The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-03-07
AUTOMOBILES and.
R. R. CROSSINGS | }
Number of Locomotive Engineers Ap'
pear Before Railway Committee
and Ask Regulations. ,-t
STOP At RAILROAD CROSSINGS
House Votes for Free Textbooks-Btll
to License Food Establishments
Comfort Stations.

DES MONIES, March "a number
of engineers appeared before the joint
railway committees and plead for the
passage of a law compelling automo-
biles to make full stop or have auto
under full control upon approaching a
railway in order that oncbming trains
may be detected in time to avert a col
lision. The engineers were serious IN
their plea. They stated that nobody
but an engineer knows Of the nervous
strain under which they labor because
of the recklessness of autoists. one
engineer whose engine had killed i've
people actually cried as he plead with
the committee. You men do not know
what a terrible strain engineers are
under since automobiles have become
so numerous. People will make a
dash for crossing when train IS
approaching at full speed and put 1t
up to the engineer to avert a wreck
said the engineer. Representative Fin
ley of Henry county took vigorous eX-
ceptions to the demand of the ensl-
neers and declared that law COM
pelling autoists to stop at every cross
ing would relieve the railways OF all
responsibility should accidents occur.
He urged the passage OF legislation TO
eliminate the grade crossing entirely
and spoke in behalf of his bill which IS
intended to establish rule that the
railroads are to pay the full cost OF
building overhead or underground
crossings ordered by the state railway
commission. The bill under discus
sion by the engineers is H. F. 46, by
Wilson of Louisa, which originally re-
quired the placing of warming signs
at distance Of 200 feet from danger
GUS crossings, and which has since
been amended to include the feature
requiring automobiles to stop before
crossing tracks.
Would Pay for Iowa Building at
Frisco Fair.
Failing to get an appropriation from
the 35th general assembly to be USED
for the erection Of building at the
Panama-Pacific exposition, bunch OF
fellows from the Greater Iowa commits
sion went about over the state getting
commercial clubs to pledge money TO
be used for the purpose. "A dozen
cities contributed an amount sufficient,
the building was erected, the state en-.
tertained hundreds Of thousands OF
visitors in creditable manner. Iowa
carried off numerous prizes and med
ais and after 1t was all over the 36th
general assembly was asked to make
an appropriation to reimburse those
who had contributed and made the
erection of a building possible. With
out such building Iowa would have
cut a sorry figure at the big show. 1t
seems that some Waterloo boosters
Jumped into the limelight at the psy-
chological moment and announced 10
the people of the state that the enter
prising citizens OF that city would
erect a building and present 1t to the
state. Well, the last general assembly
refused to reimburse those cities that
had contributed, putting up as de-
tense the promise made by Waterloo
to erect such a structure. And now
comes Senator Jackson OF the Floyd
Chickasaw district with bill to ap'
propriate $4,000 to pay for the build
ing aforesaid. The Greater Iowa com
mission had charge of the state eX-
hibit at Frisco and after making a
most creditable display. had several
thousand dollars left out OF the appro'
priation voted by the 35th general as
sembly on condition that none OF 1t
was to be expended in the erection OF
a building and this money was Gov
cred back into the treasury. There is
some sentiment favorable to the pass
age of the Jackson bill and an effort
will be made to create more.
House Votes for Free Text Book Plan.
The McFarlane free text book bill
passed the house by practically a