Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-21
.ONE BOARD 0F REGENTS
New Plan on Foot For Control
of the Three State In
stitutions
MAY TURN TO LAW PRACTICE
Some Think That Richard c. Barrett,
Superintendent Of Public instruction
Will Give Up His Labors in the Ed
ueational Field-iowa Stationary
Engineers Favor New Law.
,pecia1 to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines Nov. Pit is now GER
tain that a bill will be introduced early
In the coming legislative session and
will be pushed diligently providing for
one board of regents for the three state
educational institutions-the State
university at Iowa City. the State col
lege at Ames, and the State Normal
school at Cedar Falls. Such bill was
introduced into the legislature near the
close of the session two years ago. but
LIT came from a source that indicated
rather a desire to offend the state In
stitutions than to secure a needed re-
form. 1t was bill at first somewhat
crude and defective. 1t was taken in
hand by a committee consisting OF M.
L. Temple. Osecola, D. w. Hurn Of Ma
son City. and Frank Payne Of Center
vile, and shaped up and they reported
IT in good condition. Later Mr.. Temple
introduced a series of amendments to
the bill in which he set forth specifi-
cally the purpose of the bill and the
authority OF the proposed board OF
managers The board was to have full
control Of the property OF the three In
stitutions mentioned, to issue diplomas,
direct the expenditure Of all appropri-
ations, etc. The board with the gov
ernor and superintendent Of public In
struction shall have power to elect
president for each of the institutions
land select the faculties. and fix the
salaries. The judiciary committee Sc
cured control OF the bill late in the ses-
sions reported the bill with the recon-
mendation that 1.-The bill possesses ele-
ments of very great merit and should
be carefully and fully considered" and
that the bill should be reported back
to the house without suggestion as to
It's passage at this session OF the legts-
le.ure, but with the earnest recommen-
dationsthat the same or a bill OF Ike
import be taken up early In the ses-
sion OF the Thirtieth general assembly
and then given such consideration and
action as its Importance justly de-
mands." With this the bill was allowed
to drop. Inasmuch as Mr. Temple who
fathered the bill. and Mr.. Clarke. who
reported 1t favorably. will be conspicu-
GUS in the coming house, 1t Is certain
that the bill Will come up early and
have strong support. 1t is also known
that number Of the present trustees
and regents of the state institutions
are In favor OF such a measure. This
is especially true of the younger and
more progressive members Of these
three boards. Some OF the older mem
bers have bitterly opposed any such
measure, but their opposition has been
largely personal It Is known also. that
quite recently some of the more infiu-
entail members of the faculties of the
state educational institutions have ex-
pressed themselves as in favor OF abol-
fishing the triple-board system and go
ing to the simpler form of one board
of active men. One Of the most earnest
opponents OF the measure was the late
President Beardshear. but some Of his
friends always insisted that his oppo-
sition was based on misapprehenslon
OF the purposes of such central board.
1t is believed that none Of the leading
spirits at the state institutions a. tine
present time will give much opposition
To the measure, but that 1t will be given
consideration on its merits and the
work OF the state educational instttu-
tons will be unified and turned toward
a common purpose.
1t would not be at all surprising II
Richard c. Barrett, superintendent OF
public instruction. should turn from ed
vocational affairs to an entirely different
professionalism OF the law. Professor
Barrett has a credit Of three years OF
law study in college. This was sever
al years ago, since which time he has
spei& some twenty years IN school
work, but in the Office Of state SUI
perintendent his early law training has
been quite useful In fact there is very
great need of a lawyer in the ONCE
Of state superintendent. He has to
pass on many legal questions. The
state superintendent is the supreme
court in all educational matters ana
this includes Interpretation OF the laws
relating to location OF districts, build-
ing schoolhouses. contracts, teachers
and many questions that involve identi-
cally the same principles as are APP
plied by the courts In other matters.
Professor Barrett has shown great abil-
ity In the determination of the legal
questions which have come before him
and his reports are filled will deci-
sions that show great care and much
study. 1t would not be surprising.
therefore, IL Professor Barrett should
take a years course at some high law
school and enter the practice OF law
comparatively easy step for him.
In the closing days of the term OF
Frank f.. Merriam as state auditor he
promulgated a sample fire insurance
policy for th.. use of companies doing
business in this state and under the
Iowa law. In the preparation OF this
sample policy he was assisted by at
torney General Mullan. and the policy
as prepared conforms exactly to what
the laws OF Iowa require. It Is also
provided that the state auditor may re-
quire compliance with the laws before
business can be done. A meeting OF
representatives of the companies was
held and they resolved not to adopt
the now Iowa uniform policy thus pre-