Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-11
DIES MONIES CUTS RATES
City Council Reduces Charge for
Electric Lights and Power
in Capital.
SMALL CONSUMERS TO COME
tFrom a Staff Correspondent

Vt rom n starr correspondent
DIES MONIES, March 1O.--(Special Tel
egram. )-After long fight over the mat
ter. the city council of Des Moines today
reduced rates for electric lights and
power In the city and secured agreement
from the companies.
The reduction affects chiefly the street
lights and the large users and no agree
ment has yet been reached on lights for
the residences.
A committee of the manufacturers rec
commended that the present rates for
power for factories be retained
Farmers Organize Against Roads.
One Of the strange anomalies of the sit
uation in Iowa is an organization of
farmers In the eastern part of the state
primarily for the purpose of off-setting
the movement for paved roads in the
state. A meeting was held at Cedar
Rapids and another is to be held at an
early date in Des Moines for the purpose
Of organizing to look after the interests
Of the farmers The chief purpose is to
stop the road-building propaganda. The
claim is that the scheme for paved roads
proceeds largely from the automobile
owners in the cities and towns and that
the burden of cost will fall largely upon
the farmers IL there is any great expen-
diture. They plan to force halt in the
movement. The farmers favor good roads
and betterment OF the roads in all pos
sibIe ways and especially support the
efforts of the highway commission and
other bodies to have all road work we'll
done but they say they are opposed to
paving country roads unless some plan
is made whereby the residents of the
cities and towns will pay their share.
Would Improve the Colleges.
1t is anticipated that in a short time
there will be made public report of a
special committee of college men on a
survey of the state colleges of Iowa
which will recommend very material
changes In methods and result finally In
a vast Improvement in conditions at the
colleges. 1t is we'll known that there is
far too great expense connected with the
various colleges which the state supports
The chief purpose In having the survey
made at the request of the State Board
of Education was to open the way for
reforms long needed, but on which expert
advice was desired first Some of the
betterments suggested win probably meet
with much opposition. The board has all
ready been much hampered in it's work
by reason OF political influences making
Roadway against changes.
Cost of Living Going Up.
The State Board of Control has this
week made large purchases OF foodstuffs
for the various state institutions includ-
ing a million or more pounds Of meat
and many barrels of sugar. 1t is found
that the consumption OF sugar at the
various institutions is on the increase,
and that nearly 1000 pounds will be
needed for the next year. The supplies
arc purchased on bids that are open 10
the world. as required by law. but Iowa
jobbers handle most OF the groceries,
while the big packers get most of the
contracts for meat. 1t is found that
generally the cost of food for the insti-
tutions increases right along.
Success ms N CO-Operatfve.
The most remarkable success has fol-
lowed the work OF the pioneer co-opera-
tive association OF the stateAthe Rock
well Cooperative company. in Cerro
Gordo county. The annual meeting re-
Gently held was the twenty-seventh. The
increase in aggregate business done last
year was 1889. and the cost OF operation