Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-12
LEGISLATURE PREPARED TO
WHIP FINANCIAL MEASURES
INTO SHAPE.
EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE
ALL INTO ONE SUM
New Plan Might Startle Taxpayers
and Call Forth Explanations to Show
Tax Levy Was Not Douhled-Each
House to Do Some Prunins-Appro-
priations Will Complete Big Work.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, April 12.-In the six
days of this week legislative commit
tees will whip into shape and pass thru
the mill the big appropriation bills and
this will be the completion Of the pro-
gram for the Thirty-sixt general as
sembiy. If this work is done well,
which now seems certain, it will be an
achievement to the credit Of the legis-
! will be able to point with pride to what
they did, thanks to the wisdom and
courage and industry Of a few mem
bers, mainly the older ones. What was
attempted in the way of undoing the
good work Of other legislatures will
look small compared with the re-
organizing Of the finances of the state.
The principal feature Of this pro-
gram as has been pointed out, is the
codifying Of the appropriation laws.
laws. For instance, a good many years
ago the legislature provided that GER
tain department at the state univer-
sity should have certain annual sup
port later another legislature added
more support, again another depart
ment with so much per year, and so
on. until one must look thru score Of
laws to find out what the regular an
nual support Of the university is. And
the same is true at Ames and Cedar
Falls and some extent at other institu-
ton. That is why it has often been said
that it would take a professional ac-
countant to figure out just what is the
cost of the state institutions and de-
partmentS.
To Bunch Support Fund.
Now what is in the minds of a select
group of men on the appropriations
committees is to bunch all the support
for the educational institutions into
one bill and to repeal everything back
Of it. Then it will be open to the world
to know exactly what each institution
is costing and why. This involves
abandonment of some or all Of the
special or millage taxes, or rather
merging these taxes into the general
state tax. Perhaps not all Of this will
be done at once. but part Of the pro-
gram is to be undertaken. 1t remains
to be seen whether the reactionary
group will permit enactment OF bills
that fully carry out the general plan.
The test will come early this week.
! The effect Of this change will be to
make an apparent enormous increase
in the appropriations OF the legislature
and to double the tax levy for general
state purposes. At first this change
will be received with decided shock.
1t involves some quick explanations
and these are likely to arouse suspi-
cion in quarters where there is little
desire to have a clear understanding
Of state affairs. An appropriation OF
three quarters Of a million for the edu-
cational institutions, for instance, may
mean merely that hundred thousand
| is appropriated and the rest is q re-
writing OF old law. If a million is
given for the other institutions it will
mean seven or eight hundred thousand
millage tax shifted into the general
state tax levy and the rest straight
and new appropriation.
| This means that what goes on the
tax receipts as general state levy to
be increased by consolidating there
with the institution levies That calls
for more explanation. But with the
intelligent men Of the state the trans
formation will be understood and be
liked as one we'll calculated to clarity
the situation very materially.
There is some doubt as yet whether
the change can be effected as to the
board of education institutions. though
it is certain to be done as to the board
Of control institutions.
| Cutting Process Necessary.
The cutting out process is given at
tention this week with regard to ap-
preparations. One house or the other
is assigned the duty Of reducing APP
propriations and keeping down the
total 1t is a necessary process for the
needs of the institutions. the needs OF
the state far exceed the possible in
come and it is never possible to give
all that ought really to be given.
| The senate passed the bill to appro-
pirate for the board Of control insti-
tutions and included therein the money
necessary to establish the woman's re-
formatory. But the house committee
recommends this be left out. SO with
the equipment Of the new custodial
farm, which the legislature is likely to
leave without equipment. The house
agreed to the appropriation Of $4,000
| a year for the rural consolidated
schools but the senate cuts 1t to $780,
900. That seems to be about the only
way to get the appropriation bills
| finished.
| One bill Of Importance though not
involving much money. Is to come from
the retrenchment and reform COM
mittee. It is for the appropriations for
clerical and extra help at various
| places in the state. Here is where
several Jobs are going to be lost. The
committee is preparing its budget now.
MAccABEEs ELECT OFFICERS.
Conventions Of Knights and Ladies