Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-20
COMMITTEE DECIDES TO PRESENT
SEQUENCE OF BILLS ON
SUBJECT.
ONLY. WAY TO ESCAPE DEFEAT
OF ALL LEGISLATION
Chairman Balkera Explains Problems
Confronting COMMITTEES and Plans for
Putting Bills Thru formulation
Measures Agreed Upon and County
and Township Work Nest in Order.
;pecial 10 Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moinrs, Feb. 20.--Not before, on
any subject that has come before the
been put In so much hard ana con-
scientious work, as on the problem OF
better legislation for highways In Iowa.
Two large committees have held their
regular meetings at the state house
and a large subcommittee has held
from a dozen To fifteen meetings down
town. at night. each meeting lasting
until from 1890 TO II O'Clock. Scores
OF other meetings will be held.
Member. Of the Legislature have re-
ceived hundreds Of letters and petitions
and protests, and marked copies OF
pupers, and copies Of reports, and an
infinite variety OF views are Expressed
therein out of it all there Is eApcc-
tntion that something most exceheNt
win be secured. First Of the biils rs
practically ready for action; other oiils
Win follow in due time.
The plan Of having the foundation
bill. relating to the administration OF
the road work, in bill separate from
the others. waN entered upon after que
consideration and with unanimity, so II
is declared. II there was TO be an ON
nlbus biii, embracing iii the 'a'!"hs
matters deemed by the committee AZ
valuable. those who object. one TO ohe
feature and others to another. Wouid
combine, :i58tr S.!eyanc"s ana n"fea'
All legislation. And no II has Deeh
that separate bills are TO be intronuced.
In ,his way the best OF all IN" pi'is
can b. 10, fairly before the general
assembly. .#
Too Many visws.
err all the persons who are desirous
NJ Improvement OF our road laws and
I'm favor OF better roads. were or one
mind in regard TO what we ought 10
DO" sa!d Chairman Nicholas EalkeMa.
os the committee working for better
Iey,,la,ion. "a satisfactory bill would
nave been reported long ago for
law under which the highways for
,u.,nees and pleasure could be con.
structed properly But when II comes
,o getting together a hundred men 10
consider the subject we md we have
a hundred definite and personal IDEAS.
all Of which must be considered ana
contendcd with before any one reai
thing can be done. That was the STU
alton we found wye had to meet when
we started In on the problem OF pet
ter legislation for roads.
Now AZ 10 the manner IN "hich
we have gone apont 1t TO work OUT
something so that we can get toGstheT
for roads legislation. We started ~
With n plan OF having every member
present give his opinion win reier-
encc to what Ii necessary ana alSo as
IN the manner OF getting II. After eacn
mem Der had given his opinion some
one would move. for instance. that we
start by a disposition OF the subject
os a highway commission. ana Wheh
that had been taken care OF TO the
| extent st was decided such "a commits
sion is necessary. we would proceed
! to consider and outline the duties OF
! the board Of fupervisors. ana theh IN
similar manner proceed with the board
! OF trustees. Then Wak brought up the
auction Of classification Of roads and
! II was decided that from 10 10 10 per
cent OF the highways should be desig-
mated AZ county roads and the rest un-
der the supervision OF township au-
| thoritics In this manner we worked
out and developed the foundation, 30
far as the committee has gone. for the
.uperstructurc on which the highways
can be built and provided that In time
the township roads can be brought up
70 the perfection OF the county roads
and he placed under county super
| Visions.
Other Questions to Follow.
THE committee Is now ready To take
up the further work Of road Legislation
the matter Of taxation. Issue OF state
or county bonds, and other provision
for the higher development or roads.
'rhe committee expects that from four
to six bills VIII yet be introduced carry
ing various phanes OF the highway
question: and II Is hopcd and intended
that before the committee snail feel
that they have completed their Worl:
they Will have given the general as
genbly an opportunity 10 vote on road
bills that Will satisfy the enthusiasts
OF the highest order
| "Ope trouble we have had is that
men have not been willing to permit
the legislature TO work out the prob
lem carefully, and they have, In some
cases. expected that everything should
|