Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-09
MUNICIPAL LEAGUE COMMITTEES
FoRMuLArEs LEelsLA.
TIVE PROGRAM.
HAVE NO RIGHTS OR
AUTHORITY NOT GIVEN BY LAW
League viii Ask Legislature to Give
Every City What Amounts to Free
charter-chanse to Be Asked in Ad-
ninistration Of State Laws in Cities
State House News Notes.
Special to rimes-R Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Desi Moines, Dec. "a meeting Of
the legislative committee of the Iowa
League of municipalities was held here
today to plan for the legislation desired
from the thirty-si general assembly
on behalf of the cities of the state
Mayor Glasgow, of Washington. is
chairman of the committee, and others
are Secretary Frank Pierce, of Mar
shalltown; Mayor Mueller, of Daven-
port. and H. w. Byers corporation
counsel for Des Moines.
The association will ask first and
that will give what is called home
rule" for the cities of the state. AS it
is now the cities are regarded as hav-
ing no rights or authority save that
which is given specifically by law.
There are too many restrictions and
restraints, or rather it is not possible
getting at it backwards to give the
cities the freedom they really need for
their development. What is proposed
is that virtually every city of the state
be given free charter They will be
permitted to do all thi. gs properly per-
tanning to munich al life save and eN-
cept the things in the law placed as
restrictions. That will put q stop to
the endless running to the legislature
for special legislation to fit this or that
case. Practically all the cities favor
this reform.
Then there will be a demand for a
change in regard to the duty of en-
forcement of the state laws in cities.
At present this duty falls on the city
officers. They fix the policy to be pur-
sued. The result is that outside issues
creep into the city elections and it is
not possible to select officials purely
on merit. The enforcement of the
liquor laws is one OF these things which
force politics into city affairs. 1t is
proposed to leave to county and state
officials the duty f enforcement of che
state laws.
The committee is framing up the
legislation along these lines and some
others.
The unique and new feature of the
annual apple show for Iowa in the
state house was the contest for a
trophy between agricultural COAc6C
students from Iowa and Nebraska in
judging and naming apples. 1t was held
this morning. Kansas failed to send a
team. The boys of the two competing
teams were: 49,
Iowa-C. w. Clark, Fairfield: B. B,
Jones, LeMars; Glenn Summers, Mall
vern: G. G. Moore, st. Anthony. Ida;
and Y. b. Ii, Shanghai, China.
Nebraska-P. L. Stewart, Blair; c.
w. Smith, Laurel; H. A. Jones. Seward:
o. w. Sjogren, Funk; s. H. Whisenand,
Howard.
The Nebraska boys were coached by
Prof J. r. Cooper, of the state agricul-
tural college at Lincoln.
A fine line of fruit was judged today
by regular judges for the premiums
offered by the state society.
The state horticultural society con-
tinued it's program for the day, and
this evening will have banquet.
Statistics in regard to the schools of
Iowa and the work of the past year are
just now for first time available. A
compilation by Frank d. Joseph, assist
ant state superintendent, shows the
following facts regarding Iowa COM
mon schools for 1914:
Total amt paid teachers. $40 sos, 1854
Total all school purposes. 1857, 025.A5
Value school houses. $3.50. 34,24S.130
Total enrolment of pupils 517,559