Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1917-01-12
Biennial Session PreIiminaries
Have Been Disposed OF.
new GOVERNOR TAKES HOLD
Program Of Efficiency and Economy to
be Followed Will Aid Leg.
tslators in Handling Appropriation
Measures-SOme Of the Matters
Which Will Come Up for Action
Talk of Disposal of Several Boards
and Commissions.
(By George Gallarno)

Des Moines, Observation-Disclosures
both houses organized and the prellm-
mary work all out of the way, includ-
ing the hearing Of the final message
of Governor Clarke to the lawmakers
and the inaugural address by his sue
cessor, Governor w. l.. Harding, the
9th general assembly of the state Will
find itself, at the end of its first week
of life, all primed and ready for the
three months of strenuous work be-
fore it,
Previous to the assembling Of the
legislators at Des Moines for the
opening Of the session there was heard
more or less talk of new deal In
Iowa law-making; there was heard
more or less Of talk that 9O-day or
even a 6O-day session would be use
less; that the thing to do was to take
hold of the business of state govern
ment, go at it with energy, finish the
Job, and then about tax-paying time,
the first Of March, vote to adjourn
and say goodbye to Des Moines, hav-
ing made a new record for leg1sla-
lures of the future to emulate, and
for the law-making. bodies of other
states to "sit up and take notice OF"
That was the talk as it appeared In
some newspaper interviews and In
hotel lobby gossip. But since the
members have reached the state
house, and since they have had time
to confer and to learn each from the
other what the various departments
and interests of the state are expect
ing from them, they have decided
there can be no radical departure
this year from the records of the past,
and that while it is possible final ad-
journment may come the first week
in April, it cannot reasonably be
looked for before that time.
Look Closely After Finances.
Governor Harding's we'll known
program of economy and efficiency IN
state government, will be the guiding
star of the law makers, and it is very
likely that individually and collec-
lively the members will pay more at
tention to, and have better under
standing of appropriation bills than
has ever been the case in the past
This program is to be aided by the
financial budget, presented forthe frst
time by the retiring governor, follow
ing the provisions. Of a budget law
passed by the seth general assembly.
Heretofore it has been the work OF the
appropriations committees of the two
houses to Investigate and prepare this
budget, and the work has occupied the
attention Of the committees during
the greater portion of the legislative
sessions. Their method Of procedure
has been very similar to that en-
ployed by Governor Clarke, except
that he has secured the information IN
advance of the coming of the assem-
blymen. Each department Of the state
government, including all boards and
commissions, has filed with the gov
ernor q statement showing the appro-
priation made available to them by
the Both general assembly, the amount
Of the same unexpended, q any, and
the amount deemed necessary by the
departments for transaction of the
business of the state for the two years
following July 1, 1917. This is the in
formation the members now have be-
fore them, and they have found that
the askings for the biennial period,
July 1, 1917, to July 1, 1919, is some
100000 larger than for the period
covered by the acts of the last as
sembly. They have found that fully
three-fourths of this increased amount
is asked for by the state educational
institutions, and the state board of
control, and the balance is for in
creases in salaries for clerks in some
of the departments and for the use
of commissions which hope to spread
the influence of their work. With
these facts all before them early in
the life Of the assembly, the members
will have considerable time to investi-
gate and to get at the bottom OF
things which are actually necessary
to the continued progress of the state,
the expenditure for which may we'll
be postponed to a future date.
No New Commissions Considered.
1t has developed this early that
there is a strong sentiment among
the lawmakers against the creation of
any new commissions or departments
of government, and it is considered
as unlikely that single bill with that
end in view will be introduced. On
the other hand there is considerable
Of feeling that some commissions
now created may be disposed Of. The
board of parole, which was marked
by some of the radical members of
the lower house for destruction two
years ago, is probably to come in for
another struggle for existence. Those
opposed to the continuation of the
board as a separate body say its work
can as well be taken care of by the
board of control, which has charge Of
all penal institutions of the state in
everything except the handling Of the
prisoners. There is also some incli-
nation to unite the insurance commits
sion and the state fire marshalls Of
fee under one head and to unity as
one the industrial commissioner and
the state labor commissioner. A re-