The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-02-04
GOV. CLARKE IN REPLY.
Says That Legislature Is Employing
More Doorkeepers Than There
Are Doors.

More DOOrkeepers Than There
| Are Doors.
Des Moines, Jan. Ex-Governor
Clarke accepted the challenge of the
Iowa senate today when he made a
written reply to the committee that
was designated to investigate his
charges of graft in the organization
of the legislature. His communities
ton asked the committee to deter
mine whether there is need for as
many doorkeepers, janitors, clerks
and pages as are employed. And he
questioned the need for the present
number of any one class. AS the in
yestigation is being made by the sem
ate, most of the governors statement
deals with that body.
Strikes at System.
First of all, Gov. Clarke asked that
the committee determine whether
there was any ground for the charge
made against himself. He pointed
that his remarks were six years old
and that in incorporating former
speech in his message he was hitting
at a system rather than the thirty
sixth general assembly. He also OBJ
jected to bringing in the old soldier
question, but he offered this sugges-
ton on that subject:
Investigate and report as to
whether or not it is fact that not
only now but many times heretofore
soldiers have been given places as
doorkeepers who were owners OF
farms and we'll and comfortably fix
ed in life, worth many thousands Of
dollars, to the exclusion of needy
comrades whose services to their
country had been equal to theirs and
kindly report if this was not for
political reasons. And, if so, who was
unkind to the needy old veteran and
comrade"
Why So Many Doorkeepers.
The governor questioned the need
of four doorkeepers in the senate
galleries and two at the doors by the
presidents desk, which are used only
by members.
"Can any justification be given for
placing five men in the cloak room of
each house to hang up the coats and
hats of the members as they come
in?" he asked He raised the ques-
ton of whether an extra man is need
ed to carry mail sacks from the base
ment to the legislative postotfice on
the second floor.
'Can any justifiable reason be CIV
en- why two bill clerks should be en-
ployed, simply to hand senator
bill from a shelf or pigeon hole
when upon occasion he calls for
one?" was another question. He ask
ed whether nine pages-'one to every
six senators-are really needed
Hits Senate Clerks.
us it not a fact that the law pro-
vides ony for committee clerks?' he
continued "Is there any provision in
the law for clerk to each senator?
Has not the senate provided each
senator with clerk?"
There are forty-six committees
and is it not fact that at least
twenty of them will have no occasion
to meet, on an average, five times
during the session? Is it not fact
that large number of committees
were originally created to give place
for as many clerks as possible? II
the clerks employed were restricted
to committee work, as the law pro-
vides, would not twenty-five be all
that could possibly be given work 2"
Charge Political Plumber.
''If there were a clerk to each of
the forty-six committees to do COM
mittee work, is it not apparent that
at least twenty or more of them
would be idle three-fourths of the
time or more? Is it not fact that
many more than half of the clerks
have no employment more than half
the time, even when the senate is not
in session. Is it not the experience
cf n, hof nf
clerks are often absent from the
capitol because they are not needed.
Are not doorkeepers, clerks, janitors
and even pages given places for poll
teal reasons?'
Makes Question Personal.
after your investigation, will you
kindly report whether you would or
ganize your own business on any
such lines or if the senate were
business corporation, would you stand
for an organization along such
.lines?"
I'm view of your investigation, can
you now say in view of the time OF
the preparation and delivery of the
message that | said anything on this
subject that was not in accord with
the truth? If these things are true,
does it not tend to bring all the de-
partments of government into disre-
spect in the minds of the people, and
ought not the legislative great
est of them all and the one having
authority over ALTO adopt such
course as Will place it above criticism
and give Iowa the distinction of be-
ing perhaps the first in America to
do so?''
In closing his statement Gov.
Clarke said it was unpleasant for
him to submit what he had, but that
since the senate wanted it he came in
obedience to the command.