Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-15
Policy OF the Standpatters
Would Be One of Niggardli-
ness to Institutions
THE RECORD OF BERRyHILl
Wanted to Give Educational and 9th
er State Institutions Barely
Enough to Keep Them Going With
Nothing for Keeping Abreast With
the Growth Of tho State.
tBy Ora willlamsl

SDpclll 10 llI11cS-
Des Molnes, May l5.--lt is the de-
liberate plan and purpose Of Il consid :
planning to break into the Iowa leBis-
lature to reverse completely the ex-
pansIve policy pursued for u number
of years by those entrusted with the
purse strings of the state, and to sub
stitute for policy of liberality which
goes only to the length Of justice and
fairness contrary policy of penur-
ousness and letting well enough alone
for the state
warning was given In the closing
days of the last general assembly. The
demand for money to further beautify
the state capitol was refused The
appropriation necessary to complete
and furnish the state library building
was scaled to mere nominal sum.
The very necessary appropriation for
the state fair was turned down cold.
The money asked for permanent i'm
provements at the state educational in
/
some.
The last legislature. like Its immed-
late predecessors appropriated all the
money available for these institutions
and to continue the policy of expansion
which is so much the glory to the state.
Now an attempt Is to be made to go
back to another policy. 1t Is recalled
here that the leader in the attack on
the state affairs Is James G. Berry
hill, who made record for himself
while In the legislature. He was chair
man Of the committee on appropria-
tions of the house, and as such he ad-
vocated the policy of giving the state
institutions Of all kinds just enough
to barely keep them going not giving
u cent for improvements or repairs or
extensions. Fortunately he and men
of his class were overruled, and the
state institutions have been kept up to
the natural growth of the state.
Now these same men who are for en-
smalling Iowa rather than enlarging
the state and it's institutions, are COM
bined in desperate attempt to regain
control Of the legislature to the end
that they may dictate where and how
the money shall be spent and how
much.
The first point of attack is to be on
the state educational institutions. The
basis will be the report made to the
last assembly by committee at the
head of which is Senator Whipple and
Representative Wright. The fight in
the Legislature promises to become an
interesting one. 1t involves the future
~,
tions.
Education Would Suffer.
There was much talk among legisla-
tors at the last session about refusing
to give the educational institutions the
mlllage taxes with which they are
building up. Only by great care and
skill on the part of members especially
interested in these institutions was
fight avoided. The millage taxes were
continued for another period, and be-
fore the committees 1t was pleaded that
these taxes viii not only be needed for
one more period. but for still another,
in order that the plans now laid may
be consummated. Strong men came
before the committees to plead for the
cause of higher education. For the
state university men like Joe Lane,
Carroll Wright c. e. Pickett, Joe Allen
and President MacLean were persua-
sive for the expansive policy. For the
state college men like w. j. Dixon, ].
B. Hunderford, James H. Wilson, and
with them President Storms and Pro-
fessors Curttss and Stanton. For the
normal school, President Seerley and
members of his board They did not
expatiate before the Legislative COM
mittees on the extravaganza of the leg
islatures with regard to state institu-
tions and the alleged wastefulness of
those who expend state money.
Tt is interesting to note how the mill
age tax policy has grown in results. 1t
was started when Shaw was governor
and he approved the first bills. Here
are the tax collections:
Millage taxes Shaw administrations.
State University at Iowa
Oity Observation-Disclosures. .$216, ,8O3. O8
State College at Ames. l09, 900. 81
State Normal School at Ce-
dar Falls ............... ..........
1926, ,703. 40
Millage taxes Cummins administra-
ton S
state University .s495, ,o49. .64
State College ........ 495049. 60
State Normal School ...... 247526. 33
s1,237625. 81
If the men who are making the sys-
tematic and concerted attack on the
Iowa legislatures and on Iowa institu-
ton management, snd claiming ex-
travagance and wastefulness. are sue
cessful in what they are undertaking to
do the present period will be the last
for these miMage taxes, and the special
appropriations for these institutions
will be cut down to what they were
when the legislatures were authorizing