Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-20
GAIN ADVANTAGE IN LEolsLA.
TuRE BY INTRODUCTION OF
ELwoop slLLAs SUBSTITUTE.
LEGISLATORS BEGINNING
70 HEAR FROM HOME
Many Protests Against Passage Of
Pitt.Jehnsten Biil Deins Sent to Des
Meinss - Legislators Declared to
Have Been Wrongly Informed az to
ssnAimsnts Of csnstitusnts.


Special to Times-Repubhcan.
Des Moines, Feb. 20.-That the back
ers Of tho Dlwood bill executed an ad-
vantageous maneuver yesterday when
they introduced the bill as an amend
ment to the highways committee bill in
the house Of the Iowa legislature is the
judgment Of the seasoned politicians
here. This will bring Elwood's bill. OF
his amendment as it now stands, on
the floor of the house before the Pitt
Johnston measure. introduced by the
committee, gets on the floor. 1t will
give the Mwood bill supporters the
chance to open the argument. It is to
be the one great debate of the session
and the friends OF the highway COM
mission claim that some of the best
speakers and floor men in the house
will appear in support of the Elwood
measure.
Hearing From Homo.
Not a few of the legislators are be-
ginning to hear from the folks back
home as regards the Pitt-Johnston
measure protesting it's passage. Meet
ings at Abba and at Centeryille at
tended largely by farmers held late
last week Endorsed the state highway
commission and instructed their repre-
sentatives and senators to support it.
President Buser of the state associa-
ton Of county supervisors, declared in
a statement made to Senator Balkema,
chairman Of the senate highways COM
mittee. that three fourths of the road
supervisors OF the state are in favor of
the state highway commission. Many
supervisors however would favor elect
ing the members Of the commission by
popular vote rather than having them
appointed by the governor.
That many of the legislators are
working on the wrong theory of what
their constituents want when they sup
port the highway commission plan
is the opinion of E. w. Dingwell, of
Adel, an attorney and Harding sup
porter. formerly well known as Cum
minis man.
It is declared by others not directly
interested In the anti-highway COM
mission fight that the sentiment Of the
people back home, in a number Of in
stances. Is being misinterpreted by OPP
ponents Of the state highway commits
sion.
Senator Balkema is preparing a sep
arate bill which will provide for the
acceptance Of federal aid in road build
ing. He expects to introduce this
measure soon.
Patrol Plan Approved.
Senator Fosters bin for the ostab-
lishment' Of patrol system Of road
maintenance will be reported for pas
sage in the senat, Highways commit
tee today.
After wrestling with details Of the
bills until nearly 6 o'clock yesterday
afternoon the committee perfected a
measure upon which its vote was
unanimous.
The bill provides for road patroimen
to be employed for full time during the
road working season, to be under the
board of supervisors and to be under
bond to the board for the faithful per-
Torrance Of duty. The work. includes
everything necessary to the proper up
keep of the roads.
II regard this bill as Of far greater
Importance to the state of Iowa than
either the Johnston bill or the Elwood
bill or any other road bill over which
we have been fighting and are to