Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1913-04-04
GOOD ROADS UNDER WAY.
Committee Bill Passes Senate With
Amendments After f.ard Fight
GOVERNOR SIGNS OREGON BILL
But Law May Not Be Needed.
Teachers Pension Bill and Other
Legislative Matters of .;
Interest.
(By George Gallarno.)

by George Gallarno.)
Des Moines, Iowa, March 25.-Good
roads legislation in the general as
sembly is now we'll under way, and
before another week has passed there
is every indication that bill provid-
ing for the construction and main
tainance of better and more perma-
nent highways for the state will be
in the hands of Governor Clarke for
! signature. Those who have been
most insistent in their demands for
highway legislation by this assembly
and who have been clamoring for
state highway commission with auto
cratic powers relative to the con-
struction of roads and bridges are
expressing themselves as keenly dis
appointed 1t the trend of affairs.
The bill which has passed the senate
by vote IF IS to 9 is the measure
drawn and submitted to the lawmak-
ers by the joint committee on good
roads, of which Representative Brock
way of Louisa county is the chair
man. It was introduced in the senate
by Senator Balkema of Sioux county.
1t provides for state highway COM
mission, but does not clothe the CON-
mission with much power beyond that
| of an advisory nature. 1t does not
increase taxation for the building Of
good roads. The matter of mill
tax, the proceeds of which are to be
used for the construction of perma-
nent highways, will come before the
legislature in separate bill. The
bill adopted by the senate passed that
body only after several hours de-
bate, and after some bitter personal
tiles had been INDUCED in by few
| of the members. The bill provides
maximum pay of $1,000 a year for
each of the highway commissioners.
and does not provide that the COM
missioners shall devote their entire
time to the work. 1t provides stand
ard specifications for bridge work
and also that supervisors can let con-
tracts for erection of bridges costing
$1,000 or less without competitive
bidding.
Oregon Bill Signed.
Governor Clarke has signed the So
called Oregon plan bill for the direct
election of United States senators,
but the law may never be put in oper-
| alton. 1t all depends on the action of
a few states where legislatures are
now in session. If these legislatures
should in the next week or two ratify
the congressional amendment to the
constitution looking to provision for
popular election Of senator's, enough
states will have taken that action to
make the amendment part of the
national constitution. Thirty-three
states have ratified the congressional
proposition now. The number re-
quired is thirty-six. It is believed
the additional three states will en-
dorse the resolution for change in the
constitution. If they do the object
sought by the Oregon plan bill in
Iowa will have been accomplished.
Pension Bill For Teachers.
With almost unanimous vote of
its members the senate has adopted
the Cowles bill to provide a fund for
pensioning school teachers after they
have retired from active service. The
bill provides for the creation of a
pension fund to be formed by an ap-
preparation from the state treasury
and by payments by the teachers of
q TO 70 Nh r. ~ ,s~ o%o
the benefits of the pension. The state
is to appropriate total of 100000
at the rate of 100000 q year for
five years and the teachers are to
contribute certain percentages of
their salaries. Teachers who have
been engaged in teaching less than
ten years will be called upon to con-
tribute to the fund l per cent of thei'
salaries and those who have taught
more than ten years will pay 2 per
cent of their salaries. These pay
ments are to be made to the county
treasurers, and the treasurers are to
turn the funds into the state treasury
to be added to the state fund. When
pensions become due they are to be
paid from the state treasury. No
teacher will be entitled to the bene-
fits of the fund who h. not had
twenty-five years teaching expert
ence, and at least twelve years in
Iowa schools. The rate of pension
to be paid is SIS per month for each
year of service, but in no case can
the sum exceed 5000 a year. The
bill is now in the hands of the appro-
priations committee of the house.
No WOrkmen's Comp onsation Law.
A member of the subcommittee in
the senate, which has charge of the
five bills presented to that body re-
lating to employers liability and
workmen's compensation, is authority
for the statement that none of the
measures will be reported out for
passage at the present session of the
assembly. The committee has found
,~n~,, no~A;ok:~~ ~o:-A.