Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-03-30

amount required to meet the eXtraor-
binary appropriations for the next BIZ
ennial period that has been favorably
recommended by the senate commit
tee. The list is as follows:
For the state agricultural college. $3.50 900
For the state normal school. 49,. $4,000
For state university. .............. 12O,OOO
For board of control institutions. $780, 800
Bills already recommended, miscel-
laneous 4O7, 1874
For Council Bluffs .. 252. 500
For historical building. 100000
For historical society 1900
For fish and game 1880
For fair grounds building 1900
For fire extinguishers . 5000
This list foots up $2,1637S4.
The estimated amount available for
these appropriations is $1,475,000.
This amount is derived from the gen.
eral revenue of the state from 9-mill
tax levy, after deducting the statutory
appropriations for meeting the ex-
penses of the departments, etc. In
addition to this amount, however,
there are G. number of other sources
of revenue, such as fees of various
sorts which may increase the totals
something like $35O,OOO to 100000.
This amount. however, would not
reach the footing of the above list,
and would indicate a deficit were it
not for the fact that number of these
appropriations will be made available
from the funds OF the succeeding bien-
NAL period. In this way money
enough will be on hand to meet all eX-
penses and not call for any increased
levy. On the other hand, it is also
possible that in the final roundup
some Of these items may be decreased
Chairman Mates of the house com
mittee on appropriations thinks that
the item of bills already recommended
will fall at least 100000 short of the
amount specified by Mr.. Garst. The
house, however, will recommend ST.
900 more for the institutions under
the board of control.
In the above list the appropriation
for the State university is fixed at
$120,0C0. This amount is less than
half what the institution asked for
and it is barely possible that it may
be increased The board of control
in their estimates for the thirteen in
situations under their charge, asked
for $4,000, but the senate has cut
this figure to $636,OOO, which is a re-
duction of $4,000
The senate committee has acted
very literally with the state agricul-
tural college, agreeing upon S379,000
This includes $4,000 per year for ad.
ditional support. The committee, how
ever, voted against the proposed mill
age tax for support Of this institution.
While it is possible that there may
be some reductions from the amounts
as given above, yet it seems to be a
fact that there can be little hope of
any reduction in the levy for general
state revenue. The institutions of
the state are keeping pace in growth
with the other material interests of
our commonwealth and these institu.
lions are of so much Importance that
no one believes in niggardly policy
towards them. The people of Iowa
have just reason for being proud of
the various institutions which have
been built up and fostered by liberal
legislation and no one feels that they
should be, restricted in their growth
or impaired in their usefulness.
New Board of Control.
One of the most important meas
ures touching the educational institu.
sy,f, So J.,x
as the result of the visitation by the
committees appointed earlier in the
session. 1t provides for an independ-
ent board of control, to have entire
charge of the educational institutions.
The institutions referred to are the
state university, state agricultural col
lege, state normal school and the in
stitutions for the education of the
blind and deaf. II is proposed to con-
stitute this board of five members
which shall be bipartisan, and not to
exceed three members to be graduates
of either of the institutions. When
the present board of control was es-
tablished the educational institutions
were not included in its scope. There
has been a growing sentiment for
sometime that these institutions
would be benefited If they were
placed under one general management
so far as their financial and material
interests are concerned. AS now man.
aged while the board of regents and
trustees consist of men who have the
interest of the institutions at heart,
yet they are men who cannot devote
much Of their time to the work and
are not paid any salaries, so tNat they
could afford to leave their own bust
ness interests TO look after those OF
the institutions. II is thought that
well selected board, who should re-
ceive compc sation for their work,
would give better service to these in
situations, and thus assure them con-
tinued growth. II is possible that the
iateness OF the date the bill was in
troduced may prevent its passage this
session, as it should receive much at
tention, but it is probable that some
such bill will be passed in the near
future.
rrko I,o,,co -oeeaI thn ratIxuox, 49,