Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-29
TIE H[RR|O|1 PROTEST
State Treasurer Files Objections to
Executive Councils Railroad
Assessment.
Violent Charges Made Against Gov.
Shaw-A Bitter Row Comes
to Light.
His Plan Of Capitalizing Earnings
Explained-Documen Interest.
ing Thruout.

ing Thruout.
Special to Times-Republican
Des Moines, March 29.-The expected
filed with the secretary of the executive
council Wednesday afternoon and is a
lengthy document of some $4,000 words,
but is interesting turnout. Treasurer
Herriott has for many years objected to-
the executive councils method OF as
sessing railroad properly and his con
very bitter row between his fellow
members of the council and himself,
resulting in yesterdays pronuncia-
mento in which Governor Shaw and
the other members of the executive
council are charged with being in
league with fhe attorneys for the
Northwestern railroad, Judge Hubbard
is termed the "defacto government of
the state and the most sarcastic and
vindictive language used. He charges
that time and again the railroad as
sessments have been. made in the pri-
waite office of the secretary of state, in
consultation with one or two railroad
attorneys. He charges that his demands
for an equitable assessment have been
ignored because the other members of
the council were anxious to preserve
the advantage which has long been
possessed by the railroad interests
which they represent.
Mr. %
pared for the records of the council in
explanation of his relations to the re-
cent sick-room assessment, in which he
declined to take part. He says he did
not want to meet with MIR. Merriam,
Frustrated by illness. because he knew
a discussion would lead to violence of
denunciation which could not but griev-
ously affect the nerves of n sick man.
He takes up in detail the statement by
the governor and answers it, arguing
that railroads do not pay more taxes
than other property, as the governor
urges, and showing the lack of system
in present assessment methods. He eX-
plains carefully his own plan and shows
the iniquities of the present distribu-
ton of taxation. In Six years the
Northwestern has been undertaXed
$235, 2cl.36. which has been made up by
overtaXing the other roads. His state
ment was talked of in legislative circles
yesterday, and there was considerable
disposition to have an investigation of
his charges.
HOT SHOT FROM HERRIOTT.
Treasurer Protests Against Execu-
tive Councils Railroad Assessment
Goaded to Strike Hard.
Mr.. Herriott calls his document a
Statement by the Treasurer of the
State of Iowa Explaining His Relation
to the Assessment of Railroads for 1900,
as FIXED at the Slavery Hotel Session of
the Executive Council, DeS Moines,
Iowa, March %, 1900" 1t follows:
On March 81 presented to the eXecu-
tive council, the governor, secretary OF
state and myself being present. d res
olution relating to a method for assess
ing railroads. The following day the
governor offered an amendment nullfy-
ing my resolution, but before acting
thereon the majority adjourned to mee
dit the Slavery hotel in the sick room of
Auditor r. +. Merriam, who had just re-
turned in Il critical condition of health
from California, where for three months
he had been at deaths door With ty-
phoid pneumonia. To this meeting re-
fused to go, for reasons hereafter given
At that hotel session the governor S
amendment was adopted, the assess
ment of railroads fixed and motion To
reconsider filed. The next day at 2:3C
p. m. the council reconvened at the CAPT
toll. Mr.. Merriam. alhto extremely
weak, almost helpless, was brought te
the capitol to take part in reconsider
ing" the railroad assessment which this
majority, Governor Shaw, Secretary
Dobson and Auditor Merriam had set.
tied the day before in his sick room al
the Slavery. AS soon as the session
opened called for the reading of tht
minutes of the three previous NEE tings
When this was done and the secretar,
declared that the railroad assessment
had been fixed the day before, / aros,
and said ! should excuse myself from
further participation in the session, a:
there was nothing of Importance for tn,
council to do. and started TO leave tn,
room. / was asked to remain to recon
slider the assessment, but as had NJ
desire to do so. did not care to remain
and 1 saw no reason why the majorit,
action. Besides. in the weak condition
of the auditor the reconsideration of tn
matter might have been followed Will
disastrous consequences, as heated dis
cussion would have ensued Conse
quently l left the council chamber.
With respect to the proceedings Jus
outlined, desire to have placed in TIL
record of the minutes the following ex
PLANTATION of my relations to them. NJ,
colleagues deemed 1t fitting. in amend
ing my resolution of March 81, to injeo
illusions to former action or opinion
held by me TO bolster up their actions
and as the entire amendment is stud
led effort to befog the public as to TIL
nature and effect of my plan and I
misrepresent me, l deem it my duty I
examine and expose the absurdities O
the amended resolution. A year ag
this same council injected personal com
ments and reflections relative to m
views into long resolution eXplanin
why should not explain my votes an
non-concurIence in the assessment O
1899. I need hardly observe that this sor
OF thing is somewhat extraordinary i
dignifed official bodies. My resolutio
of March q was a business proposition