Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1923-01-10
FARMER SPEAKER
OF IOWA HOUSE
Joseph H. Anderson, of Winnebago
County, Elected Speaker of
the Iowa House of Re-
presentatives on
Saturday.
HAS STRONG VIEWS
ON HIGHWAY LEGISLATION
Gov. Kendall's Biennial Message
Carries With ii Pro-
gram for Some Strong
Legislation.

Legislation.
Des Moines, Iowa, Jan. "a pro-
gram of legislation that, if it should
be completely carried out, would re-
volutionize long standing methods
of state, county, city and public
school administration, is urged in the
biennial message of Governor N. E.
Kendall, which was read at joint ses-
sion of the two houses of the For
tieth General Assembly on Tuesday
afternoon.
AS TO its government reform re-
commendation, Governor KendalPs
message is a unique state document.
It points out specifically several
alleged holes in the fabrics of state
and local affairs, through which tax
money is assumed to be wasted. 1t
urgently proposes certain definite
legislative acts to patch these alleg
ed holes. And finally it forecasts fur
ther pressure in behalf of the pro-
gram by these words: Appropriate
measure to effecutate these reforms
will be before you, and | very earn
estly invite your early and serious
consideration of them."
1t is proposed that the following
be done:
Merge state bureaus and offices
the duties of which correspond or
overlan.
2 Create a state budget board,
which would inspect all departmental
askings for funds.
8 Forbid local taxing districts,
cities, counties, or schools, to spend
more money in any fund than is
covered by taxes levied.
A. Require regular state audit of
every office and agency that "is op
Grating on revenues from the public
treasury"
The message strees strongly these
matters, but there are numerous
other recommendations. Mr.. Kendall
urges revision of the code at this
regular session.; full cooperation with
the federal government in the ad-
minstration in Iowa of the Sheppard
Towner maternity welfare law; con-
tinued appropriation for Iowa rail-
road valuation under the supervision
of the estate railroad comnf; sSion;
a "most liberal" appropriation 10
continue the fight against cattle tub
erculosis; a law giving municipali.
ties the power to regulate telephone
rates; revision of the road laws TO
bring it within federal aid require
ments; immediate appropriation for
rebuilding the ar1nory at Ames; per-
manent preservation Of flags captur-
ed by Iowa troops in the Civil war,
additional funds for preserving the
old capitol at Iowa City, and an
appropriation to continue the cam
paign to eradicate illiteracy in Iowa.
The governor will have chance to
renew his effort to place a woman
on the board of control during this
session, as he must appoint a sue
cessor to j. H. Strict, whose term
expires next June 80. These words
from his message, perhaps, forecast
what he intends to do: I'm view OF
the large number of women and
girls in the various state institutions
as employees, inmates, patients and
prisoners, there ought to be wo'
man on the experimenting board,
I very strongly recommend that the
board of control be four members, al
least one of whom shall be a wo-
man. and that the duties now dis
charged and the powers now enjoy
ed by the board of parole be trans
ferred to the board of control
In support of his view that there
is much lost motion in the mach
inery of state government; the gov
ernor cited the fact that there are
separate inspectors travelling. about
the state viewing hotels, butcher
shops. oil stations, milk depots and
water systems. at is obvious" ne
concludes. "that none of these In
spections involve exceptional talent
or extended time. They could all be
made by state agent of intelligence
and energy in one day, with one pei
diem. one mileage and one expense
account. 1t is inconceivable that q
nrocedure so utterly unbusiness Ike
should be further perpetuated.
The message characterizes the
present state budget system, "nlcn
amounts merely to a grouping IN one one
volume, without comment, OF the
various departmental ashngS Tor tne
coming two years, as "woefuliy IN
adequate" The governor stated tha'
Gone of the most imperative ophga-
tisns imposed upon US this session
;s the establishment Of thorough.
ooinD budget system Explaining
his idea, the governor said:
"What is needed is real budges
ouh,dvinp the salient provisions OF
,those recently adopted BY congress
ond numerous states. ! am 1uily
rerauaded that under such a system
H. taxnayers of Iowa would be ar.
saoJ s = sol;d measure of the relief
toiuy - w.Sicb they are so abundantly, en-
.;.,od rrnder its operation oud-
s 80 h,,rd would be created, wnoul
dd;.connected A. from the Legislature @
onw danartment, to which eacn de.
n.+,,,snt any would report the amount
(Conhnued on Page III