Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-15
ROAD LEGISLATION WILL CENTER
AROUND GOVERNING
BODY.
DRAFT OF PROPOSED LAW.
COMPLETED eY B.coMMiTTEE
Supervisors Must Employ County En-
sineers and Are Given Power to Des-
ienate Roads on Which Money May
Be- Expended-Township Supervision
Under Local Trustees.
Special to Times-Rcpublican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. l5.-F,irst COM
pleted draft of the proposed highway
bill, or rather the primary bill which
is to form the basis Of general highway
legislation, which is the ill on which
from the hands Of the subcommittee
yesterday and it was gone over In the
entire committee last night. 1t will not
be ready for report from the main
committee to the senate and house Tor
a week, at least.
Chairman Balken,a, ca whom has
fallen the brunt Of the work on the
bill, and his associates, desire it I'M
derstood that this bill is not to be re-
garded as all that is proposed; rather,
it is the bill for what might be termed
the basis of all the legislation, the
foundation for the legislation proposed,
first step toward the perfection OF
the administrative machinery for hand
ling the road question.
Every other reasonable proposal at
fecting roads, either as to road work
or administration, or securing the
money. viii be presented By the com
mittee in separate bills so that 1t VIII
not be said Of any measure that it was
buried in Committee.
The basic highway bill relates to the
manner Of having. the road work done
the classification of roads and the SAFE
guards around the expenditure of the
peoples money.
Highway Commission the Keystone.
| The state highway commission is the
keystone. This commission is to be
strengthened and be given sufficient
I power to move forward very far the
road work OF the state. The commission
| located at the agricultural college
shall consist Of one member appointed
by the college from among the en-.
ployes of the college. who shall be 6
civil engineer; and TWO men. Of differ
ent political views. appointed by .hs
governor, with four-year terms, pait
a per diem Of 81 day limited L
500 first year and $500 each afte
year. -ot
The state highway commission shall
devise and adopt plans of highwa,
construction for the entire state ant
for maintenance thereof suited to thu
! needs of the different counties. /
shall dlsse inmate Information and in
struction to the county supervisors
keep a record and report annually Il
! the governor.
! The commission shall appoint suci
assistants as are necessary to carr,
on the work Of the commission, de
fine the duties thereof and fix compen
sation, and make investigation as Il
conditions in any county and shoul;
it appear that any officer upon whom
duties are by this act imposed has VIC
lated such duty the commission shat
report to the attorney general WIZ
shall take such steps as are deemed
advisable by him to correct the same
County Engineers.
/ The board OF supervisors in eacl
county shall, within thirty days aftc
the passage of the act, employ com
petent en- gineer or engineers on com
pensation fixed by the board. Tn
board shall select and designate from
the highways Of the county the count.
roads, between 10 and Is per cent o
total mileage. to be the main Travelled
roads OF the county which must con
meet the market places OF the count.