Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-03

i
named informally last summer and
then to have the. bills audited by the
state executive council and it may be
the executive council will still be left
with a power to audit the bills and
check the expenditures and secure a
| final report. This bill is in accord
with the plans which were laid at the
| first meeting where the whole plan was
conceived at san Francisco last April.
| 1t is believed the house will not at
| tempt to still further scale the allow
ance down.
| The house committee on suppress
sion of the intemperance has sent the
bill to repeal the entire mulct law to
a sub committee consisting of Carton,
Sawyer and Doze to be considered.
This sub committee has thus far got
no further than to decide that 1t VIII
recommend that when the bill Is
passed on by the entire committee 1t
will be by secret ballot. AS the house
has already decided there must he
roll call in the committee even this
decision may not stand.
\ bin Of wide interest turnout the
state has been introduced by F'arr OF
Woodbury.. relating to construction OF
electric lines in the state. The bill
provides that
The board of railway commission
ers shall. within ninety days after the
taking effect of this act. prescribe rules,
regulations and standards for the in
stanation. construction and reconstruct
ton Of all electrical wires, fixtures APP
paratus, appliances and work of any
telegraph. district telegraph. telephone,
electric light electric power, electric
transmission line, electric street rail-
way. or electric interurban railway,
operated within the state Of Iowa and
publish the same in pamphlet form Tor
distribution. They shall, from time TO
time have power to make such changes
in such rules. regulations and stand
ards as they deem advisable.
The board is given the power and
duty of ordering the removal of all
electrical work constructed or main
tanned in violation of their rules and to
provide for the enforcement OF the or
ders The board is 10 employ an cleo
trician as a chief inspector and assist
ants necessary TO enforce the rules and
fix all their salaries. All city ordi-
nances affecting these transmission
lines must conform to the regulations
of the board. The board shall have full
Jurisdiction over the manner of all
electrical truction in all cities and
towns having no ordinances thereon
or where the standards do not conform
TO the state regulations. all appeals
from any local order shall be TO the
state board In case of failure to con-
form 10 the regulations fine Of $1,000
party.
The only real sensational feature of
the investigation by the senate graft
committee was the exclusion Of the re-
porter after his first exhibition Of mis-
reporting of the committee proceed
inss. There was such protest that
when the committee met yesterday
promises were made Of at least fair
accuracy on the part Of all who cared
to hear the testimony.
The committee Is proceeding in reg
ular way to find out what various
persons have to say about their own
Jobs and especially about the other
jobs For instance, Custodian Duck
worth was before the committee yes
terday and he told of FIVE places which
in his Judgment were not needed. One
was an extra policeman. the legisla-
ture appointed. in place Of four he had
the previous session, but he said this
one was not needed. He referred to
two janitors. one for each house, he
| thought could be dispensed with, but
| they were on the legislative payroll. He
| referred to two of the office janitors
whose positions We're defined for them
! by the last legislature, and he thought
| they could be discharged without harm.
Cross examination developed that
neither one was subject TO the orders
of the custodian.
Practically nothing new has been de-
veloped as to the positions about the
state house or the legislature. The leg
iislature assigns to each sta.e office or
group of offices tlnitor end they are
on a general paN'ol. Then the GUS
todian has force of mis- own. Then the
Legislature makes up a special payroll
of its own. There is lack of harmony
and cooperation between the three
sets of work ers.
1t is the intent of the committee so
they say, to make a pretty thorough
| investigation of the whole situation
and report that will show just the
! extent to which the legislature has
been providing for unnecessary help, If
ct all. and to place before the people
of the state the exact facts regarding
the whole subject. But the widely dis
seminated information that the COM
mittee has found certain places un-
necessary or discovered certain graft
Is hardly accurate.
! The senate appropriations committee
will recommend for passage in the next
day or two bill appropriating $4,000
for Iowa exhibits at the Panama Pacifi.
exposition.
The committee held a lengthy ses-
sion yesterday afternoon to consider a
measure appropriating s125,O00 for the
exhibit, which would defray also the
cost Of constructing the building
The majority of the members op-
posed the bill in it's original form, with
the result that the appropriation pro-
vided was trimmed $4,000. A vote was
not taken yesterday, but all members
agreed to vote for a $4,000 appropri-
alton.
On instruction from the committee,
Chairman Savage requested the sub
committee. composed of Taylor Cas-
well and Hilsinger, to draft substitute
bill for the one under consideration.
Senator Caswell already has started
the task Of preparing the new measure.
It will be left to the subcommittee
members to name the specific amount
for each exhibit. They have, however
secured information from the commit
| A4& s.of, IL