Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-07-24
jefferson City Letter.
BY MEANS RAY.

BY MEANS RAY.
The props have been knocked fro m
under the movement to delay enforce
ment of the Workmen's Compensa-
tion since it became known that per-
sonal injury or damage suit attorneys
of the state have been furnishing some
of the funds to pay for securing sigma
tures to the referendum petitions
which are being circulated. For a
time labor leaders in the Building
trades were all back of the move
ment to refer the law under the
referendum provision of the constitu-
tion but when the interest of the dam
age suit attorneys became apparent
many of the leaders withdrew fro m
the movement.
Rube Woods, president OF the State
Federation of Labor, is strong in his
opposition to delaying the operation
of the law.
The State Highway Department has
been informed by the Federal govern
men5 that fourth allotment of trucks
has been made to Missouri. The
trucks will be for use on roads where
state and federal aid is extended. At
the close of the war the government
had many trucks which are being dis
tributed for use in road construction.
Missouri's allotment now totals 715
light and heavy trucks.
= Attorney General Frank w. Meal
lister and Insurance Superintendent
A. L. Harty are resisting every effort
of the fire insurance companies oper-
ating in the state to increase their
rates in the state by the addition of a
ten per cent surcharge. The COM
panies we're successful in securing the
increased charge in many states but
Missouri officials refused to permit it
and the case was taken to the courts
where Attorney General McAllister
and his Assistant John T. Gose sue
cessfully opposed it. Insurance COM
panies, It'll said, will take the case to
the supreme court of the United
States. Messrs. Harty and McAllister
say they will follow with the fight for
purchasers of fire insurance in the
state.
Because of the war and epidemic of
influenza the life insurance companies
of the country have announced an in
crease of 10 per cent in rates. Some
companies make fiat raise of So on
all men and So on women. The in
crease will not affect old polices. The
state has no control over life insur-
ance rates.
Auditor George Hackman has re-
fused to pay the salary of Representa-
tive Charlhs U. Becker, of Polk coun-
ty, Republican, as a clerk in the High
way Department. The Auditor re-
fuses to do SO on the ground that
Beckeras a member of the Legislature
can't hold state office. There was
quite little laughing here over this
matter when the matter was referred.
Heretofore Hackmann has sought
legal advice from Republican attor-
ney in st. Louis and has ignored the
Attorney General who is legal ad-
wiser for all state offices and depart
ments.
Republican members of the Statute
Revision committee are hearing from
the people of the state over the stand
some of them have taken against the
League of Nations. Members of their
party seem to favor the plan of world
peace as much as do the Democrats
and If sentiment does not chance a
shift of Republican leaders in the
state is expected. The feeling among
the people generally is that the
League will go long way toward
righting the wrongs. which have here
tofore existed throughout the world.
Superindent Harty of the insurance
department will publish monthly
bulletin in a fight against fire LOST
in the state. The publication will be
edited by B. Raw Franklin, we'll.