The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-17
(By George Gallarno)

(By George GailaTHoI
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 16.-The So
called graft committed" appointed
by the state senate to investigate the
charges Of extravaganza by the law
makers, as made by Governor Clarke
in his message to the legislature, filed
its report in the senate today.
While admitting that possibly the
senators had engaged more help than
is absolutely necessary to conduct
their business, the committee reports
that it can find nothing to substantlate
the charges that the lawmakers were
In any way grating on the state; at
the same time, however, they declare
that Governor Clarke had some excuse
for calling the matter to their atten-
tion. but that he was unfortunate IN
his choice of words.
The investigating committee con-
sisted Of Senators Crist, Darrah, Rob-
inson, Gillette and Quigley. three re-
publicans and two democrats, Senator
Quigley, democrat, being the one re-
sponsible for the Introduction OF the
resolution leading to the naming OF
the investigators.
The report of the committee details
how the investigation was conducted
in open meetings, and that evidence
was produced from more than thirty
witnesses. 1t declares do not 1lnd
in the testimony heard or in the in
yestigation that we have conducted,
any matter or thing that reflects IN
any way upon the honesty, honor or
integrity of this body or any OF its
members; nor do we find any evidence
or fact from which deduction could
be made that any member of this SEN
ate had personally protited directly or
indirectly, in the Organization OF the
senate or in the conduct of its affairs.
We believe that the expression OF
pure unauthorized graft as used by
Governor Clarke in his message to the
assembly, was an unhappy choice OF
words to express the Thought he had
In mind, and that it was unwarranted
by the facts as they have been dis
closed to this committee"
In going into detail as to the en-
ployment of extra help by the assem-
BIN, the committee says in its opinion
the senate is employing twelve helpers
whose services light be discontinued.
They are listed as four doorkeepers,
one assistant file and bill clerk, one
noliceman, one mail carrier, who car
ries incoming mail from basement
postoffice to the senate postoffice on
the floor Of the legislative chamber,
one janitor in the cloak room, one
ianitor on the floor of the chamber,
and three assistants assigned to the
document department. The committee
thinks the bill clerk slated for dis
missal earns his salary, but as his
work is that of supplying the various
state offices with files of bills and
legislative journals, he should be en-
gagged at the expense of the state ex-
ecutive council, and not by the senate.
1t also declares the three extra men
| in the document depsftment should
come under the charge Of the execu-
tive council. Thus it is found there
are employed by the senate only eight
men whose services might be dis
| pensed with.
| 1t is when the committee gets to
considering the committee clerk prob
| leiif,i fifty young women stenographers,
one for each senator, that it gets into
deep water. 1t recommends a reduc-
| ton of tile number Of these stenog-
raphers, but the majority OF the com
mittee having been unable to agree as
| to the extent of this reduction the
problem is shifted to the shoulders OF
! the whole membership of the body. On
! this subject minority statement is
filed with the report which condemns
| the practice CT engaging more COM
| mittee clerks than there are commit
| tees, and also the practice Of the SEN
ators in using the clerks for their bus
mess correspondence, and recon-
mends an amendment to the law SC
as to allow such use of the stenog-
raphers. This done it is claimed q
| working arrangement that is satisfac.
tory can be made requiring the en-
| ployment Of not more than twenty-five
such committee clerks in total.
In closing the report the committee
! declares that it finds no fault with the
services any of the employees are rem
dering the state, and that without ex.
| ception they are honest, ready and
willing to perform all duties assigned
| them, but that the services OF those
designated are not needed to secure q
| thorough and efficient administration
Of the Affairs 81, the senate.
PqgAeIa Bill Now q Law.
ne bin sfr T6pfiating $4,000 for ar
Iowa exhibition at the Panama Pacific
exposition passed the house without
amendment; as it came from the sen.
ate, has been signed by Governor
| Clarke and the funds are available fol
use Of the fair board. No part OF this
| fund can be used to pay for the Iowa
building already erected, that Nlavine
been taken care of by enterprisine
private citizens, the Legislature reftis
ing to include in the appropriation al
extra $4,000 to reimburse them fol
C.cir outlay.