Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-14

telegraph and telephone lines as much
as over other common carriers. The
commission should also have some
measure of authority over the public
utilities. of the state such as street car
lines water works, gas and electric
plants; but care must be exercised so
that there is left with the municipali-
ties sufficient power for the proper
police regulation of these private en-
terprises Matters purely local must
be left to the local communities.
To enhance the efficiency of the
railroad commission the salaries of
members should be increased to not
less than $500 year and they be
required to devote their entire time
to the work. Instead of being cleo
tive these offices should be appoin-
tive, the governor appointing the
members subject to confirmation by
two-thirds vote of the senate. Pro-
vision should be made however, for
continuing in office to the end of their
present terms the members who have
been elected by the people. The term
of office of members should be ex-
tended to six years.
For the enforcement of our general
Jaws for the protection of society we
have provided officers to represent
the people, and in our courts those
who pass judgment have long since
ceased either to investigate or to pros
ecute; but our state and interstate
commissions dealing with transporta-
ton still try to combine both func-
lions or leave to chance the complete
preparation of cases they are called
upon to decide. If these tribunals
are to properly dispose of their work
and be free to judge impartially, they
must have before them full informa-
ton as to all the questions involved,
not on one side but on both sides, and
to do this they must take on the char
acter and methods of courts and be
relieved of some of their responsibility
for investigation and preparation of
the cases.
| therefore recommend that you
provide by appointment for an attor-
ney on behalf of the state to have
charge of all controverted questions
before the railroad commission in
which the rights of the people are in
any way involved, and who shall also
appear before the executive council
in all matters involving any of the
activities which are under the rail-
road commission.
Highways and Conservation
I would recommend the re-organi-
cation of our state highway commits
sion and making it a commission to
deal more broadly with highway con-
struction, waterway, forestry and the
conservation Of all our natural re-
sources. I believe that this commits
sion should consist of five persons, in
GLIDING at least one skilled engineer
and two recognized experts in agri-
cultural affairs; the commissioners
should be paid a per diem of $40 not
to exceed sixty days each year; there
should be secretary of the commits
sion ,devoting his entire time to the
work, and offices should be maintained
in the state capitol.
This highway and conservation
commission should be empowered to
investigate, plan for, and direct mat
ters relating to the building of perma-
nent highways, drainage, the devel-
opment Of rivers, the establishment
Of canals, water power, forestry, the
disposition of noxious weeds and SINH
lar related subjects. The commission
should make a comprehensive report
to be published for public distribution
This commission should be empOw-
cred to appoint state superintendent
of highway construction, who should
have general charge of the construc-
ton of the roads where state aid is re-
ceived. The commission should APP
prove all plans for construction as
prepared by the county highway SUI
perintendents and Endorsed by the
board of supervisors.
Construction of Good Roads
The people of Iowa annually spend
about $4,000,0O0 in road building It
needs no argument to convince our
people that this money could be ex-
pended to better advantage than it is
at present. The state should enter
upon policy of general aid to the
local authorities in the construction
of permanent highways and 1 would
recommend an appropriation equal to
thirty cents per capita of the popu-
lation distributed among the counties
on this basis and this should all come
from the state saloon tax as provided
for in a suggestion made elsewhere.
According to the census of 1905 this
would make available for highway
construction s663,015. This money
should be used in the construction of
permanent highways upon the basis
of the state paying As per cent of
the cost, the county paying As per
cent, and the township 10 per cent
Under certain conditions the board of
supervisors might direct that the
county pay 55 per cent, leaving the
township free Of special obligation
where it was not directly benefited.
Provision should be made for a
county supervisor of highways under
appointment of the board of super
visors, he to be civil engineer and
who shall also act as the county sur
veyor. He should have charge of the
plans and specifications for highways
where state aid is desired and the
plans which he prepares should be
approved by the board of supervisors
subject to the further approval of the
state highway and conservation com.
mission.
This is an entirely new departure
| in road construction far -,