Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-01-16

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public service. I believe Il u the
duty Of the state 70 do that which
it 10 inpraeticabls for the local au-
thorities to do and 70 bring to their
aid efficient help in the matter OF
valuation Of plants. reviewing o.
rates, examination Of books. cost OF
maintenance and such nike to the end
that the public have good serves as
fair rates in the matter OF public
necessities; water, light, heat and
transportation. The state ought 70
exist for the good Of its .citizenship.
I think this legislature can render
. great public SERVES BY passing .
well considered public utilities bill,
and that it ought to do 1t.
The Good Roads Problen.
For thirty years the discussion OF
the rood roads problem has been 60
inx on in the state. Many Of the
governors of the state within ehas
time have called attention 70 the
question and some Of them have
urged constructive legislation. Some
progress has been made both IN the
way of better laws and in the Nm
provemsnt Of the highways but the
most that has been accomplished -
an aroused public sentiment in favor
of better roads perhaps in favor OF
permanent roads. Iowa will have
permanent roads whenever she wants
them. She will have better rura!
schools whenever she wants them.
She will not have either before. Leg
islation awaits public sentiment-gen-
orally aroused, organized pubic oe-
mand. The next great era in the de-
velopment of western civilization u
going to be called by the historian
"The Era of Permanent Road Build
ing" We are now 1T the very thresh-
old Of that era. We are face to face
with the problem. No state can long
er allow herself to be handicapped by
mud. The economic waste 10 enor-
nous. Not in the future can there
be such thing as . really great up
to-d,te state without good permanent
roads. All that is done hereafter in
the improvement Of our roads ought
to be with the view Of permanency;
permanent culverts and bridges;
permanent systems Of drainage; per-
manent establishment of grades-all
with the view of eventually receiving
the permanent road. With this pur-
pose in view the law should provide
for the appointment of a county en-
gineer. He should be thoroughly COM
petent and not necessarily q resident
of the county where appointed. There
should also be created permanent
highway commission, composed OF ex-
pert road men and engineers with
such powers and duties in the way OF
the preparation of plans and specif'
cations. estimates Of costs, advertls-
ing for bids and general supervision
and control As may, after careful
consideration, be deemed wise. !
can see no reason Why provision
should not be made for referendum
to the people of the question a. to
whether bonds Of the state should b
issued for the purpose OF raising
money for permanent road building.
County Management.
One cannot discuss the road ques-
ton without the whole question OF
county management being suggested
After the analogy of the corporation.
the stockholders-the people-should
elect the board Of directors-the su-
pervisors-and they should appoint
a county business manager Who for
an adequate salary would devote his
whole time to the affairs of the coun-
ty under the general supervision OF
the directorate, who should be held
to the highest responsibility for his
competency as Q business man and
an expert in connection with all mat
ters Of county business. He might
be clothed with some Of the powers
now conferred upon the board and the
township trustees. He should be the
supervisor Of and the purchasing
agent OF all supplies for the county
He should understand the use of con-
crete and the building of bridges. He
should act in an advisory capacity in
all drainage district matters 80 fal
as the county may be concerned and
he might at the same time be the
county engineer referred to in the
good roads discussion. He should be
consulted in all matters OF contract
requiring expert knowledge. Wher'
ever the interests of the county &c
his duties should take him. Such
man would save to the county many
thousands Of dollars annually.
TraaiekinS In Offices.
Within the last twelve yeArs the
state has made commendablc prog.
ress in eliminating money and Other
eorrupting influences from our cleo
tons. We are insisting all the time
that our democracy should become
more and more democratic. There is
much talk about the opportunity ane
right Of every voter to express HI:
choice among candidates for nomina'
ton and election. This choice ought
to be the free, unbiased, Impoverished
honest choice Of the elector or de
mocracy is making no progress