Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-09-15
Iona Newspapers
THE CITY HALL FLAG.

Fluttering from the flag staff of the
city hall are the torn and tattereo
| remnants of what was once Unltec
States flag. Exposed to the elements
day and night. this once beautiful stal
spangled banner, is now but few
faded ribbons.
1t does not speak very highly for
city to permit Old Glory to fly from Its
municipal building in such condition
Over half hundred stalwart young
men from Ames are now on the Texas
border drilling in hot sands and facing
heavy rainfalls for the honor of that
flag--yet back in their home town the
city unfurls from it's public building a
flag that has been permitted to fade
and tear. The soldiers of, '6l passed
thru untold hardships for the honor OF
that flag yet should they lift their eyes
to the flag staff of the city hall. it
could not but bring a pain to their
hearts to see the condition their coun-
try's flag has been allowed to come to-
1t is sacred duty to fly Old Glory
from a citys public building. Custom
provides that the flag shall be lowered
at sunrise and property cared for. The
patriotic organizations of the city
should let their patriotism demand that
Old Glory be given better care and kept
in better condition on the city hall.
BONDS HAVE LEGAL LIMIT.
LGuthrle Guthrian.1
Iowa people have always been afraid
of bonded Indebtedness. when our state
constitution was adopted in 1857, the
abuses of the unlimited privilege of
public bond issues in Illinois and other
new states which had voted large sums
as inducements to railroad building,
was much talked of and to safeguard
the rights of the newcomers, proVi-
sion was inserted in our state consti-
tuition limiting the Indebtedness OF
counties or other political or munich
pal corporations to per cent of the
assessed value of its property. That
provision still stands and no bonds can
be issued by Iowa counties in excess OF
this limitation All this talk about con-
fscating Iowa farms by county road
bond issue is ''tommyrot' it can not
be done. The average farm in Guthrie
county is assessed. we believe. at less
than $50 per acre. Five per cent Of
this would be SO per acre If this were
ruIN Iueu up lItp Ten iIStaillIieIilS, ~
would amount to 80 cents an acre, or
if. thirty year bonds were issued it
would amount 70 10 cents an acre. Iowa
farms will not confscated by that
size of burden.
Shall the people vote their road AMI
bridge bonds or shall the supervisors
issue them? That is the real question.
ROAD PREPAREDNESS.
Waterloo Courier.l
Ii is reported by the office Of pub
lie roads of the department of ugri-
culture that thir:y-fou" 5tates have
up to the present outlined in some
form a system of main trlnk lines 20
be built under the new law. This.
the bureau SAYS. rs an ,augu-y for
the success of the federal air road
plan just inaugu-ated."
This is a very good start. indeed.
and if Iowa ,is no. already included
in the list of prepared states, it is to
be hoped that she will take steps in
that direction without delay. The
real test of the success Of the Bank
eadShackleford bill as practical
piece of roads legislation lies, after
all. with the states. 1t will not be a
success unless the states cooperate
and use the funds in building a sys-
tenn of roads that is in fact national.
II the states are goiil-; to handle the
funds they receive from the federal
treasury in pork barrel fashion. dish-
ing it out in small! sums II widely
scattered communities, lit1le good will
result therefrom and the purpose Of
the bill will be defeated.
There will naturally be sharp rivalry
among different counties for a share
Of the federal aid. bu. il must, be ex-
pended from the larger viewpoint of
the state and nation # II rs not badly
spent or in effect wasted