Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-01-30


we'll as the higher institutions of learn
ing is what Senator Whipple sees as
the result of his bill for single board
of regents which he is preparing for
early introduction in the legislature
"The proposed board has been re-
ferred to often as board of control
for state educational institutions"
said Senator Whipple last night, "but
this conveys the wrong impression.
am in doubt as to the designation
shall give to the board in the bill
will introduce, and expect that, Instead
of calling it board of regents, as in
my former bill, will give it the name
board of education
THAT Is what 1t will amount to. 1t
will have charge of the state univer-
sity, the state normal school and the
state agricultural college, and l ex-
pect to see it eventually reduced to
seven members in charge of the en-
tire educational system in the state, II
the proposition for the county unit
contained in the school bill Is adopt
ed
"This plan aims at making each of
the three schools independent of the
others as far as it's field is concerned.
think that one university is enough,
that one engineering school is enough,
that one normal school is enough and
that one agricultural school is enough
don't think high salaried instructors
in Latin and Greek should be kept at
Ames and 1 don't see any need Of an
engineering school at Iowa City when
there is a splendid one at Ames.
The first step in the direction Of
having the state again take up the
matter of improving the great rivers
of the bill by Mr.. Moore of Wapello,
providing commission of five persons
at IS per to engage in survey of the
Des Moines river from Fort Dodge to
the mouth, the Cedar river from Wa
terloo to the mouth and the Iowa
river from Iowa City to the mouth, and
to make a report on the use of these
rivers for power purposes. There is
a very we'll organized movement with
headquarters in Des Moines to have the
state engage In special survey Of
these rivers to ascertain their useful
ness for running steamboats,.
The effort Of Senator Jameson to
get it into the records that the Iowa
legislature is very costly affair did
not meet with much encouragement
in the senate. The members Of the leg
islature are beginning to be resentful
of the continual insinuations that the
Legislature is unduly extravaganza
Their view is that while there are ex-
penses incurred that ought not to be
incurred yet no very sensible plan has
as yet been suggested for making any
considerable curtailment of these ex-
penses and that until this is done they
are not to be reckoned as extrava-
CANT because they go on in the old
way. However there can be no doubt
that a serious effort will be made to
hasten the work and to secure an
early adjournment.
The bill to safeguard travellers by
requiring hotels to be supplied with
fire escapes, ETC., is one which will
meet with the general approval of the
travelling public though 1t is not ex-
actly understood why inspection
should be taken from the labor com
missioner and be placed with the
civil engineer of the state health
board. The bill requires not only
fire escapes but chemical fire ex-
tinguishers, that elevator shafts shall
be enclosed, and that proper drainage
shall be provided. Hotels must have
halls which lead to the outer walls and
where there is an inner court there
must be trap door SO that escaping
guests could get out. 1t is drastic
measure but carefully drawn.
The bill which was introduced in the
senate by Senator John T. Clarkson Of
Monroe county, IS measure that was
agreed upon by representatives Of Ia
Dor interests and it is understood it is
to be pushed hard as a measure Of
justice to all employees. 1t will, Of
course, be opposed by the large en-
ployers of labor especially in factories.
| The bill repeals the present Iowa law
on assumption Of risk on account OF
follow employees and defective machin-
| cry and gives statute more in aC-
cord with the national law, though this
is felt by the laboring men to be far
from satisfactory. The bill would
enact this as the rule in Iowa as to
risk of an employe:
''In all cases where the property
works, machinery or appliances of an
employer are defective or out Of re-
pair, and when it is the duty of the
employer, from the character of the
place, work. machinery or appliances
to furnish reasonably safe machinery
appliances or place to work. the en-.
ployee shall not be deemed to have as
sumed the risk by continuing in the
prosecution of the work, growing out
CT any defect as aforesaid, OF which
| the employe may have had knowledge
when the employer has knowledge OF
such defect, Or by the exercise Of
reasonable care and caution coulC
have known thereof for such reason
able time to have repaired the same
Nor shall the employe under such con
ditions be deemed to have waived the