Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-04
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
DOES NOT FEAR. ADVERSE
ROAD LEGISLATION.
POSITION BACKED BY
ABUNDANT MATERIAL
Commission Believes Itself in Strong
Position Before Legislature - Pitt
Crowd Backing Up in Its Position on
Proposed Reactionary Legislation
Committeeship Contests.
pecial TO Times Republican.

!
Des Moines, Jan. At the leSisia-
ture makes mistakes in the matter OF
road legislation this session it will not
| be for lack of information on the roads
question. There is an abundance Oh
material with reference to road condl-
lions in Iowa at hand for the law
makers to study. Most of them are
coming to Des Moines with shreWd
idea of what the people back home
| want or don't want in the way Of
roads.
The state highway commission,
which has just filed it's report with
Governor Clarke, has great fund OF
information as to roads and bridges,
their cost, the materials available for
their construction. and in fact almost
every detail in regard to the work
which has been worked out by eX-
pert engineers. The good roads COM
mission appointed by Governor Clarke
also has collected a valuable fund OF
information relative to the roads and
road conditions in Iowa. In the state
law library printed matter with refer
ence to roads has been collected from
many sources and filed away in antici-
patton of demand for it on the part
of the lawmakers when the legislature
meets.
Commission in Strong Position.
Members of the state highway COM
mission appear to feel confident that
the commlssions work VIII be suS-
tanned by the general assembly. The
cooperation which the commission has
received from supervisors since the law
mas Decvue more generally understood
and since it's workings have evidenced
its purpose will place the commission
and the highway law in a different
attitude in the eyes of the lawmakers
than was the case two years ago, men,
bers say.
AS the speak ership fight draws near
er to caucus time it is being claimed
that the road issue Isl not so important
a factor as has been claimed. Pitt
whose friends claim for him the lead
over all other candidates, is the ac-
knowledged leader Of the Johnson road
crowd which fought the highway COM
mission two years ago. And yet his
election to the speakership does not
mean any reaction in road matters, his
supporters claim.
1t is expected that the speakership
fight will center on two men before
Friday. Possibly Pitt .Elwood,s Neff
and Shortess may all 60 into the eau
Gus with a substantial following. Mem
or Shortess may be beneficiaries in
case of too close a vote between Ell
wood and Pitt.
Committeeship Contests.
Senator Glen +. rkimball, OF Coun-
ell Bluffs, may head @the ways sand
means scommittee in the senate of the
Thirty-seventh general assembly. He
served on this committee both in the
Thirty fifth and the Thirty-sixth gem
eral assemblies. Out Of eighteen men,
bers who make up this committee there
are seven former members in the pres
ent senate. Senator Arney, Of Mar
shalltown, also served on this COM
mittee in the last two general assem-
blies and will undoubtedly be men,
Der Of it again this year.
He is being mentioned as chairman
of the appropriations committee in the
senate or possibly president pro tenn.
Seuator D. C. Chase, Of Webster City,
is being talked of as head Of the jul
dietary committee. He is also an ex-
uleLuuST VI lAllS SolAlullllSC
having served on it in the past two
sessions.
Senator Herbert I. Foskett, of Shen-
andoah, who was a member Of the APP
preparations committee two years ago,
is another man who is being men,
toned in connection with the chair
manship of the appropriations commit
tee. .tsr-sGtn
The committee memberships will not
be announced officially until the Sec
ond Monday or possibly the second
Tuesday of the session. The legislature
usually adjourns following the inaug-
uration on Thursday of the opening
week until the following Monday or
Tuesday. This gives the officers OF
both branches opportunity for making
up their committees and for other de-
tails Of organization which are not
possible in the preliminary arrange
ments.