Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-01
FORMER GOVERNOR RIGHT WHEN
HE ASKED FOR OFFICIAL
BUILDING.
STATE HOUSE NOW CROWDED
AND OUTSIDE OFFICES RENTED
Some of Departments Compelled to
Find Quarters in Other Buildings
Need For Special Office Building
Proved-some of the Boards Now
Handicapped.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, June An earlier vim
dication of the position first taken in
the state by Governor Garst, in his
notable message to the last general
assembly, could hardly have been ex-
pected, than that in reference to the
absolute necessity for some readjust-
ment and uniting of departments and
bureaus of the state and the erection
of a special office building to be the
states great workshop. The dilemma
housing of the new educational board
has brought the matter sharply to the
attention of the public. There seems
to be no doubt that this important new
board should have at least sufficient
room and enough furniture so that the
work may be carried on with economy.
The state officers shunted the board
off to committee rooms upstairs in the
capitol. These, at best. would be but
temporary offices and would have to
be abandoned when the legislature
meets. Then the board needs vault
room for the safe keeping of valuable
papers, for it will be the financial
agent of the state in the handling of
the college endowment funds. The
board really needs at least half the
room of the lower salaried board of
control. It ought to have the north end
of the basement floor or a good suite
of rooms on the first floor. Any scheme
of shifting about inevitably returns to
the rooms occupied by the secretary of
the State horticultural Society, and it
has been hard to tackle that PROPOSE
ton. What Governor Garst proposed
was:
y would suggest that at this time
we might we'll recognize that our cap
itol is not 81 sufficient workshop for
all those who labor in the service of
the state. 1t was not possible for those
who planned the state house to under
stand how much work would be done
By the officials and employees of the
state. We would, therefore, take at
least first step looking to the erec-
ton of an agricultural, industrial and
military hall. This might properly be
similar in design to the historical hall
and library. There should be ample Of
tlces for the department of agriculture,
stock breeding. veterinary, pure food
and crop service: the commissioner of
labor, mine inspectors. and geological
survey; the board of health, dental
board and pharmacy board the head
quarters of the Iowa national guard
and commodious armory. There should
be hall suitable for drill room, for
examination classes and for public
meetings. 1t is no exaggera ton to
state that more than half the business
of the state is now done in offices
wholly inadequate and that were or
lSinally intended only for storage
rooms. Already the state has started
the policy of surrounding the capitol
with small office buildings, a policy
which can best be avoided by planning
now for one commodious building such
as / have suggested. At least the site
should be secured and plans be adopt
ed so that the work may be done as
soon as convenient"
OF course there We're those in the
assembly who felt that this was an i'm
pertinent suggestion for more graft
for Des Moines, and under the leader
imp VI liic dulIliIlS lTdIlOQ NOM
ing could be expected of the sugges-
ton But the pure food, dairy ard
veterinary departments are now &C.
cupying an old brick residence which
the state owns, and the states mill
tary property is kept in an abandoned
store building down town. 1t is certain
that the national guard, which is pow
erful in political way, will move at
the next session for an Independent Of
flee building somewhere near the cap
ital. There is no doubt that additional
floor space will be provided outside the
capitol building.
The plan suggested, of having built
a special building for the office work
of the state, does not in any sense inn
pay that there is work being done that
is not needed. Those who are well in
formed state that no other state Of
the wealth Of Iowa has such an eco
nonical state government. The rea
truth is that the state government has
not kept pace with the growth of the
state and the adoption of modern
methods.
If such building as suggested was
now available the new board Of educa
ton, with it's finance committee, could
secure offices at least equal to those
used by the board of control, and every
department of the state would have OPP
portunity to conduct dts business Ii
proper manner. But it seems almos
certain that the new board will have tt
be placed in rented quarters unless i
can get along with a temporary dom.
icile in the senate committee rooms.
1t is probable, unless some better ar.
rangement can be made, that the Sc.
curities of the college will be left in the
office of state treasurer or at Ames
and that the offices of the finance com.
nlittee in Des Moines will be rather
perfunctory than otherwise.
Elevator Men to Meet.
Macop Citv lima 1-Tha To ~, ovs