Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-11
Legislative Committee of the
Iowa League Of Mumicipali-
ties to Hold Meeting
70 ASK CHANGES in LAWS
An Appropriation for Investigation of
Iowa Municipal Questions, Such as
Sewage Disposal, Water Supplies,
Etc, Will Be Asked-To Meet jan
uary IL and 10.
Special to Ti:nes-Republican.


Des Moines, Jan. 11.-Mayor A. N.
Alberson, of Washington, the chairman
of the legislative committee of the
League of Iowa municipalities. has is
sued call for meeting of that COM
mittee in Des Moines on Wednesday
and Thursday. January II and IS.
Every municipal official in Iowa who
is interested in any change in the
present laws. is invited and urged to
be present at this meeting, as many
questions will come up for considera-
ton and most of those changes that
are approved by the league will very
probably meet with the approval of the
legislature. Every city and town coun-
ell in Iowa should consider the ques-
ton of changes in the state law and
should take the necessary action to
send one or more delegates to this
meeting in order that all municipal leg
islation to be asked of the present gen.
eral assembly may be decided on early
in the session and bills introduced COW
ering the changes. Every city and
town, whether of the League Of Iowa
municipalities or not, is urged to send
delegates to this meeting.
The meetings of the committee will
be held in the club room, parlor ]. of
the Slavery, the first meeting being
held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
The league will ask the legislature
for an annual appropriation, for a
period of three years. to be under the
control of the executive council of the
state, and to be used in investigating
the questions of sewerage disposal,
water supplies, paving, police, fire pro-
lection and the many other vital dues-
lions that come before every council.
1t is impossible for any one city to
thoroughly investigate any of these
questions on account of the great cost
and the municipal officials of the state
believe that the legislature should
come to their aid especially as the peo-
pie living in the Incorporated cities
and towns pay over fifty percent of all
the taxes raised in the state. Cover
nor Cun1nins in his inaugural address
trongly recommended that this. APP
cpriation be made and many legis-
.ators have already expressed them
selves in favor of such a measure.
Uniform Accounting.
A uniform municipal accounting bill
will also be asked. Under the pres
ent system each city has different
system of bookkeeping and it is almost
impossible to make a comparison of
the receipts and expenses of any two
municipalities. In Ohio where such q
law has been in force several years, 1t
has met with universal approval and
has saved thousands Of dollars to the
taxpayers. The expense Of enforcing
the provisions of this bill wiwll be ps6s
by the municipalities interested. The
census department Of the national
government is interested in this meas
ure and will cooperate in every way
possible to secure it's passage.
City Councils.
The question of reducing the number
of councilmen and increasing their SAL
aries, of giving more power to the
mayor and fixing the responsibility for
public actions, special assessments,
taxation, franchises of public service
corporations, building and electric
wiring inspection, and many other I'M
portant questions will come up for
consideration and action.
The city health officers will mold a
meeting on Monday, January ID, ana
the municipal accounting committee OF
the league will hold meeting on
Tuesday, January 16.
The indications point to large and
valuable meeting.
Married Twentv.five Years,