Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-02
|HARD|NG URGES
EXTRA SESSION
GOVERNOR IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
TO LEGISLATURE MAKES
Recommendations,
ADVOCATES REFORMS BY
SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Revision Of Revenue Laws and Over
tapping Of Work Of Commissions
Held to be observation-disclosures Appro-
priation Of 100000. to Meet Cost Of
Inquiry Into Railroad Values.

o
Des MONIES, Feb. 2.-Gov. w. l.. Har-
ding delivered a special message to the
legislature at a joint meeting OF poth
house and senate held in the house
chamber today.
The governor made two specific rec
concentrations as follows:
First That the Legislature y appoint
committees to edit the code, to recon-
mend ways to revise the revenue laws
and to Investigates the overlapping OF
commissions or the work Of public Off
Gals. These committees to report at
an adjourned session.
Second-That the state appropriate
S100, 900 for an investigation as to the
value of the railroad properties IN
Iowa, so as to be in a position to match
the investigations and valuations maze
by the railroads and by the interstate
commerce commission. This sum to pc
expended under the direction OF the
governor and to give him express, all-
thority to call to his assistance any Of
ficer or employee of the state whose
services can be employed to advantage.
In Line With Pledges.
The governor declared that 1--WE are
definitely pledged to reduce the number
Of persons and public bodies now en-
ployed iii the public business. And
further .'we are under definite pledge
toareduce our laws to readable limits.
He said also that revision OF methods
of raising revenue is expected OF the
legislators.
Il am firmly of the opinion that this
legislature as 1t is now composed
owes it to the people of the state to
accomplish something definite and con-
structfve in these matters" said the
governor. ''Revision of methods n OF
raising revenue, reducing the volume
Of laws and elimination of overlapping
activities of different departments ana
officers and abolishings Of departments
and officers whenever possible. -.
After consultation with many mem
bers of the assembly l believe can
suggest method by which this can he
accomplished at practically no ADDED
expense to the state or members OF the
assembly" continued the governor.
"My suggestion and recommends
ton is that you proceed now to make
the necessary appropriations for the
biennial period and to the considera-
ton OF general important measures not
inhering in the matters heretofore dis
cussed, neglecting. as you proceed, no
Eopportunity for repeal OF obsolete OF
unavoidable laws take up the ques
ton of how hest to handle the state
printing and binding and go carefully
Into the-various road me assures wn1cn
are and will be before you - n u ~.
Urges Recess. y
..The question presented is not To-
cal one, nor transitory, but Involves
reconsideration OF fundamental political
and civil rights which should be con-
sidered, debated and voted on in a
spirit of deepest concern for reaching
right result. If you shall give rhese
matters as! know YOU will, the sat-
|tention and study they deserve, your
time will be fully taken up for q rea-
|sonable period. :,
Eat the end Of such period as shall
be reasonably necessary for the dispo-
sitions Of these matters / urge that you
provide for a recess to a day certain
and this recess time be employed IN
investigation Of the larger matters first
touched on herein and in formulating
a definite plan for dealing with them.
II suggest committee from your
membership, selected as you shall de-
termine, to take up the problem OF re-
yising the system of raising revenue,
similar committee to take up the prob
lem Of overlapping authority and the
appointment Jof small number OF
skilled and competent persons, trained
in the law, to edit the existing codes
and to clarity and simplify them. The
result Of their labors can be placed be-
fore the assembly within reasonable
time, say sixty. days, before the date
set for reconvening, and q short ses-
sion thereafter can dispose Of them in
such a manner that we shall have
record Of accomplishment in our Ia
bors and a fulfillment Of our pledges
"As q read our constitution, 1t pro-
h!bits any member of this assembly
from receiving any additional pay Tor
these services in recess, but am con-
ffdent that you are proceeding IN q
spirit which will give no thought to
that, il you shall be convinced that
service to the state can be rendered by
the method proposed" @
Railroad Valuations.
The governor then took up the mat
ter OF making Valuation IT the rail-
road properties in the state. He point
led out by way Of explanation that the
government has ordered the Interstate
Commerce Commission to make val
uation Of all the property of the rail-
ways.
/The act Of congress provides that
this valuation he continued, when
finally established, shall be prirna facie
evidence Of the value Of the property
in all proceedings underline act to reg
ulate commerce as OF the date OF the
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