Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-07
EDUCATIONAL BOARD
Legislative Commission Begins
the Preliminary Work of
Its Investigation
EXPENSE MONEY INADEQUATE
Nevertheless the Members Will Pro-
coed With the End In View of Max
ing Complete Report to the Next
Legislature - Proceedings of the
Meeting.

Des Moines, Sept. 1.-THE legisla-
lures educational board of control
commission held its initial meeting in
Des Moines yesterday, organized and
adjourned subject to the call Of the
chairman but with the understanding
that no meeting will be held until af-
ter the election.
Senator w. p. Whipple of Benton
county was elected chairman, without
dissent Representative. r. g. Langan
of Clinton county was made secretary.
This was at the forenoon conference OF
the committee. The afternoon was
spent at the capitol in conference with
the board of control and the state SUI
perintendent and in examination of re-
ports Of educational bodies in the state
library.
Rut one definite thing was accom-
plished. The arrangement for supply
of the laws Of other states governing
public educational institutions.
The question of how and when the
committee shall visit educational insti-
buttons in this and other states was not
considered, except incidentally. Its de-
termination was postponed TIL the
meeting after election.
In this connection the question OF
the extent to which expense may be IN
Cured by the committee will be taken
up. The legislature appropriated but
$1,000 for the investigation ordered OF
this committee. This appropriation VIII
not go far in the way of allowing the
committee to make an extensive 1nVes-
tieation. What to do was discussed
but it's determination was laid over TIL
the next meeting also.
1t was decided to secure the infornla-
ton as to the way in which other
states govern their educational insti-
tutions, and this information will be
placed in the hands of the commission
ers SO that they will have formed some
definite ideas Of what should be done.
when they return to the second meet
| ing.
First or Last.
The question of whether the commit
| tee should visit the Iowa educational
institutions first or after those of other
states have been examined. was dis.
cussed by the committee yesterday.
1t is understood that those who favor
the board of control idea, as a genera!
proposition, especially hold to the view
that the committee should do it's visit
ing first, and in the light Of the Wisdom
thus acquired, visit and criticise and
commend the Iowa institutions and
their management, if they deserve the
one or the other.
1t is unlikely that the matter will
lead to any considerable division with
in the committee. However, it's set
Element waits on the next meeting.
The committee, or all of its members
at least, did not know that the resolu-
ton creating it limited it's expenses to
| $1,000. The fact was made plain when
| the four lawyers on the commission
scanned the act at the initial meeting
here yesterday.
This $1,000 will be totally inadequate
to the business of the commission. But
the members have expressed the bellef
that it would be wise to proceed in
every way to do the work that will
make it possible to make a complete
report to the legislature, rather than
| to make a half report. If this requires
personal expenditure of funds in the
| payment of the expenses of the COM
missioners, the members express their
willingness to undertake. the expend1-
ture. This without reference to wheth-
err the legislature Of 1906 will be dis
posed to refund the expenses so incur
/ DIT ic that
the legislature will give favorable con-
sideration to every reasonable and legl-
| innate claim.
1t is pointed out that if private in
dividual had interests running into the
millions of dollars, such as that repre-
sented at the state educational 1nstltu-
tons, and contemplated a drastic
change of policy and method relative te
the management and control OF his IN
| terests he would not undertake an in
vestigation of new plan without de-
| termining the fund necessary to make
that inquiry complete and business
like. So that it is not unlikely that the
committee will follow out this plan.
Governor Cummins was not in his
| Office Yesterday when the COMMITTEES
4 visited the state house. However, the
committee called on the state superin-
tendent and the board Of control of the
other institutions.
| Superintendent Riggs has not or
hand the laws regulating the control O.
all of the educational institutions O
the other states of the nation, but III
agreed with the committee to make In
auiry Of other educational department!
and to secure all Of the literature o.
this character in existence for thu
committee. This inquiry will be un
dertaken Immediately.