Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-21
GOVERNOR ISSUES LETTER TELL
ING WHY EXTRA SESSION
WAS ABANDONED.
PROBLEMS WORKED OUT THRU
SUGGESTIONS OFFERED
Iowa Manufacturers Agree to Pay All
Expenses Of Sending Agent East to
Procure War Contraets-says Seed
Corn Question and Financial Prob
lens are Being Taken Care Of.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 21.-In letter for
Letter forwarded to members OF the
legislature today Governor Harding
takes occasion to inform them on the
disposition Of the matters to which he
called their attention in his letter OF
Des. 22-the callinf of the special ses-
sion, fumes for the board Of control,
expenditures from war funds and other
affairs. He says that unless something
new arises there will be no necessity
for a special session.
He discusses the seed corn situation,
the question of labor and the matter OF
utilizing Iowa factories in making war
supplies. His letter follows:
"On Dec. %, 1917, wrote you in re-
ference to an extra session of the leg
islature which it seemed at that time
might have to be called. 1 then called
your attention to the financial situa-
tion of some Of our institutions under
the board of control, the matter OF
looking after the manufacturing in
terests of this state, the labor question
and the question of seeds for next
year.
NEARLY every member Of the legis-
lature responded to this letter and
while practically unanimous in the
thought that an extra session should
not be called If it were possible to
avoid such a procedure, they were IN
hearty accord as to the urgency of the
situation to which I called their at
tention.
II know you will be gratified. there
fore, to learn that from the susges-
lions embodied in these responses the
matters have been worked out in a
way that will be satisfactory to the
people of the state without the eX-
pense that would be entailed by con-
vening the legislators in extraordinary
assembly.
Agent Sent East.
II have made arrangements with
Iowa manufacturers whereby they will
furnish the money to pay all expenses
of a state representative in Washing
ton. The man so designated will be the
official representative of the state or
Iowa and all the manufacturers OF this
and it will be his ex-
elusive business to secure contracts
and otherwise look after the interests
Of every manufacturing institution
within the confines Of this state to
the end that none of. our factories will
be compelled to close by reason OF its
product being classified as. non essen
tial.
I'm the matter Of labor, which Is
h4Vy
co operation between the federal and
state authorities. We are establishing
district agencies in the state and hope
to have representatives in every coun-
ty. A. l.. Urick, state labor commits
sioner, is at the head Of this depart
ment and in this way the plan has the
sanction OF state authority.
1.-THE seed corn question, which Is
perhaps as important as any problem
we will have to meet, is taken care of
under the authority granted for CEN
sus and survey by the Thirty seventh
general assembly. 9. A. Clock. Of
Hampton, is in charge Of this depart
ment, giving his services without ex-
pense to the state.
"A seed corn census Of every farmer
In the state is being taken and as far
as possible we are utilizing county ag-
ricultural agents and their assistants.
The splendid results being shown by
this work would make it appear now
that We are going to be able to say
that every farmer in the state has Sc
cured seed corn, and in a majority OF
cases at reasonable price under ex-
listing conditions.
Status of War Funds.
II know you will be interested and
feel that you are entitled to know how
the special appropriations for war ac-
tivities are being used and am,there-
fore,s setting out the status Of these
funds up to Jan. !, 1918. as follows:
"In the fund created by Chapter 265.
in which $4,000 was appropriated for
a, census and survey, there was a
balance iof $I0,931.93.
"In the fund created by Chapter POI,
in which $s50,000 was appropriated for
the military establishment, there was
a balance OF $ss5. s35.79.
"The suggestions received from the
members Of the legislature in response
to my letter. and the almost un-
animous opinion that the extra session
should not be called unless such a pro-