Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-08

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culture. | believe the investment has
been a good one. and has secured for
the people OF the state advantages
which otherwise they would have lost.
The growth of population is now large
ly in the cities and towns. and there
are constantly arising problems Of the
most important character which require
intimate association Oh the part OF
| those who are administering municipal
ail;irs to So!vc. | believe. therefore,
| that small appropriation in aid of
| the work of the League of Iowa NUM-
cipalitics ,,ld he Il wise expenditure
of the public funds. There is no one
respect in which we arc in so hopeless
Il muddle as the management of our
cities and towns. and any reasonable
thing that we can do 10 aid associated
municipal ciiicers in working out need
full reforms will he very helpful to the
cause Of good government.
have received and | transmit to
you the report of the highway com
mission appointed by the Thirteih
/ general assembly. The commission
has done excellent work. and it is
hoped that you will find it possible to
continue its labors so auspiciously be-
| gun.
Educational Institutions.
IN view of the fact that the Thrift
eth general assembly appointed "A joint
committee to examine into the meth
DDS of management of state educa
tional institutions. and knowing how
patiently and carefully the committe.
has investigated the subject ! shall
not at this time present my views upon
the controversy that has engaged tie
best thought of the people of The state
There is one phase of the matte,
| however. to which | can refer with
entire propri"ty. The university, TIL.
college of agriculture and mechanic
arts. and the normal school were
never so prosperous and efficient as
they are at this time.
! 1t is plain that the generous APP
| preparations for these institutions
which began few years ago are be-
ginning to bear fruit and ! bespeak
for all of them continuation of the
liberal policy under which they have
come from obscurity into prominence.
Hall of Archives for Records.
The Historical Building will shortly
be completed and ready to receive that
part of our archives, or records, that
the general assembly may designate.
l believe that there should be estab
lished in the building Hall of Ar
chives, in which there shall be placed,
in a methodical and systematic way,
a large portion of the records which
are now in the Capitol Building
There is no authority for the transfer
of such records, nor for their proper
custody in the new building. and l
recommend such legislation as shall
set apart suitable room in the new
building for this purpose, and clearly
describe the records that shall there be
preserved. I do not enter the detail
of the subject but bespeak for 1t
your careful consideration.
Child Labor.
| Among those who have given the
most careful thought to social prob
| lens, and among those who have given
and are giving the best part of their
lives to help their fellow men, there
is no difference of opinion respecting
| the necessity Of law which shall
regulate the employment of children.
| think every person well disposed
toward the welfare Of humanity, and
especially in such a government as
ours, must concede:
First, that children should not be
permitted to work to the extent OF IN
terfering with common school educa-
| ton.
Second, that they should not be per-
mitted to work under such circum-
stances as will be likely to impair the
strength of their bodies or peryert
| their morals.
1t is true that with the present de-
| yeloDment of industry in the state
there are fewer children who are do
ing what they ought not to do in the
way of work than in many of our
sister states, but II we begin right we
will have less to reform in the days
to come. ! hope that you will find it
consistent with good policy to enact a
statute upon this subject.
Touching the same general topic. 1
suggest that the Juvenile court law
passed by the last general assembly
has been found somewhat defective.
That is it based upon a sound prin-
ciple is not to be doubted. Its def
ciencies will he pointed out to you
during the session by those who have
only the good of our boys and girls at
heart. and gladly recommend that the
law be matured according to their
suggestions.
Family Desertion.
The experience Of those who are en-
gagged in humanitarian and charitable
work show that in very large pro-
portion of the instances in which
women seek aid for themselves and
their children, the husbands and faith
.ers have deserted the home, and thus
repudiated the obligation which the
law SO wisely imposes upon them. The
man who. without good cause, deserts
his children and the mother who bore
them, is criminal, and ought to be
punished aus a rank offender against