Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-03-30
tBy George Gallarno)


has in its charge the recommends
lions made by Governor Harding, at
the time OF his inauguration, has de-
cided to let the matter go by default.
A subcommittee of the retrenchment
and reform body, which was detailed
several weeks ago to prepare and
draft bill looking to the consolida-
ton and rearrangement is dead. It
means that the committee has decided
that the time of the present session
is too short to give the important
questions involved the proper investi-
cation and study. 1t means further
that the reform body will, during the
time intervening between the date of
the adjournment of the 37th assembly
and the converting of the 3Sth, 60 thor
oughly through all the Offices and de-
partments of state in detail and will
present to the new assembly their
recommendations. r.
May Follow Lead of Illinois.
Members of the committee who
have talked of the matter declare
themselves as greatly impressed with
the work carried forward by the ILL
nois, legislature, under the leadership
of Governor Lowden, and are plan
ming the Encouragement and reorgan-
ization of the Iowa government along
the lines laid down by her sister state.
In a general way they will work to
the end of placing all the activities OF
the state in charge of four depart
ments, presided over by the governor.
the secretary of state, the auditor of
state and the state treasurer. Under
these four heads all state work will
be co-ordinated and consolidated. I'm
der law passed by the 35th general
assembly the committee has authority
for pursuing its activities between
sessions. The members do not draw
any extra pay for their labors but are
allowed their expenses while engaged
in work for the state. The committee
Is composed Of Senators Kimball,
Chase, Foskett, Schrup and Voorhees,,
and Representatives Hall, Johnston Of
Humboldt, McFerren, Rogers and
Bailey Kimball is chairman of the
ways and means committee in the
senate; Chase is chairman of the judi
ciary committee and Foskett is chair
man Of the appropriations committee;
of the House members Hall is ways
and means chairman, McFerren is
judiciary chairman and Johnston is
head of the appropriations commit
tee. Senators Voorhees, and Schrup
and Representatives Rogers and
Bailey are the democratic members of
the committee, named by the president
of the senate and speaker of the house.
Rate Law Repeal in the House.
Another radical move in the house
is forecasted by the prediction that
the Rogers bill proposing the repeal
in its entirety of the present fire rat
ing bureau law, will 60 through that
body with eight or ten more votes
than the required constitutional ma
jority. The Rogers bill is on the
for action tomorrow, placed
there without recommendation. At
the same time bill presented by MIL
Ter of Boone, and having for ito OBJ
ject the adjustment Of the present
rating law and the creation Of state
rating bureau in its stead. was sent
to the calendar with recommendations
for its passage. Tho friends of the
Miller bill, and the author himself.
have discovered many serious ob3ec-
tons to the creation of state de-
partment for fixing rates at this time.
They are nevertheless in earnest for
The repeal of the law a. 1t now stands
and will use their efforts to put the
Rogers bill over. II they are success
hui in this It il likely Representative
Miller will withdraw his bill from
further consideration by the house.
Teachers Pension Loses Again.
The Shortess bill proposing to cre-
lte q pension fund for retired school
teachers in Iowa, failed of passage in
The house, with but three votes less
han the constitutional majority. The
author who had followed the same
to defeat in the 36th general
said he was disappointed at
he result, but not discouraged, and
If he is member of the next
legislature the bill will again be in
reduced. Before the bill went down
IN defeat this time it had been
SO as to provide for an ap-
of $4,000 from the state
treasury instead Of $150,000 as orig
nally provided, and that no teacher
under 60 years Of age could take adj
vantage Of it, and not then unless the
last ten years of teaching had been
n Iowa schools.
Other Bills Defeated.
The bill by Representative Tucker,
If Clinton county, giving cities au-
.hority to bid against contractors for |
street work and to do the work by
lay labor, was defeated in the house
litter long consideration. The bill had |