Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-02-24
LAUD BOARD OF control
Visiting Committees Favorably
Impressed with Institutions.
REPORT or THE DEAF SCHOOL
Coard of Control Is Averse to Keep
ing 1t at Present location-Gives
Numerous Reasons for Its Views.
Child Labor Bill Passes the Senate.

ing 1t at Present location-Gives
Numerous Reasons for Its Views.
Child Labor Bill Passes the Senate.
Des Moines. Feb. 23.-The commit
tees who visited the various state in
stitutions returned with exceedingly
favorable reports of their condition
and stIte that much credit is due the
board of control for the business-like
methods that have been introduced IN
the management of the institutions
under their management. Chairman
Garst of the senate committee on ap-
preparations said: The splendid
condition in which we found our in
situations proves the usefulness of the
board of control and am certain that
their condition is such that they could
be maintained during the coming bien-
NAL period without any extraordinary
appropriations. except such as are
absolutely needed for new buildings
in certain cases" The senator added
that he did not mean to be under
stood as suggesting that these extraor-
binary appropriations be cut out, but
that the various institutions, barring
needs which might spring up that are
not now expected. could be maintained
at their present efficiency with but
little more than tie appropriations
fixed by law.
May Reduce State Tax Levy.
Another senator taking this state OF
affairs as a cue, declared that there
is no reason why the state tax levy
might not be reduced somewhat from
the present mills. This tax is OF
course but a small part of what the
taxpayer is called upon to pay" he
added but it would set a good exam
pie to the other taxing districts If the
legislature should reduce this levy.
l feel that the people are beginning to
think, since the assessment has been
brought up to the standard required
by law that the taxes should be low
cred They realize that nearly every
one has been spending money rather
lavishly during the ID times and
they are not to blame for thinking
that possibly the state has fallen into
this habit. Business men are shorten.
ing sails and am thinking the people
will soon begin to ask that we should
do likewise"
The governor, in his biennial mes.
sage, estimated that, on a 3mill levy
for general revenue for the next two
years. assuming that the expenses
would remain practically the same.
there would be about $1.40OO0O avail
able for the extraordinary appropria
tions by this general assembly. The
consolidated appropriation bills pro-
vide for appropriations Of about So
100000 so these must Oe scaled down
over so per cent at the outset, and
many of them will no doubt feel the
knife to greater extent.
Money for the Iowa Exhibit.
AS an example of what is being
done in the way of pairing down these
requests the case of the Iowa COM
mission to the st. Louis fair may be
cited The original appropriation
was $125,000, but the commission asks
$110,715 more. The cCnmittee which
visited st. Louis to inspect the
state building and the work of the
commission recommends that this
amount be cut down to $4,000. Sen
ator Lewis, chairman of the visiting
committee which went to st. Louis,
made the report to the senate 1t
stated they had given all parties OPP
portunity to be heard, but eight of
the commissioners were represented
by the superintendent only. The COM
mittee reports the amount originally
appropriated and the additional ap-
propriations asked as follows:
Amt orig. Add'al