Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-26
ROAD LEGISLATION.

The movement to abolish the state
highway commission is said to have
made sufficient progress at Des Moines
TO warrant an organized campaign in
its behalf 1t seems safe to predict
that whatever the legislature may do
with this reactionary proposal. re-
peal bin will never get past the veto
of Governor Clarke. But 1t would be
very poor advertising for Iowa if the
repeal project should go thru the
lower house where It's supporters are
said TO he especially numerous. In
South Dakota, where the state high
way commission is a far less effective
body than in Iowa, the news that one
house had voted for repeal caused
such storm OF protest that the move
ment was abandoned.
The principle Of state supervision of
county road Improvement involves
sound economy. AS a rule the road
problems of the various counties are
similar and can be solved by uniform
methods. Surely it is good economy
10 give each county the benefit OF
standards whose value has been DEM
onstrated TO the satisfaction of state
experts. A county road system Is not
a matter of local concern alone. IL
the convenience OF the state is con-
sidered the system Of one county must
dovetail with the systems of adjoin-
ing counties. This can be insured
| only thru the regulation Of a CEN
trail body. Last, but not least, the
| state commission is an ever present
incentive TO money saving on the part
of local Improvement bodies. 1t is a
! large part Of the state boards bust
ness to be familiar with the cost OF
read and bridge construction and 10
point the way TO reasonable expendi-
ture Of the funds in the various coun-
ties.
II is likely that the work Of the pres
emit state highway commission would
not pass a 100 per cent examination
as to efficiency and economy. No doubt
! the board has made mistakes. BY and
large however, there can be no doubt
that Il has served the cause OF eff
cheney and economy. A farmer in
Kossuth county recently testified that
the state board saved that county
$4,000 In the single item OF concrete
bridge construction last year. Like
testimony as to the effectiveness OF the
commissions influence in bridge con-
struction has come from other coun-
( ties Also there have been complaints
from a number of counties, due for the
most part 70 reluctance OF local Off
Gals to accept dictation from higher
up. In sone instances local dissatis-
faction may be attributed mainly TO
local pride Of opinion. In others ii
can be traced directly to interference
with local graft.
Even II the present commission were
not rendering satisfactory service
even II case Of incompetency or dis
honesty could be made out against it
the remedy would not lie in abolishine
the body. The remedy in that case
would be found in the appointment OF
a better board.
It is not expected that the existing
road law viii emerge from the present
Legislature unchanged. II certainly
should be amended to permit the is-
suance Of long term bonds under coun-
~ auspices for permanent read III
provenent The creation OF a stat
road fund to be used In stimulatint
. permanent road construction would b.
! in line with the course OF states wher'
, progressive good roads policies prevail
| It liz possible, too that the road levie
an at present prescribed might be re
, adjusted to advantage. But the stat
t highway commission will have to stay
/ It Is the keystone OF the good road
arch in Iowa.