Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-01
MEMBERS DISCUSS HoLDoEGEL
BILL TO ENLARGE POWERS
OF COMMISSION.
ABUSES UNDER PRESENT
LAW POINTED OUT
Senator BaIkema Drawing Up Bill to
Enable Iowa to Take Advantage Of
Federal Aid For Highways-John-
ston Reaetionary Bill May Be Sprung
in House Any Day.
Special to mes-Republican.


Des Moines, Feb. 1.-The first hight
in the senate of the Iowa legislature on
the road issue was precipitated yester-
day when senate file No. IS, known as
the Holdoegel bill, came UP for consid-
Grafton. The senate adjourned al
noon before a vote could be taken.
The debate, however. waXed warm.
Senator Holdeegel presented the Dill.
Ii provides for giving the state high
way commission power to supervise the
work of cuts and fills in counties IN the
matter of grading of roads, which the
present law does not permit. He eN-
planned that the measure is in the IN
terests of economy and efficiency.
Senator Evans, of Bremen county,
voiced the sentiment of the opposition
to the bill when he declared that he
was in favor of giving the county SUI
pervisors the power in these matters.
II believe in permitting the county
supervisors to have good deal to say
as to the grading of roads, he declar-
ed. IF this bill goes thru any person
can tie up road work by appealing to
the state highway commission to pass
on gTdClQS. we ilds c d Souo ShiSSN 49,
this matter in the county supervisors
or the county engineer. What recourse
does the county have if the highway
commission wastes money!"
Senator Balkema, of Lyon county.
chairman Of the senate highway COM
mittee spoke for the bill. He said un-
der the present law the state highway
commission was powerless TO act in
matters Of this kind.
Senator Taylor, of Buchanan county,
who spoke in favor of the bill, declared
that specific instance of an abuse
which the present law permitted had
occurred in his county. A hill near
independence had been cut down at an
expense OF $4,000 which he said did
not require much grading in the first
place.
Senator Price, Of Monroe county, In
PRODUCED a motion to adjourn at this
juncture, which carried, thus postpon-
ing the debate until today.
Bill to Accept Federal Aid.
; Senator Balkema Is now drawing up
a bill which will enable Iowa to take
advantage q the federal aid in road
building al provided for in the federal
aid road law passed July IL, 1915. In
order to meet the government require
ments and secure this federal aid a
state must have a highway commission
or state highway department thru
which the government will work. The
clause in the government bill on this
reads as follows:
The construction work and labor in
each state shall be done in accordance
with it's laws and under the direct SUI
pervision of the state highway depart
ment, subject to the inspection and ap-
aproval of the secretary of agriculture
and in accordance with the rules and
regulations made pursuant to this act. y
The plans. specifications and esti-
mates for road improvements must be
submitted to and approved by the sec
rotary Of agriculture before the work
can proceed.
The Johnston road crowd bill aimed
at the state highway commission may
be sprung in the house most any day
now. 1t was said yesterday to be prac-
tically completed except the title. It's
provisions have not been made public
The friends of the highway commits
sion, who have been working on their