Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-03-09
(By George Gallarno.)

= (By George Gallarno.)
Des Moines, Ia, March 6-(SpeciaD
Following a recess of ten days the
37th general assembly reconvened at
ten o'clock today and the members
entered at once on the strenuous la
bors that will conclude their session
sometime during the first half eof
April. The members found awaiting
their attention close to 800 measures
Of 1873 that have been introduced in
both houses. BY far the most i'm
portant of the bills awaiting consid-
Grafton is the highways committee
road measure, presented some time
since In the house and which has been
set for consideration by that body on
Friday of the present week, ,a.
Il ~ Amendment to Come First.
When the road bill is reached on
the house calendar, as outlined, the
first movement will be to substitute a
bill prepared by representatives Ell
wood, Of Howard county, and Mackie.
of Benton. The substitute has been
introduced as an amendment to the
original measure and will thus re-
ceive full consideration on its merits.
It is fundamentally different from the
committee bill in two things. The
first is that it will favor and permit
the issuance of long time bonds in
road and bridge construction, and the
second that it sustains the present
highway commission of three men,
bers, located at the seat of the state
college, at Ames. No matter what
may be said or done regarding other
provisions of the two measures, it
seems certain the final attitude of the
house members will be hinged around
these two items, with the bond ques-
ton largely in the lead. Outside of
these matters the original bill and the
amendment run along in compare
lively smooth grooves. ILL.,. ~,
49,, Accept Government Aid. 81
Both measures accept the proposal
of the United States government of
extending financial aid to the state for
the construction OF permanent roads.
The committee bill abolishes the COM
mission, creating in its stead state
highway commissioner. who is to be
civil engineer. The amendment re-
tains the commission as It exists at
present Under the committee bill the
highway commissioner will have his
Office at the seat Of government in
Des Moines. The amended bill keeps
the commissioners at Ames.
AS to expenses of administration the
committee bill authorizes a salary of
$4,000 a year for the single commits
sioner, and gives him an allowance of
not to exceed $4,000 year for cler-
ical and other operating expenses.
The Ellwood- Mackie measure provides
that the operating expenses of the
highway commissioners shall not ex-
coed three per cent Of the total re-
ceived by the state in automobile fees,
which It is estimated will reach about
$4,000 year.
Both bills would abolish the posi-
lions of district engineers as provided
for under the present law.
In the sections fixing the duties Of
the commission there is not a marked
OF wide difference in the two bills ex-
cept that the committee bill gives
more authority to boards of SUPER
visors and township trustees than
they at present exercise, while the
amendment permits the commission
ers to retain the strong hold they now
have on county ROAD affairs.
+ Provisions ~ to Bonding. o..
The issuance Of bonds for road or
bridge work is absolutely forbidden
by the committee bill, but under It
supervisors may issue warrants in
payment for emergency work in an
amount which will anticipate not
more than so per cent of the esti-
mated road revenue for the ensuing
year. The amendment would permit
bond issues. J! t!jt -l-1ts.' ;
Both bills make provisions for ,ap-
pointment, by the boards of super
visors, of competent county engineers,
the committee measure saying that
the county shall employ an exper-
fenced engineer who shall be en-
p1oyed for a period not exceeding one
year and at such compensation as
may be fixed by the board of super
visors, to be paid out of the county
fund" The Ellwood-Mackie bill says:
THE board of supervisors of each
county shall employ from time to time,
q competent engineer and such a..
sistants as may be necessary" at COM
pensation fixed by the board and paid
out Of the county fund. 81 81
Bridge or culvert construction cost
ing $500 or less can be let by contract
or cared for BY day labor, under the
committee bill, while expenditures ex-
ceeding $500 must be let by bid and
contracts Of $4,000 or more must be
approved BY the highway commits
sioner. The amended bill provides
that contracts Of $1,000 or less may be
let by contract or privately at a cost
not exceeding the engineers estimate;
contracts of $1,000 or more must be
advertised and il all bids are rejected
the work may b done by day labor
- q eon% MT ovcn~6fn0 tho 1nvaaf hid