Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-23
PLANS TO INTRODUCE PRACTI.
CALLY SAME MEASURE DE-
FEATED TWO YEARS AGO.
SPEAKER PITT BACKS
REACTlONARY MEASURE
Houses Trying to Formulate Meas
ure and Line Up Support-Johnston
Crowd Confident Bill Will Pass
House-Senate May Defeat 1t.
Special to Times Republican.

road bill. which will precipitate the
fight in the Thirty seventh general as
sembly on the most vital issue it will
have before it this winter, will be pre-
scented to the house the latter part of
next week. according to the present
program. \ joint committee selected
by the Johnston faction started work.
ing on the road bill last night. When
it is drafted a conference will be called
and it will be gone over before it is
presented on the floor Of the house.
The Johnston faction want to have
enough votes. if possible, to practically
assure the passage of their measure
before they submit it to the house.
The members of this unofficial COM
mittee now working on the bill are
Representatives Johnston, of Lucas,
McF'errin, Of Hamilton, and Hall, Of
Taylor counties, and Senators Chase,
of Hamilton, and Frailey, of Lee.
Speaker NJ. B. Pitt, who is very much
interested in the bill, said last night
that he believed this committee would
be ready to report a measure within q
week.
Same Old Road Bill.
AS has been previously stated the
bill will not be very much different
from the bill which Johnston fathered
two years ago. 1t will provide for the
adjustment of the state highway COM
mission and create the office of n state
highway engineer. One new feature
will be embodied different from the
bill of two years ago. That will be to
provide that taxpayers may appeal to
the state engineer or commissioner as
he may he called. from any action Of
the county supervisors. If the COM
missioner is. sustained by 40 per cent of
the taxpayers he may overrule the ac-
ton of the supervisors.
The features of the new bill as now
being framed by the Johnston road
crowd may be stated in brief as fol-
lows:
Adjustment of the state highway
commission.
Creation of office of state engineer
or commissioner, this official to have
technical knowledge of road building.
Remove office of engineer or COM
missioner to Des Moines.
Give engineer or commissioner su-
pervisory rather than administrative
powers, except on appeal supported by
taxpayers.
Abolish district engineers -
Modify county and township road
systems
Give local officials control of expen-
dtures
Require engineer or commissioner to
furnish every county board with max
imum prices for materials each month.
Emphasize improvement of roads
from farm to market rather than coun.
ty roads.
Senate to Block It, s.l
Whether or not the Johnston faction
can muster sufficient strength in the
house to pass this measure is a ques-
ton. The members Of the faction be-
lieve they can. Undoubtedly they have
strong hopes also of getting it past the
senate but it is hard to see how they
expect to do this. 1t is generally be-
lieved that the present senate will new
er pass a measure abolshing the state
highway commission.
TheSe has been no test of strength
in either branch of the legislature since
the speakership. fight on the road Dues
ton and in that fight Pitt had few
supporters among men who will not
favor an anti-highway commission bill
Disappointment over the committee
appointments, amounting in some cases
to bitterness. has increased the number
Of representatives who will oppose the
Johnston road crowds program. If
this anti administration faction gets
together as it probably will on the
roads bill if not sooner. it will have Il
strength which may surprise the Pitt
and Johnston followers. It Is far
stronger than it was at the time Pitt
was chosen for speaker. 49,.
Nor does it appear at this time that
the majority Of the LEGISLATORS will IA
vor the losing of 100000 of govern
ment money by failing to meet the fed
eral provisions requiring that state
have a highway commission If It IS to
receive government aid.