Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-23
Bill to Provide For Uniform
Accounting in Cities of
Great Importance
WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION
City Councils Will Be Unable to Secure
Figures From State Auditor That
Will Be Useful in Determining Cost
of Public Utilities and Improve
ments.
IBy Ora williams.l
ments.
} Times Republican.

| Special to Times Republican
| Des Moines, March 23.-It Is the
| opinion of those who have made a
study of the matter that the uniform
accounting bill for cities is one of the
most important measures before the
| legislature. Quite an exhaustive study
of the accounting systems of cities has
been made by certain parties, and a
vast amount of information has been
gathered that if it could all be made
public would be of vast Importance to
formation may be made public at some
time 1t is claimed that If this bill
goes thru requiring a uniform system
of keeping city accounts and requiring
reports that mean something from city
officials, with the examination of the
accounts from the state auditors Of
flee, there will be presented to the pub
lie the information that is needed. In
vestigations, it is claimed, have led to
the discovery that the town of Newton,
in Jasper county, has made a great
success of the municipal ownership
idea in the operation Of its lighting
plant. This, however,, it is claimed
has only been made possible by having
at the head of the concern man who
is eminently capable Of managing the
affairs of the concern. He is abso-
lutely honest and the people give him
full rein to run the plant. But it is
claimed that there is hardly town or
city outside of the state where it is
possible to find out how much 1t costs
to run the light and water plants. An
investigation by an expert in these
matters. who was spending vacation
at his home village last summer, led to
the discovery that an electric light
plant which could easily pay expenses
was being run at loss with levy
of several mills to support it. 1t was
discovered that funds had been di-
verified to other than the legitimate
channels and it was absolutely impos-
sible to tell what the plant was doing
for the city. In another city it was dis
covered, 1t is claimed, that the entire
city council, composed, too, of honest
men, was liable for Indictment for
gross disregard and breech of the law,
because of the fact that the system of
such that it was impossible to tell any
thing about the city's finances except
by the efforts of an expert after weeks
of labor Is: Il
The house had made the primary
election bill q especial order for this
morning, but in view of the fact that a
number of the members made COM
plant thatSthey had not had sufficient
time to examine the bill. Mr.. Fler~s
KEN in charge Of the bill, had the
special order deferred until next Tues
day. The bill has been subjected to the
closest scrutinysand but few objections
are being made by any of it's provi-
sions. Unlike the bill which was pre-
pared by Senator Crossley, the ardent
young standpatter from Madison coun-
ty, it is simple and direct and easily
understood. 1t is believed there will be
but a short debate on the bill in the
house and it will be voted up or down
with very little effort to make it a
partisan or fractional issue.
s*s
The 2-cent fare bill is to come up in
the house Immediately following the
disposal Of the primary election BILL
1t was supposed that the action of the
railroads committee of the house which
is strongly standpat in sentiment,
would end the bill, but when a ques-
ton arose as to adopting either the
majority or minority report it was
found there We're forty on each side
Av,I fta
house will get fair chance to vote
on the measure some time next week.
The bill to provide for state examin-
alton of teachers for certificates is still
in precarious condition, or was last
night. 1t passed the house with fiji
ty-one votes, just the necessary con-
stitutional majority. Then there We're
rumors that some who voted for the
bill could be got to change. On We'd.
nesday a motion to reconsider was
filed and then it was withdrawn. Yes
terday a motion to reconsider was
filed by Springer and Christensen just
before the close Of the session. Later
it was stated that Christensen had
withdrawn his second. McDale finally
signed motion to reconsider. 1t was
rumored that the enemies of the bill
were planning for coup and to take the
friends of the bill unawares. If there
is a reconsideration it is regarded as
doubtful if the members can be got
together to pass the bill.
The Busse case was presented to the
pardons committees yesterday. The
facts in regard to this case are familiar
to the public. Busse was a farmer
in Butler county, who got
drunk and killed his wife in a
most horrible manner. He was SEN
fenced to be hanged. The supreme
court divided evenly on the question
of new trial, three Of the judges con-
tending that Busse did not have fair
and impartial trial and plainly stating
that there was enough in the case 70
warrant a doubt as to whether Busse
should have been convicted of the
crime for which he is under sentence.
The governor refused to interfere III
the case and referred the matter to the
legislat ure, setting the date for execu-
ton the goth of next month Yester-
day Messrs Gibson and Dawson Of
Waverly appeared and pleaded for
Communication of the sentence on the