Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-08
IMPORTANT BILL INTRODUCED
LOOKING TO BETTER eusI-
NESS METHODS.
WOULD ENTAIL NO
ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES
Measure Provides Work Shall Be Done
by Present Unsatisfactory Pen.
sion Bill to 30 Passed Without Re-
quirins state Aid eaehers Them
selves to Contribute to Fund.
Special to Times-Repuhlican.

Special to TimeS-Repuhl1can.
Des Moines. March ga very i'm
portant bill looking to practical re-
form in state business management
was presented by Senator Perkins. 1t
creates state board of audit to con-
sist of the auditor Of state, the attor-
ney general or one of his authorized
assistants and the secretary of the ex-
ecutive council or his first assistant,
who shall also be secretary of the
board. The essential feature of the
bill is this:
All bills and claims for money due
from the state of Iowa, TO be paid from
the state treasury, for expenses in
Cured services rendered or for things
furnished for or purchased by any
state employe, officer. commissioner,
board or department, on account of any
state department except the salaries Of
the various officers whose salaries are
fixed by law, shall be approved and
certified by the state board Of audit
before warrants in payment for the
same are drawn by the auditor Of
state. the power existing in or con-
ferred upon the executive council. the
board Of trustees Of the state library
and the historical department Of Iowa,
or upon other state officers, boards of
commissions, to approve or certify
claims or vouchers for any state de-
partment or purpose is hereby trans
ferred to the state board of audit, but
nothing contained herein shall be so
interpreted as to relieve the executive
council Of any duty imposed upon It by
law, except that of auditing and pass
ing upon claims as provided in this
act"
The board Of audit is required to de-
termine as to all claims whether they
are fully and clearly authorized by
law, that the authority for the expense
has been fully exercised, that all legal
requirements have been conformed to,
that the claim is in proper form and
verified and that the charges are reas-
enable. proper and correct. The board
win have no authority for creation Of
a bill against the state. It shall adopt
and formulate rules and regulations.
The bill probably will be followed
by some others suggesting practical
reforms in state business methods,
along the line which 1t was supposed
the committee on retrenchment and
reform was directed to follow two years
ago instead of undertaking to revolu-
tionize the political system of the
state. The fact is that the work OF the
governor and other state officers on
the executive council has become bur-
densome and the more clerical task OF
passing on bills and claims is some
thing that might much better be re-
ferred to a special board. The bill Of
Senator Perkins would merely shift
l,,&f o. l.
cation and not create any new office
OF expenditure.
The teachers pension bill will be-
come law and the policy Of providing
for old age for the teachers long in
service will be fixed for Iowa. The
state will undertake the regulation of
the system but will not. at this time,
be called on for any financial aid.
Representative Grason expects to Sc
cure passage thru the house this week
OF the teachers pension bill. 1t is a
special order.
The bill is meeting with much IA
yor," said Professor Grason. Il have
every reason to believe it will become
law very soon. AS originally drafted
It contained provision for millage
tax to augment the fund out Of which
the annuities would be paid. but that
has been dropped out. and for the
present the law will provide only for
\ the accumulation of a fund from the
, teachers themselves. That will be
sufficient to carry 1t for several years
and afterwards provision can be made
for state aid when the obligations
against the fund become heavy. 1t
will be start in the right direction.
The state could well afford literally to
aid the annuity fund, because it will
In time lessen the demand for addi-
tional normal schools and training.
One reason we need to do so much in
the way Of training teachers is that
we are not keeping our teachers. The
annuity law viii be an incentive to
remain longer in the profession"
What is advertised as final hear
ing before joint committees was held
today on the workmen's compensation
amendment bill by Clarkson. The bill