than the pay
ment Of political debts. and that the
persons who got them didn't earn the
money they received
The governors position on this
matter Is well known by reason of
fights he made against the system
when he was serving in the house and
| the senate. In his speech before the
assembly when delivering his mes
sage, the Governor made public just
how he feels and has felt on the mat
ter in the following words:
II have made reference to a consid-
Grafton of the cost of session Of the
legislature. think Il not improper
for me to say more. Based upon ex-
perience in the past 1t is estimated
this session will cost $21S,125.O0. OF
this amount $163,500 will be paid as
salaries and mileage to the members
and the lieutenant governor. The bal
ance of $54.625.00 will be paid for sup
plies and help l think fair esti-
mate for supplies and sundry expens-
es would be $4,625.oO. leaving 10000.
90 or $4,000 per day for hundred
day session for 'help'-meaning 'ex-
ira help. clerks. doorkeepers, etc.
Some of this is absolutely essential,
OF course, but much Of 1t is pure, I'M
adulterated graft AS president of
the senate in the Thirty-third general
assembly | said to the senate: Public
money Is taken from the people for a
public purpose only and 1t is intoler-
able that it should be used for petty
graft or turned over even In small
sums to persons who have rendered
no equivalent of service in return.
Every man OF legislative expert
ence knows that many more commit
tee clerks and other clerks are EN-
ployed than are needed. Every sena-
tor and representative knows of
clerks sitting around these chambers
in luxurious ease from one end Of the
session to the other, doing practically
nothing at all. and every senator and
representative knows that such a
thing should fall under his condemna-
ton"
The house and senate leaders heard
the governors suggestion. but the old
system" was followed in selection of
employees. The usual number OF door.
keepers, janitors, and others to whose
| ouPOi-aSuHuanSC oDJCStiOH wac mduc
were chosen.
Senate Committee Clerks Appointed.
| Eighteen committee clerks we're
sworn in before the senate upon adop.
ton Of the report OF the senate com
mittee to test the efficiency of appli.
cants.
The clerks are: M. Edith Anderson
for Senator Doran. Nellie e. Anderson
for Senator SHenigbaum, Kathryn B.
Andrews for Senator Robinson. Floyd
K. Billings for Senator Savage, Lura.
ma De Long for Senator Crist. Pearl
Harrison for Senator White OF Benton
Harriet e. King for Senator Grout
Anna Murphy for Senator Thomas
Elizabeth Nelson for Senator voor.
hees. Ruth Peck for Senator Francis,
Anna Ryan for Senator Foster, C. Ow.
en- Stookey for Senator Head. Minnie
Stowe for Senator Farr. Libbie M
Wicker for Senator Fleck. Edith VIII.
liams for Senator Nye. Ester Iroang
Gertrude Skinner and Della Wolfe,
unassigned.
New "nIue Sky Law
Senator C. H. Thomas Of the
Union Ringgold-D Decatur district Is
prepared to resume in the Thirty.
sixth general assembly the Aght to
provide Iowa with a blue sky law
that win stand the test OF the courts.
He has been comforting with Attor-
ney General Cosson upon the subject
and plans to offer such amendments
to the law passed In the last session
as may seem necessary to bolster up
It's weak points as they have been
revealed In legal tests. The senator
plans also to introduce bill taking
the selection OF school text books out
OF the hands Of the county boards of
supervisors and compelling uniform
ity of school books.
House May Stand by Drys.
When the test comes on PROPOSE
tions in which the liquor question Is
involved the house will vote dry by
strong majority. That is the con.
clusion one reaches by close study
| OF the membership.
The dry forces have no less than
forty-nine representatives as open
supporters. The vets have only
twenty-five who openly support their
side In the doubtful list there are
:hivty-seven, OF whom there Is prac.
tically no doubt the great majority
win vote dry when sthe test comes.
| IA 1,,;< u.<.. rsst.