Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1870-04-14

| b"'iHS VIZ pEcseHt session the state
House bill has perhaps been the cause
OF more excitement, the cause Of heav.
Ter lobbying, fair and unfair, the cause
OF changing more votes honestly or
dishonesty, of bringing more lobbyists
to personally intercede with members
from ali quarters of the State, and of
making more noise while it was on the
files, than any one bill introduced this
session; but it is now disposed of and
will be out of State politics except
where it looms up in some convention
to plague some poor devil Of Mem
Der who voted fer 1t, the opposition OF
his constituents to the contrary not
wi,hstanding, or when the State tax
must be increased to meet :he rcquier
ments Of its provisions and replet e
the treasury swept bare and meet the
obligations incurred consequent upon
its passage. 1t was nuquestionably
more difficult to resist the importuni-
ties of the friends of this bill than any
other presented this Winter. a city
of sixteen thousand inhabitants resoly.,
ed to have it pass every means, every
influence, whether social, political, re.
lgioas, or otherwise, were used and
still the bill received but one vote
more than constitutional majority.
This, however, was one subject COM
plete in itself, but any bill, resolution
petition or remonstrance, coming be.
fore either branch of the Legislature
in any way affecting railroads, is sub
jected to the closest scrutiny and
watched during its career through
both Houses with greater interest by
the railroad attorneys, than by its
friends. Everything introduced is re-
ported to New York, Chicago OF
wherever the head quarters are of the
corporations that so lar have dehed the
Iowa Legislature; il any tariff bill is to
be considered it is sent off and prac.
teal rate drawn up, the imperiections
Of which should there be any, are fur
nished TO the tools of the companies
to be used against the bill on its Sec
ond reading, the private opinion, stiff
ness Of backbone, personal integrity,
ignorance of the subject, chances Of
trading Interests, and everything bear
ing upon the subject are duly consid
cred, the chances all weighed, if pos.
sible the bill is delayed long time in
the standing committee, debate after
debate is had, adjournment and post
ponemcrt of the subject week at a
time is a favorite method of gaining
time, no suggestions are made of
amending in the committee but after
every delay possible is exhausted in
the committee and perhaps pursuant
to resolution ordering the commit.
tee to report some day in the future is
fixed tor the consideration OF the bill,
every argument bearing directly Or
remotely against the bill is fur lished
by the attorneys to some member who
is susceptible of influence or who
lives on the line OF contemplated
road and who is led 20 believe that no
more iron can be sold, no more capita!
will be invested in Iowa if the bill un-
der consideration should pass, in fact,
that the agitation OF the subject pro.
vokes trown upon the brows of our
railroad men. 1t these arguments are
not potent, an amendment or substi-
tute is next in order, time is lost in
discussion to the friends OF the meas.
urc which is diligently employed by
the attorneys, ard should the neeessa-
ny fittyone be kept up to the voting
point, and the bill pass one House
then the same process is gone through
III the Standing Committee of the 9TH
er House. 1t there is much danger Of
its passing. the telegraph brings ex-
ira help. threats are made to kill meas
ures in which its friends are interested,
promises Of legislative help on other
measures are freely given, the tele-
grams, petitions and private letters
are procured from the counties OF
shaky members, and by The use Of
such means, if not worse, no tariff bill
has yet passed both Houses.
Previous to 1862, the railroads of
Iowa paid no taxes, the Assembly OF
that year made law taxing the gross
receipts OF all railroads one per cent.
The value OF Iowa Railroads relative
to the other property of the State is
about one fifteenth, the State and com
ties raise tor all purposes about nine
millions Of dollars, the proportionate
share of the railroads would be about
six hundred thousand; the people OF
the State were very forcibly impressed
with the idea that these corporations
did not pay their share; ten thousand
electors petitioned the Assembly to in
crease the levy until the Railroads
were taxed rs other property. The
House prepared bill that would have
raised in the next year four hundred
thousand dollars should the receipts
increase as much in the next as the
past year, the House members were so
well instructed from home and SO we'll
managed here that despite the utmost
efforts of the attorneys the bill passed
by an overwhelming majority, four
fitths OF this tax was to be paid to the
counties through which the roads
PASSED, in proportion to tho number
of miles; House members felt jubilant
over the success and many remarked
that it was very strange indeed why
such step had not been taken by pre-
vious Assemblies The Senate is a
very different body from the House,
fewer in numbers, elected tor a longer