Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-02-12
HOUSE INCREASES
AUDITORS SALARY
By Change In Fire Marshal Law,
Over Protest of Democratic
Members


nesday by the House of Representa-
tives by vote of 70 to II, Stat. Audi
tor John J. Craig, of Covington, will
assume the duties Of State Fire Mar
shall and Superintendent Of Fire In
surance Rates.
The bill authorizes Craig to employ
such deputies and assistants as he
may find to be necessary to execute
the provisions of the act, the salaries
and expenses not to exceed one halr
of 1 per cent of the gross premiums
received by all foreign-stock fire in
surance companies, which sum the
companies must pay OF the Auditor
OF OF before March 1 each year.
Under the present law fire insur-
ance companies pay one half of 1 per
cent of the gross premiums to the
state for the support of the Depart
ment of Insurance Rates and a SIM
iliar amount for the support of the
office of State Fire Marshal. A num-
ber of Representatives contend that
the bill merely abolishes the one half
of 1 per cent tax, which in no way
would benefit the policy holders, as
the fire insurance rates would not be
decreased.
Advocates of the bill contend that it
will save the insurance companies
$4,000 annually, and after this state
ment had been made in the House sew
eral times Representative Frank Ken
nard of Logville, Democrat, inquired:
care we legislating for the insur-
ance companies or for the citizens of
the state"
"The voters Of this state elected the
State Auditor to give his time to the
duties of this Office" asserted Repre-
sentative David J. Howard, of Yer
sailles, Democrat, "and if he had time
to look after the duties of the Office of
State Fire Marshal and those of the
office of Superintendent of Fire In
surance Rates | would say that the
Office of Auditor was useless"
The validity of the act was doubted
by Representative William T. Beck
ham, of Shelbyville, Democrat, be
cause, he said, it would increase the
annual salary Of the State~Auditor by
$1,4O0
Representative George c. Wagon
er, of Stamping Groud, Democrat,
asserted that politics was involved in
the measure
The Senate passed the bill of Sena-
tor Robert Antle, prescribing the
manner of conducting examinations
of applicants for teachers certificates
in public schools. There was no op-
position to the bill.
Both branches Of the Legislature
adjourned until Monday. Two ses-
sions will be conducted daily, begin
ming Tuesday.
Adverse reports killed the following
bills:
In the House-To require full con-
sideration to- be stated in deeds; to
make penalty for violation of game
license law fine of from SIS to $100
or imprisonment for 80 days; to ex-
empt from taxes farm products be-
longing to the producer and in the
hands of vender OF agents; to increase
the state tax rate to a cents, making
school tax % cents instead of Is
cents; to provide for an open season
for killing doves, from August 1 to
JanuaTyf; to reduce the state tax rate
to 80 cents; to equalize rates on all
kinds of property andI make the state
tax rate 25 cents; to exempt soldiers
claims from fees for affixing seals; tC
establish an open season for rabbits
from November IA to March 1; tC
provide for dog tax 81; to establish.
a closed season on quail for two
years; to require County Tax Com
mlssiOners to visit all taxpayers reSid-
ing outside county seats to provide fol
quadrennial assessment of real estate
to require railroads to pay full damage
for all stock killed on tracks; to ex
empt from the poll tax all maimec
soldiers or manned persons owning
less than $1,000 in property; to re
peal the act which revokes the charte
of any city for failure to hold election
or levy tax.
The bill of Representative J. w
Vance, of Cave City, Democrat, i'm
posing tax of so cents a gallon OF
all whiskey withdrawn from ware
houses in Kentucky, was reported ia
vorably. 1t is estimated that the ia,
will bring $17,OOO,0OO to the state.
Two Mammoth bronze gobblers fo
sSoIo Eytr, rood onac Call Mrs