Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-14
GENERAL INVESTIGATION INTO
SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
CONDITIONS PROBABLE.
THINK EVILS
MAY BE GAINING FOoTHOLD
Nothing Menaeing in Iowa at Present
State College Bill to Come Before
Senate Next Monday - Locomotive
Headlight Bill Thru Both Houses
and Will Become Law.

Des Moines, March IA general
investigation into social and industrial
conditions in Iowa may be the outcome
of the several conferences held in the
office of the governor in regard to the
necessity for an inquiry into vice and
its causes and prevention.
The thought appears to: be quite COM
mon among legislators and Others in
authority that. while in iowa there IS
not apparent any very great need for
drastic measures to keep things IN
order socially, yet there may be the
beginnings of evil systems and the
starting OF wrongs which in time would
grow into something very menacing;
therefore that it is just as well to make
start to head off all Such matters and
prevent the development of any such
system Of evil
L am under the impression said
Senator Doe, who has taken deep in
terest in the matter, that If there is
found TO be need of investigation 1t
should be undertaken in way to make
il thorough. We can not have the time
nor opportunity here while the legis-
lature is IN session 70 do this work
right Nothing could be accomplished
by hasty and superficial inquiry be-
yond affording material for few good
newspaper -stories~,But that Us not
What is needed. There has been. if
anything. too much exploiting of the
matter in the newspapers and too little
real getting down beneath the surface.
The inquiry ought to be a wide one.
perhaps going into industrial and social
conditions and including an inquiry
into divorce as a contributing cause Of
the social evil The statement was made
in Chicago the other day that very
large proportion Of the women leading
evil lives are divorced women If that
is 50 there may be some connection
between the two which should be looked
into. AT any rate if there is to be an
investigation it must be one that will
represent something"
Senator Perkins is. another who il
| deeply interested in the matter. A
conference was held in the governors
rooms yesterday afternoon, TO consider
what should be done. The present com
mittee Of the assembly is one not to
| make an investigation but to decide on
what steps shall be taken to provide
for the proper investigation.
The bill which passed the house,
nonlinally the Klay bill. to direct the
state board Of education to back up in
the matter of control of the college
curriculum at each state institution, is
to be reported TO the senate committee
from a sub committee next Monday
| The senate committee yesterday heard
DR.. Royal in advocacy Of the bill to
order the state board 10 reverse itself
| in the matter Of various chairs in the
homeopathic medical department at
4 Iowa City.
The senate committee on fish and
game has reported favorably bill to
! increase the size of the mesh in fish
nets 10 PA inches straight SO that
larger fish will get thru than at present.
The same committee has reported
against hve-year closed season for
quail
Senator Larrabee yesterday sought to
introduce bill by request to give an
additional appropriation TO the state
board Of health for enforcing certain
sanitary conditions. Senator Mates.
chairman of the appropriations com :
mittee, invoked the rule that it is now
too late 10 introduce any appropriation
bill save thru committee.
The weed cutting bill which passed
the senate yesterday drew fine fire
from those who feared that by making
the abutting property pay for the weed
cutting along the highways it would
work an injustice to many farmers. II
has been stated that as a matter OF
fact the present law as to weed cutting
does not accomplish much because
there is really no way to make the
property owner cut the weeds. But in
the new bills the weeds are cut and the
cost taxed up 10 the property. Ina'
will give life to the law.