Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-22
ECONOMY The WATCHWORD
Iowa Legislature Will Make Special
Effort to Reduce State Budget.
BUREAUS TO BE REARRANGED
General shifting of Departments, IL
is Thought, VIII Result in Better
Service, Along with De-
creased Cost,
CFrom a staff correspondent

DES MONIES, Dec. ~H.-(Special .)-Econ
omy and retrenchment is to be the watch
word with the coming Iowa legislature,
which meets in three weeks The demo-
Gratis In the last few campaigns in Iowa
made much of the alleged extravaganza OF
the republicans, who have been in full con-
troll of the affairs of the state, and while
they did not make much Roadway with the
voters in their accusations against the re-
publican party, the fact remains that a
number Of republicans feel that the state
ought to reduce rather than increase Its
running expenses. It is pointed out that
In a great many ways there has been in
crease OF expenses in recent years, espe-
CHILLY in the matter of examiners, boards
and commissions. But the greatest increase
In the running expenses of the state has
been In the matter Of the support and de-
velopment of the three educational insti-
tutions, and 1t is claimed by members of
the legislature that here is one place where
the pruning knife will be applied.
The bill to establish a board of regents
for the management of all three of the
these colleges will be introduced at the
opening of the session by Senator Whipple,
and he is very confident that the bill will
this year be passed. 1t is claimed that at
least there will not be this session any
opposition from the executive office. An
effort was made last spring to secure a
pledge from the incoming governor that he
would veto any bill for a change In the
management of the colleges. FC made his
campaign, however, OF the score of economy
in state affairs and the friends of the bill
now say that he will give support to the
measure, which is strictly one for economy
in the use of the money of the people.
Rearrange the Bureaus.
The movement for a general shifting OF
departments in the state house also has
great strength. 1t has been proposed here
tofore to shift the insurance department
so that 1t will be under the chief executive
rather than a minor office, that the bank
ing department be placed in the control Of
the treasurer. who naturally looks after
all inancial affairs Of the state; that the
department of accounts be given to the
secretary of state; that the collection of
criminal statistics be centered in the Board
OF Parole. etc. All these changes are not
only for economy. but for the better
handling of the various matters by officers
especially prepared to do so.
Insurance Department..
The one bill that is most likely to brins
about a fierce contention is the one to
make of the insurance department an in
dependent bureau. In the past the insur-
ance companies have been strongly In favor
of this. and it was an open secret that
their zeal was at least augmented by the
fact that the state auditor and the present
head of the insurance department proved
to be hard customers to handle, at least
from the standpoint of the insurance COM
panies and agencies. But now 1t is stated
that the insurance companies are per-
fectly satisfied with the situation and do
not want any change in the law. A bill
will be introduced at the opening of the
session TO create a department and 1t is
almost certain to go through.
No Politics in II.
Few bills having any political signifi-
oarce will be pending and there will be no
occasion for partisan or fractional politics.
The present Iowa secret ballot will be
amended so as to make 1t conform to the
true Australian ballot and the primary
ballot will be changed so that there is no
advantage to the candidate whose name
happens to begin with n letter early in the
alphabet. But neither of these questions
will raise any political issue.
Many Would BE Speaker.
In the matter of organization there has
not been any session where it was more
ulIIlCAlll 10 pItulCl just WHdt VIII De uOIlcs
The house organization centers around the
spe akership. There are a goooly bunch OF
candidates-Marston. White. Darrah. Still
man. Lee, Hacker. Harding. Feeley and
Sullivan. ANY one would make a fair
speaker, though perhaps not one has the
exceptional capacity of the last four speak
ers-Clarke, Kendall. Byers and Eaton. It
Is almost certain the caucus will meet on
January Q witt the winner in the dark.
1t is settled. however, that c. r. Benedict
of Shelby county will be unanimously re-
elected clerk of the house. DR.. Newman
of this city, who has been secretary OF the
senate for several times, believes he has
the position cinched again, but Senator
Seeley is backing Captain William Neal OF
Washington county and a contest is prob
able. In the matter of arrangement of the
committee nothing can be known in the
house until a speaker is named and in the
senate President Clarke is keeping very
still about what he will do.
Technical school Teachers.
Technical teachers from all the principal
agricultural schools in America will prob
ably gather at Ames. Ia, next year for
an annual conference and school Of instruc-
ton. The invitation to the Association Of
Technical Educators has been extended by
the state of Iowa to come to Ames. 1t is
understood the invitation was wanted and
that the big meeting will be held here. Last
year the meeting was held at Columbia uni
versity and the year before at the Uni
versity of Illinois. At this gathering Of in
structors will be some of the best speakers
and educators in the world. 1t will be quite
the largest meeting in an educational way
Iowa has ever had.
Wants . Committee Chairmanshfp.
1t is understood that it is extremely likely
that Lieutenant Governor Clarke, as presl-
dent OF the senate. will make chairman of
the committee on military affairs Hon.
John d. Brown of Leon. representing the
Observation-Disclosures district. Recently
Mr.. Brown. who Is y years old. was APP
pointed an aide to the national commander,
with the rank of colonel. This rare dis