Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-02-16

ment, employment and promotion over
other persons OF equal qualification
Under andgby virtue 81 th!s law many
of the employees Of the senate have
been hired " no are veterans OF the
civil war, and range in age from 69 TO
so years, and while still able to per-
form work of the kind required OF
them, being somewhat weakened by
age and infirmity, may not always De
able to be on duty al all times when
required; and while the committee De
lieves that the work of these door
keepers could probably be performed
by much smaller number, II younger
men We're employed, we do not believe
that the senate, or the people of Iowa.
are ready TO abandon the provisions OF
the old soldier preference law. We DO
believe, however that the work re-
CURED of these doorkeepers can be
we'll and efficiently done by one door
keepers and seven assistants OF the
same class as now employed.
Too Many Committee Clerks.
Ninth. We find that there are en-
ployed by the senate fifty committee
clerks, and that one OF these has been
assigned to each senator. That the
present statute is so worded that in
our opinion 1t does not contemplate the
use of these employees in other work
than that which pertains 10 the par
ticular committees for which they are
appointed. We find that almost with
out exception they are being used in
part to assist the senators in their
private and business orresrondence-
We believe that under the present
arrangement of committees as to their
number. time of meeting, and the con-
sequent demand upon eacn senator's
time, the number Of committee Clerks
could not be materially reduced with
out impairing the wrotl that the senate
has to 90. But we believe that an
arrangement can be devised whereby
the work of the senate roald be Wen
and eXpeditiously Cone, AMI the SER
vices of a Very considerable number
of these clerks be dispensed with. We
do not believe that The working out OF
such plan N detail comes within the
purvlew of the duties IF this commit
tee and the purpose 81 its creation, but
We submit the following outline OF
Sugs lion and recommend that the
senate use this, or similar outline,
to aid them liz devisiug ana adopting
such a working arrangement as part
of the rules of the senate: such as Will
meet the situation and save unneces-
sary expenditure.
Too Many Committees.
An examination Of he organization
of the senates Of a number of states
mas convinced us that oar present or
ganization OF committees is burden
sine and the number thereof is un-
necessary. We believe that all the
standing committees now existing in
this body may readily De grouped into
seven general heads, which might DE
named; state finance. judiciary. public
utilities, industries. pubic welfare,
governmental affairs a2d appropria-
lions; and when 50 grouped, an ar
rangement becomes II once apparent
whereby the entire committee work
can De included within the reasonable
scope OF probably not to exceed
twenty-one committees. We suggest
that the membership 81 the senate De
so assigned TO these committees that
each member viii not oe included in
The membership OF more than four or
five OF these committees. And we fur
Their recommend that II sucn plan as
this Is followed, the chairman Of each
committee organize his committee into
Permanent sub-committses for the DIFF
ferenl lines OF wora coming within the
purposes OF his particular division.
we believe that If such a plan IS
worked out in detau Ind ADOPTED by
the senate, that the work now done
oy committee clerks could ne well and
efficiently handled by q ,orps OF ste
nogra piers under the direction Of an
expert. an experienced person, familiar
with bill drafting and It's -eQuiraments
and that il probably Mould be unnec-
essary u employ more 1nan twenty
;lve such steEograp piers fo- the con-
duct az the WORK OF tneir department,
with efficiency and dispatch
No Fau. With Service.
Your committee desires 10 say in
the matter Ct the foregoiag Items o.
help, which il reports 70 you as un-
uecess 2ry. that il has In its lnFestisa-
ton found no fault with Inc kind Of
seTtice these employees yere rendering
70 the senate and does not wish It's
report 10 Re construed rs a reflection
lYou them OF the.r services. We found
them, without exception. 80 re honest
ready and willing 10 perform all duties
assigned them but their yices are
not needed - secure thorough ard
efficient adnlristrati Of ne affairs
II the senate. and by dispensing Win
their services ard the adcpties % ne
recommendation Of this committee,
we believe the state % Iowa can oe
saved very considerable sum o.
money at each legislative session
Your committee further reporting
wishes to say hat we have not found
in our investigation anything 70 !nGi-
cate that any office or position has
been created n he Organization If the
present senate or retained from
prior organization for political rea-
sors; but We ind the far 20 be that
this senate has fewer employees than
were employed AZ tbs last session.
The members If this committee de-
sire to express their appreciation Of
The fair treatment given them by the
press representatives. WHO ATTENDED the
meetings OF the committee. and the
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