Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-07
COMMITTEE ON INFRINGEMENT
HOLDS INTERESTING SESSION
At STATE HOUSE.
COMMISSIONS AND OFFICIALS
ASK FOR FUNDS AND HELP
Highway Commission Outlines Finan-
eial Needs - Secretary Of state A..
len Reports His Work Far Behind
Because Of Lack Of Sufficient Num-.
Der Of cisrks-stats Capital Gossip.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
! Des Moines, May 1.-The statutory
committee. on retrenchment and re-
form has been holding court at the
state house and hearing the complaints
and requests Of various officials. All
but one of the members was present
yesterday.
The state highway commission APP
peared and discussed with the men,
bers the matter OF how best to get the
| necessary work done. The commission
has done all its work thus far without
will soon be available. The payroll thus
far authorized is about $4,000 a year
! outside of the pay for the members OF
the commission. 1t was explained that
under the law there will be a vast
amount of work to be done not only in
the field but in the office, especially
the first year or tw9. and it is the plan
to add to the force only as actually
needed.
Secretary Corey of the state depart
ment of agriculture, appeared for con-
sultation as to his department and the
manner in which the work is being
done It is recalled that the efficiency
engineers made some recommendations
which neither the committee nor tho
legislature approved and which 1t was
found would not work out to the ao-
vantage of the state.
Secretary of State Allen discussed
with the committee the work OF his
office which rs behind because Of the
lack of help especially, in the automo-
bile department. He made 1t very plain
that so far as his department is con-
-cerned the legislature failed to provide
the means for carrying on the WORK.
Information was also obtained as to
the work of. the board of education ana
various other state offices. The state
veterinary department asked for more
help for carrying on its work.
The committee will go on with the
work of investigating various offices
with a view to a recommendation to the
next legislature. There is really not
very much that can be done by the
committee at this time in connection
with the state work, but 1t will prob
ably prove useful for consultation SO
that heads Of departments will not go
radically wrong in the matter Of ex-
penditure of money.
The state executive couLcil now has
in it's possession the annual reports
from all but two Of the steam railroads
Of the state as presented for the use
Of the council as a state tax commits
sion or assessment board. The two that
are out are the Union Pacific and the
Atlantic road
Omitting the reports from these
roads for 191IsAs for last year the re-
ports show an increase in the gross
business done by the Iowa roads on
the Iowa business as between the two
years of $3.624,673.1S, and increase OF
the net profit Of 3294,s26.91.
The aggregate Of business done by
all the steam roads with the exception
of the two named last year was $751;
sOe,255, the expense Of operation 1884,
302.5s1 and the net earnings $11.3oe,674
The figures are even higher than was
expected after the first Of the big roads
made their reports.
The mileage reported Is about sew
euty-seven miles more than in the
previous year.
During the month Of April the in
spectors in the state labor bureau in
spected 10 different manufacturing
plants in the state. Commissioner
Trick states that he is very much
pleased with the manner in which the
managers and owners have received the
criticisms and suggestions There has
been no disposition anywhere to refuse
to comply with the reasonable requests
or to question the right of the state to
make requirements as to safety and
sanitation. These plans have 1924
employees. The inspectors made 40s
in some plants there
being many recommendations. Among
other things twenty-four children were
ordered out Of factories.