Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-27
HIGHWAY BILL WINS
BY DECISIVE VOTE
LEGISLATURE MAKES GOOD
START ON FOUNDATION FOR
PERMANENT ROADS.
MEASURE SUBSTANTIALLY SAME
NOW THRU BOTH HOUSES
Lower Branch Of Legislature Follows
Senate in Adopting Law For High
way eetternnent q Bridge Lobby
Routed and Concrete Men Change
Front-irish Pleads for Iows's Help.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines,. March 27.-Now the
decks are cleared, or practically SO, in
the matter Of legislation that will help
to provide the state with paved country
roads, or place it within the power
Of the people who want such roads to
have them built. The administration
highway bill is almost out Of the way.
The bill went thru the house, in sub
stantiaily the form it was passed by
the senate, by vote of 81 to IL. This
was even a more decisive verdict for
progressiveness than that of the sen-
ate week ago. 1t means that out of a
total of 15s members of the Iowa leg
islature, despite the heckling and the
badgering and the remonstrances and
complainings, less than two dozen can
be found who are unwilling to take
decisive forward step.
The house made no changes in the
senate bill save those that will De
accepted by the senate with little con-
troversy. The principal amendment
was one which made it necessary when
a bridge or culvert is to be built, to
provide a hearing and notice and &c
who object may have their say. An
other amendment, Of doubtful appii-
cation, undertakes to apply the state
removal from office law to the COM
mission
6ridg. Lobby Routed.
The most significant feature Of the
day in the house, however was COM
plete rout of the bridge lobby at every
81 ~, - Sc
posed and the weakness of the political
movement to change the character Of
the commission. AS no roll was de-
manded 1t did not become necessary
at any time to disclose the extent to
which the Des Moines political influ-
ence had invaded the legislature. But
all the proposals were decisively de-
feated and the bill came thru UNI
scathed.
The scheme Of the commercial and
political interests was to destroy the
s.nonpartisan character of the commits
sion and to bring it to the state capitol
where it could be, and would be, under
the domination of the political influ-
ences which are powerful here. The
scented by Shankland who proposed a
commission would go on salary of 3d.
200 a year each. This was defeated
Overwhelmingly; and the correspond
ing amendment to take the commission
away from the state college and To-
cate 1t in Des Moines was not even
presented, since it was evident it could
have no standing at all.
Concrete Men Change Front.
+
sion that the manufacturers of con-
crete bridges had changed front since
last session and that whereas they
were then opposed to letting contracts
by bids advertised for. now they ia
vor this, as one way Of perpetuating
the combine. So the only hard fight on
the floor of the house was over a pro-
posal to require all culverts so low in
price as $500 to be let to the lowest
bidder. 1t was argued against this
that it would increase the cost of these
smalled bridges and culverts about Z
per cent, that it would almost effect
ually close the door against any ac-
ton that would prevent breaking up Of
any combine that might be formed. In
regard to the latter, however, it was
argued that as matter of fact there
is nothing in the bill to prevent the
; building of these bridges by day labor
or private contract, provided the cost
is not greater than the engineers es-
innate. The amendment was defeated
81 to 53, the only amendment that had
any great support.
The proposal to have all the county
engineers approved by the state high
way commission before they enter on
their office, part of the general
scheme of Gismantling the bill, also
failed; and later it was provided the
members of the highway commission
should be subject to removal under the
state law.
Speaker Cunningham warmly APP
proved the bill as it has passed and
declares that the legislature has made
a good move. House end seriate
leaders now declare that they will de-
vote themselves to pGtting it right up
to the membership to decide whether
or not there shall be provision made
for additional funds to he used in road
building. The matter Of road admin
istration having been disposed Of. the
financial part of the problem Will re-
ceive attention.
Irish Pleads For California.
Col. John p. Irish, of California, al
ways formerly of Iowa, imposed his
majestic. form upon, the legislature yes
terday and he talked Of the plans and
purposes of promoters of the big expo
sition- at,San- Francisco:y Colonel Irish
was. a member. Of the Twelfth general
assembly and two succeeding ones. In
Cold !, !. in I \. Head