Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-01-20
lOCHANGE PAVNGLAN|
Municipal League Committee Meets
at Des Moines to Formulate
Changes in Laws.
Matter Of Special Assessments For
Paving Most Important Point
Acted on.
Only Slight Change in the Statute
Found Necessary-0ther Mat
tiers Discussed


Des Moines. jar. 9oThe final draft /
Of a bill to grant additional powers To
cities TO be presented 10 the legislature /
II behalf of the League of Iowa Mu-
inequalities was prepared at special
meeting Of the leagues committee on
city government and legislation in Des
Moines Friday
Most of the discussion was on the
section OF the bin which provides that
in no case shall thu assessment for i'm
provements exceed the benefits re-
ceived by the abuttng property from
the Improvement.
Chester L. Masslich, who represented
the Farson- Leach Company bond
buyers, of Chicago, urged that the bill
be made TO provide that the assessment |
shall be made in proportion To the benz
e.iits He maintained that, While there
could be no excess Of the benefit there
is nothing To prevent some property
halders III getting off With the payment
81 less than the.r share. He maintained
that The section Is doubtful inl It's force
and urged that il be changed SO that
there could be no question as 10 the eff
feet. He asked the committee to follow
tho plan ai' the Illinois and Ohio laws, |
which provide that the assessment
shall he In proportion 10 the benefits,
ard that the question Of benefit shall
Do decided by a court OF record, and
~, by the city council.
W IL Bailey. oe Des Moires. objected
II the proposed changes He Thought
Ithat endless dispute would result from
tho attempt 70 determine the exact
amount of benefit TO be derived by each
piece Of property II the Law did not re-
auire however. that The amount should
be Il e;ernnired eScepf in cases OF CON
Is stca assessments, the number Of con-
tests would be comparatively small. He
maintained. hat the bin as the commit
Etee had prepared IT would cover ,he
points whjcn Mir Masslich was arguing
for without adding the useless expense
of carrying. very assessment TO court
u record u determine the justice Of the
Itax The llajority of the committee IA
lvofea Mr. BAILEY view Of the question.
Eand the section MS adopted.
The present law provides for the as
sessirvnt fli, CRY Improvements on the
front foot basis that IS. each piece OF
property 10 be assessed according to
1.-The number Of feet it has fronting on
lathn street
rhe oef asion for the new bill was the
rsce,t ruling by The supreme court Of
aihe United states in the ease of Nor
4 mood versus Baker. which held that the
50 ssneilt u property on the front
i fnet basis is Unconstitutional. in thai
/ Il sometime restilts in the coniisoation
/ ii property Which is ontrary 10 the
provision 81 tst. constitution that pros
4 viaes that person shalt be deprived
81 property NfJhout just compensation.
I, This deeision ndered the old iawa law
invalid. and ne legislature Mill have 10
pass sarla sli9 Of an amendment; the
1 new bill pfhvlding The amendment was
4 prepared by the Municipal Leagues
committee A; its meetirg in Dies
+ Mnnes last November. and the meeting
Yesterday ras for the purpose Of re-
/ vssinc il ard fourteen others which
have also heen prepared.
Mr.. Masslich the representative OF.
The chicago bard dealers, took an act
ivt. part in the discussions of the COM
nittee. BY in1!sation. He SAID that spe-
aif.l assessment certificates of Iowa
cities ar. no; marketable. for the rea-
son that the state laws do not make 1t
safe fer eastern companies TO deal IN
lhsm If the legislature would pass the
amendments which he advised, eastern
firms would compete for the chance To
handle iowa certificates. Mayor Baker,
4 af Davenport who is a contractor. said
Z shat he would take contracts in Illinois
Il f0r 5 per eert less than in Iowa, be-
eause The bonds of Illinois cities are
gaieabie, and il IS 5 per cent easier 10
convert the results Of his work into
cash. For this reason. Mr.. Masslioh
argued, contributors for jobs in Iowa
cities .adti ) y cent more To their BIDS.
Therefore tne changes which he pro-
posed would benefit the cities as Well as
lthe bond dealers. He put all the
strength ~ his argument OH the pro-
IportI1nate assessment feature, mem
Z ,ionrg the reference Of the benefit
lauestiont o a court of record merely as
II secondary consideration.
A new section was added TO the bill,
providing that when any special tax OF
assessment is Invalid. or Illegal, or IL.
ease If deficiencies, the council shall
have power 10 correct the same by res
!. oluti0n " ordinance. ard may reassess
and relsvg the same, as also the same
! amount 10 make up such deilciencles
, with the same effect as If done at tbs
i proper time in the proper amount anc
iii the proper manner provided by law
!. or by the resolution or ordinance re
lating thereto; provided. however, thai
the aggregate OF such tax or assess
mont so levied shall not exceed, inclu
sive of the sums paid under the orlgina
tax or assessment, the total ccntrac
J. price of such Improvement.
The following members Of the com
mittee and other city officials Were
present at the meeting Yesterday:
$ Chairman G. L. Campbell, of De
Moires
Mayor Victor Jennings, of courci
!. Bluffs.
j. L. p. Power, of Keokuk
city Solicitor w. II. Bailey. of low;
City.
Attorney j. F. Dewitt, of Muscatine
e Mayor George Il. Baker. of Daven
port
Mayor John NJ. Redmond. of ceda
city Clerk II. F. Brown, of Red OAK
Mayor Frank G. Pierce, of Marshall