Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1913-04-09
Efficiency Engineers Recommend
Legislature Convene Again i'm Fall.
RETRENCHNIENT AND REFORM
IN BUSINESS OF THE STATE
Committee Says Business Cannot BE
Finished This Session, and Much
Could be Saved by Careful Sys-
tematizing of Departments.


the legislature unfinished that there
is serious talk of holding special
session, either soon after the ad-
journment or next fall, more prob
ably in the fall. Whether this will
be decided upon or not is yet a ques-
tion, but the committee on retrench-
ment and reform has recommended
this to the legislature, in connection
with their report of the work being
special accountants who are making
an investigation of the various de-
partments of the business of the
state, with the object in view of sys-
tematiZing the work and simplifying
it so that if possible a considerable
portion of the cost of transacting the
business of the state may befsaved.
The main feature of this report is
that in general way it is found that
the efficiency engineers and account
ants will not be able to complete
their examination in time for action,
before the date of adjournment, that
they have already shown by what
they have done that report will be
made that will form the basis of very
important economies in state affairs,
and that it is wise thing for the leg
islature to have the work continued
to a conclusion and special session
held to consider the report and act ON
the same.
There is no specific report on the
work done in the various Offices but a
general report indicating that it is a
physical impossibilty to get through
now. II the state is to get any. results
from the expense OF the investigation
there must be some way of acting
after the report is completed. The
suggestion of the committee is there
fore for a recess until in the fall
when the report, printed and in the
hands of the members, can be acted
on intelligently, with nothing else in
the way. 1t is proposed that the
members return without any per di-
EN- or mileage, and that the only en-
ployes retained will be the desk
clerks, the doorkeeper and the serg-
eant-at-arms.
1t is proposed that the committee
be empowered to have printed sum-
mary or brief OF the report of the ef-
ficiency engineers and have the same
in the hands of members of the leg
islature at least thirty days before
the reconvening of the legislature.
The senate has passed a. commit
tee. bill as substitute for the Klay
bill from the house. The senate bill
orders the state board of education
to rescind its order of October s,
1912, for changes in courses of study
at the several state, colleges, but
leaves the future prescription of
courses in the hands of the board.
Expensive courses are not to be du-
plicated unless for best interests of
state. The board Immediately re-
scinded the order of October 8, 1912.
This bill must now pass the house.
Senator Robinson has introduced a
resolution looking toward the aband-
onment of the state university at
Iowa City. ea
hno h n
daylight closing and five-mile limit
laws with amendments. The house
had already passed them and must
now concur in the amendments. The
daylight closing law now provides for
saloon hours from a. m. to 8 p. m.
The five-mile limit law, as amended.
saves the breweries at Iowa City, de-
fers the taking effect of the law until
after the next general assembly and
provides that the measure shall not
affect Council Bluffs.
The senate has passed the two Bal
kema bills, providing for condemna-
tion OF lands as right-of-way for high
ways and for the transfer of the
present one-mill township road levy
10 the board of supervisors. 1t also
has passed the Thomas bill providing
for the registration of the various
routed highways of the state.
The senate has passed a nonpart-
isan judiciary bill to provide for both
the nonpartisan nomination and cleo
tion OF judges. This is different from
the Klay bill passed by the house and
must be passed now by that body.
Both houses have passed the