Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-23
GATHERED BY THE WAYs1DE

1t was agreed that presidents have
no, been followed thru the years. But
at that time another thing was done
which has been dropped. There was
AN allowance" to each regularly as
signed newspaper reporter at work in
! the legislature for stationery of 50 a
week. Each one was authorized TO
draw from the supply department that
much in pencils, paper knives, etc. But
as a matter of fact the orders were in
most cases taken to Redhead & Wells
lager and discounted for cash. There
has been graft around the state
| house.
1t is matter of common knowledge
that in recent years the wives of mem
bers have been on the payroll as COM
lnittee clerks. The SO a day makes
good pin money for session. 1t is
known that in many cases the children
or other close relatives of members
have had positions in the legislature.
1t is certain that in some cases the
committee clerks have gone to school
in Des Moines while supposedly per-
forming duties rs committee clerks. 1t
is related with what truth the writer
does not know, that one of the sem
ators most vociferous in denouncing
the governor for having referred to the
devious ways of members, had two
daughters on the payroll. practically
doing nothing, during the last session.
One does not need to go back to the
Twenty first or even to the Thirty
first general assembly 10 find illustra-
tions OF what has been happening right
along that can not be defended.
But it is a fact that there Is probably
far less of needless and useless en-
Payment about the state legislatures
today than ever before in the history of
the state. probably less in proportion
to opportunity than at most county
seats, much less than in most other
states
phase OF the subject which has
caused comment, however. is this
The substance of what the governor
called attention to was the employ
nlent of needless help and payment OF
salaries without any return. The evil.
if there is one, is in the fact that the
legislature employs assistants enough
TO do the work when the work is hard
est and consequently when work is
slack some persons have nothing TO
do. The member Of the legislature
will argue. and rightly, that no way
has ever been worked out for avoiding
this confessedly had business method.
Very well. But, on the other hand. the
Keystone committee OF the legislature,
the committee on retrenchnent and
reform, has placed in the permanent
records of the state report. condemn
ing the administrative officers of Iowa
and virtually placing on them the brand
OF grafters, because in their offices the
same state OF affairs exists to a much
less degree The committee report sug-
gests that q corps OF extra clerks" be
employed SUSPECT to assignment 10 any
department where the work is heavy
for the time being. subject 10 being
shlftel! from one office TO another. and
this because OF the fact in some few
offices the number of clerks necessary
in rush times leaves some idle in slack
times. Here then, is the clearly de-
fined issue OF the eontroversy-the rule
Inc Legislature itself has. thru a COM
nittee applied TO the executive depart
rnent o. government ought to be
equally good for the legislative branch.
But as matter OF fact the rule is
practically inpssiole of application
anywhere.
Some minimizing persons have tried
to draw Il sharp contrast between SEN
ate and house in their handling of the
question. The comparison is unfair. az
any one will confess who once visits
the state house and looks over the TWO
bodies In proportion 10 numbers the
house members do not have the bust
ness on hand of the senate members.
y 49, IL 81
how to utilize TO advantage the ser
vices of stenographers. The system
in use in the house is not satisfactory,
nor does II get best results for the
state. Practically every senator needs
a stenogra pher and it is u matter of
economy to the state that they should
be employed And ii has also been
said the house method of selecting
stenographers is all right and the SEN
ate method all wrong. Nothing OF the
sort The house stenographers are not
selected wholly on merit, neither are
the senate ciefhs But in tine great
majority OF cases the clerks are so
selected in both houses and perform
! work that is necessary that the orderly
{ and expeditions dispatch of business
! may go along.
Things are not perfect in the Iowa
state house. or in the government of
the state OF Iowa, but neither are they
notoriously bad and crying out for re-
form. But above all else they are bet
ter than they have ever been before.
| Incidentally. If there were more peo
pie dead, the writer could enbellish
this narrative with a number OF other
incidents worthy Of record.