Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-12
GARST'S
PARTING COUNSEL
Continued from, Fourth Pas;e.)

CONTINUED from Fourth PaEe.)
lures for the state. fair, I would rec
ommend an appropriation for fire.
proof amphitheater to avoid the con
slant danger because of the present
structure.
Board Of Control.
The report of the board Of control
has been printed and is before you
for consideration. feel that beyonG
calling your special attention 10 this
report, l need say little. The people
Of Iowa are to be congratulated upor
the fact that this board has main
tanned the high standard which
marked the Inauguration of such
great reform, aud it's management o.
the various state institutions has beer
such as to fully satisfy the people. Al
the institutions under the control OF
this board there are now cared for
more than $500 persons, and more
than 1900 employees are under the d.
rection of the board. BY reason of
the careful management and thorough
business methods which this board
employs, the cost Of maintenance OF
these institutions has been materially
decreased, despite the enormous in
crease in the cost of all supplies. The
purchase of farms has been a consio-
cradle factor in keeping down the ex-
pense of maintenance; at the same
time there can be no doubt that our
state wards are better cared for than
ever before, and 1t is doubtful IL there
is a state in the Union wh,sre the
management of the institutions is SO
entirely free from all political or local
or selfish influence
Prevention Of Tuberculosis.
1nasmuch as the public health is one
of the largest assets of the state.
measures which directly or indirectly
benefit the health of our citizens
should receive serious consideration
Our state recognizes the preventable
nature of tuberculosis and that this
terrible scourge is amenable to intel
ligent repressive measures. Not only
have we an institution especially pro-
vided for those who are unable to
properly care for themselves, but we
have entered upon policy of educat-
ing the people directly as to their
dangers and duty, and pointing out to
them what they can do to lessen the
harm which comes from this cause.
When we remember that more than
1000 lives are sacrificed annually to
the white plague, and about 80 per
cent Of these victims die between the
ages of Is and 40, and when it is
known that every one dying spreads
the infection, 1t is not hard to com
pute the financial loss to our state.
An educational campaign extended
generally throughout the state has
brought much enlightenment to our
citizens and bids fair to aid greatly
in exterminating the white plague
This work, under the board Of con
troll, has been efficiently conducted.
and it would be wise to continue 1t
with more ample funds if necessary
Primary Election Law Amendment.
/ hope aud believe the primary cleo
ton law is indelibly upon the statute
books, for in my judgment it is the
only system of making party nomina
lions that will stand the test of time;
but we should not hesitate to amend
the law as its weaknesses come to
our attention. Already we have been
compelled to resort to special SEES
sion of the legislature to amend the
law to meet conditions not foreseen.
The alphabetical arrangement sof
names upon the official ballot is found
to be unfair to candidates and to the
voters, and some form Of rotation OF
names ought to be provided so that
all candidates shall be on an equal
footing. It were better to have no
law than to thus fail of giving all can
didates an equal chance. l am sure
you will find way to remedy this de-
feet,
There has been considerable fric-
ton over the division Of expense, and
as 1t is immaterial to the taxpayer
how this burden is distributed, would
suggest that the entire expense be
borne by the counties, since the coun-
ty boards have the best opportunity
for scrutinizing the bills.
Uniformity in the printing Of the
bills should also be provided, to the
end that the expense be not more on
one community than another, and
there would be a reduction in the
total cost. The discrepancy in bills
presented to the state indicates there
should be limit TO cost as matter
Of safety to the taxpayers.
State Insurance Department.
1 believe that the state insurance
department should be Independent and
under the management of q superin-
tendent of insurance, appointed by the
subject to the approval by
the senate, with an adequate salary
and sufficient Office force. This is in
line with the recommendation of the
legislative insurance commission and
Of the state auditor in various reports
in the past. 1T would be simple recog-
milton of the fact that our insurance
interests have grown to such proper
tons that for the protection OF the
public, and the proper regulation OF
the business iowa should yet in line