Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-30
Public Opinion on Iowa Subjects
as Reflected in the Iowa
Newspapers.

The News OF Iowa from nun.
dreds Of Different Towns
and Communities.
PLANNING DOUBLE TAXATION.
[Clinton Herald.l
The tax ferrets claim that under a
construction of the revenue law stock
holders in manufacturing corporations
are liable for assessments to the value
of their stock The legislature intended
no such construction of the law me
ways and means committees of both
houses held joint meetings and arranged
the law as it was asked for by the rep
resentat'ves of the manufacturing ana
trading corporations. The injustice OF
such an assessment is seen when IT IS
understood that If the manufacturing
plant is owned by. an Individual or by
partnership, the taxation would be on
the value of the plant and there would
be no stock to assess Under the plan
proposed by the ferrets, when a whole
sale house or manufacturing concern Is
owned by a corporation, the plant would
be assessed just as II owned by an IN
dividual or partnership and then the
stock would be assessed to the owner,
thus making double taxation. In THIS
city, practically every manufacturing
plant is owned and operated by a cor
poration and already the ferrets have
served notice on several stockholders
that they must pay taxes upon the
same. The man who has invested $lOO.-
600 In manufacturing plant here, own
practically all its stock, has been notl-
fled to pay taxes on the stock Tor sew
eral years back. The plant has been
valued and assessed and If the stock Is
now to be assessed it means but one
thing. the plant will be shut dow ana
removed from the city. The proprietor
is now planning to remove to Indianap-
oils. Clinton cannot stand such an as
sault upon Its manufacturing interests,
as 1t would ruin its manufacturing. Ev-
ery dollar invested in Clinton lnanufact-
uring is taxed once, and no fair-mindeo
person would want it taxed twice. 1t is
believed that the courts would decide
against the ferrets, but a controversy
over the subject would mean disaster.
Clinton as manufacturing town. Dav-
enport as such. and Cedar Rapids and
other cities with millions invested in
manufacturing, making home market,
is what has made land so valuable in
Iowa. The people should stand by the
manufacturing interests of the state as
a matter OF self-interest. II there is
doubt as to the law, let is be changed.
The people OF Iowa want all taxable
property to pay taxes once, but nobody
wants double taxation.
suPERFLUous SUPERIOR COURT
davenport Democrat.l
The mayor of Creston has just Writ
ten to Attorney Louis Block of this city
regarding the experience of Creston
with the superior court.
Creston established that court awhile
ago. 1t is the suit of Union county, and
had courts enough with out the superior
court, but some of the attorneys there,
thinking as some Of the Davenport law
yers do that 1t would stimulate tagging
law business, couldn't resist till they
had induced the community to give the
thing a trial. This was done The trial
was sufficiently prolonged and thorough
to be fair to all. 1t lasted eight years
At the end of that period the people and
the taxpayers, and the lawyers among
the rest, had found that the superior
court was costly, vexatioua in many
ways, and of doubtful advantage, II ar
advantage In any respect The people
comply took the axe to 1t after they had
satisfied themselves that the thing was
a burden rather than help to them
and now Creston has no superior court
More than this, as long az the recollec-
ton of that experience fingers in the
minds of the people of the place she
will not try 1t again.
Keokuk and Cedar Rapids have the
superior court, and here and there Is
found a lawyer, or somebody else, who
says, on behalf of one or the other o.
these places. that such a court is good
thing. But in Keokuk there are but two
terms Of the district court each year
and iii Cedar Rapids there are no terms
OF the district court at all. Keokuk has
to be satisfied to entertain the district
court turn about with FIT. Madison, and
the sessions of the district court In Linz
county, in which Cedar Rapids is locat-
ed, are held in Marion, at the end OF
countryward street car line six miles
long. In both of these places there ma,
possibly be some call for the services Of
the superior court, seeing that their ac'
cess to the district court is so dtfftcul
and attended with so much delay II
Union county, however, creston, 9
county seat, found the superior court
bothersome source of expense and
thing to be got rid of. Davenport Il
likewise a county seat. Its situation Il
not in any way parallel to the situation
In either Cedar Rapids or Keokuk
where they have the superior court. bu
1t is a parallel to the situation in Cres
ton. where they had the superior cour
and abolished it for cause.
Creston bought an experience with thu
superior court at an outlay of man,
Thousands OF dollars. Do we propose t
discard the benefits that we may gathei
from her experience? Or shall we avail
ourselves of that experience, and no
spend the money of the taxpayers mere
~ for the sake of again proving wha
Creston has already completely demon
strated?
| Is it not significant that there are il
this state eighteen places that have tn
privilege of establishing. the superio
court, and that but three out of tn
eighteen have made that establishment
And is 1t not further significant that thu
/. only city in those htree that is locate,
and circumstanced as Davenport !
I should. after faithful trial of tina
court, wipe it off the slate?
| The voters of this city are hardly like
ly IN daily long with proposition t