Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-19
LEGlsLATuRE MAKES ONE REC
ORD IN ECONOMY COMPARED
TO PREVIOUS SESSIONS.
COMPARISONS DIFFICULT
BECAUSE OF CHANGED BASIS
One Dissraeeful Act Of Assembly Was
Failure &c Confirm Appointment of
Gradner cowles-Record Of Last
Days Work Of Thirty. Sixth General
Assembly.
Republican,


Des Moines, April 19.-When the
legislature adjourned two years ago to-
day it gave orders for the executive
council to fix tax levy that would
bring certain amount for state use
and that tax levy amounted to % mills
This with the tax levies made by the
legislature made 40 mills.
Saturday night the orders were given
which mean a tax levy for all state
purposes of about AS mills for each OF
the two years. All the legislative mil
lage taxes are merged into one state
tax levy except the very small one for
capitol extension.
The actual amount of money involved
in the various appropriation bills, for
the two years, was about S6,5o0,O00.
This with the continuing expenses and
appropriations and fixed charges for
institutions and state activities called
for about eight and a quarter million
dollars in the two year period.
There is difficulty in making a fair
comparison because of the change from
several millage taxes to one state mil
lage tax, and also from the fact that the
tax in biennium does not correspond
to the period of expenditure. Taxes
follow the calendar year but the fiscal
period starts six months sooner. In
other words, one-fourth of the biennial
period for which appropriations are
made comes under the taxation orders
of the previous assembly.
Less Increase Than Usual.
Tn
lied do not show as much increase as
usual. The half million cut off the
board of control institutions is just
A considerable increase in made for
support of the national guard. The
s150,000 given for the foot and mouth
fight was an extra sum. The eXposi-
ton appropriation of $4,000 was out
of the ordinary. The increase in
salaries and number Of persons en-
ployed at the state house was insig-
nifcant. The omnibus appropriation
blu carried about $4,000 more than the
one two years ago and that was all.
The appropriations committees and
the retrenchment and reform commit
tee worked together in perfect harmony
to hold down appropriations and tc
make changes that would mean saw.
ings, and the work was well done. The
pressure for larger expenditures Is one
Of the things always conspicuous and
it was not less this time than in other
years.
One Disgraeeful Act.
The disgraceful act Of the legislature
in refusing to confirm the appointment
Of Gardner Cowles as member Of the
board Of education was done in such a
way as to make 1t impossible to have a
second appointment made and con-
firmed. The full responsibility for the
leaving of a vacancy on the board after
July / next is therefore on the senate
If action had been taken earlier, the
governor could have named another
whose appointment might have been
confirmed. By holding back until the
last day it was made legally impossible
to provide for the contingency.
The vacancy thus created, to take
effect July next, on expiration OF Mr.
Cow1es' present term-his eminent fit
ness having been recognized and ap-
proved by the senate already-is one
for which the senate alone can be held
responsible.
What is in the way Of the governo,
reappointing Mr.. Cow1es when the
vacancy is at hand? Nothing.
The situation has but emphasized the
fact that the matter Of having the state
senate clothed with a veto power by
the confirmation scheme is a mon.
strosity which ought to be ended. Il
has never served any purpose Other
than to enable a few persons to "plaJ
politics" In the game of distribution Of
patronage.
Fails to Get More Money.
One Of the very last fights to ge
more money out OF the state treasur!
was made late Saturday night to ge
the Holbert bill from the house thrr
the senate appropriating $4,000 fol
paying for livestock killed in the wal
on tuberculosis. It failed because o.
only % votes for it, there being scarce
quorum present but the trouble was
that the bill practically authorized the
veterinarians to order killed all dairy
animals found affected with tubercu.
locis and made the state responsible
for the 1oss, so that It would have beer
possible to have made the state liza
BILE for millions Of dollars Of expendi.
ture at once. It was argued that Il
the state is going into the business o,
eradicating tuberculosis in dairy cat.
tie by paying for all animals afflicted
It must set aside an immense fund fol
the purpose.
Additional Legislative Results.
In addition to list Of bills previously
printed the Thirty-sixth general as
senbly passed the following on it's las
day:
Annronriat,on If s74s. 900 for rnisce1.
laneous purposes.
Authorized tax levy to produce 81.
066, $50 a year for state purposes.
Appropriated $4,000 additional fol
rate case fight.
Requiring that all analyses be made