Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-16

erence to them. The board has based
its action upon its own judgment and
the advice Of men skilled in educa.
tional affairs and in the management,
Of educational institutions.
Without expressing an opinion as
to the wisdom Of the proposed chang
es, I wish to say to you that before
taking such steps as will override the
judgment of the governing body OF
! these institutions, the most careful
and painstaking consideration should
be given. not only to the immediate
effect of the changes proposed, but to
the ultimate interest and welfare OF
the state and also of the institutions
I recommend to you a careful perusal
and study of the boards report and
also of the reasons assigned for its
action. ... as
The needs of the various education
al institutionA will be presented to
you by the board and its finance COM
mittee and to these needs I also ask
your attention.
More Normal Schools.
If we are to accept tho opinions
of those who are engaged in school
work and who make study OF school
questions as to what is needed to ad-
vance the interests of the public
schools, and especially of the rural
schools, I think we will be forced to
the conclusion that we need more and
better facilities for the training of
teachers; that is, teachers for grade
work as we'll as for high school work.
This being true, it naturally follows
that we need more normal schools.
This thought is suggested and empha-
sized not only by the state superin-
tendent of public instruction and the
Better Iowa Schools Commission, but
by the state board Of education. l
want to give my endorsement to the
suggestion and to recommend that
you take such steps as will eventually
result in the Adjustment of at leass
two or three more normal schools to
do that kind of work which is neces
sary to properly equip the common
school teachers for the duties which
they are expected to perform.
Revision of Tax Laws.
One of the most important matters
that will come before you for consid-
GRAFTON will be that Of the revision of
our laws relating to revenues and
taxation. A; the last session Of the
general assembly provision was made
for the appointment of special
commission to consider the question
here referred to and to report its
findings to this session Of the assem-
bly, in order that you might be better
able to enact such changes in our
laws as would make them more just
and equitable. That report has been
presented to each Of you in the form
of a printed volume. l want to COM
mend the commission for the splen
did work that it has done and to re-
quest Of you the most careful con-
sideration of the recommendations
contained in the report. It will be
impossible for me to 60 into detail in
4 discussion of the report and rec
concentrations, but there are some
features of them that I want to con-
slider with you.
After years of experience as men,
Der of the council I feel warranted in
saying to you that under our present.
system it IS not possible for the coun-
ell to perform It's duties as board
of assessment and review in salts
factory manner.
Moneys and Credits.
The executive council in fixing the
levy for state purposes for the year
1912 necessary to bring in $2,50O,00O
required by chapter 100, acts of the
Thirty-fourth General Assembly,
found it necessary to increase the
levy from and $40 mills fer gen.
eral purposes to and 4-10 mills. The
necessity for this increase appears to
be directly traceable to the change in
TIE law WITH IclcIcIlCc W IIAS oooOoo-
ment of moneys and credits.
For the year 1911 the taxable value
of the moneys and credits listed in
the state amounted in round num-
bers to $42,5O0,000, which, Under
8 and $40 mills levy yielded to the
state an income of S140,0 00. For the
wear 1912 the actual value of moneys
and credits listed was in round num-
bers, s1sS, 100000, which, upon levy
Of 5 mills, that provided for by the
law enacted by the last session Of the
general assembly, would yield an in
come of $943,500. Of this amount
the state receives about 1-14th part,
or an income of substantially $4,000,
showing a loss to the state of about
$4,000. In order to make up this
loss it was necessary to add Ito of
mill to the general levy for state pur-
poses.
Workmen's Compensation Act.
The subject of workmen's compen-
sation is so broad and comprehensive
that the report of the commission ap-