Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-17
GOVERNOR cvmmINs, INAUGURAL.

attention. An accomplished lawyer
whose practice has led him to study
number of these great subjects in
practical way. his state paper is one thai
goes deeply into questions of this char
acter, with the desire of evolving some
thing of value to the people. He believes
that reform and betterment of our laws
are as essential to the advance OF the
republic as is the growth of its industrial
life. He is not reformer, however, who
wishes to throw aside all that has beer
attained, for he declares 1.-The true friend
OF progress recognizes that what we
have Is good, but perceives we may have
better" He recognizes that Iowa is
an empire of farms and that the state
has reached an enyiable standing thru
the efforts of her people.
He discusses industrial combinations.
recognizing their good features as well
!, as their evil tendencies. He does not be-
l.eye the government can safely deny
The right of association under estab-
lished forms: nor is he ready to concede
that Industrial organizations. however
large their capital or extended their OPP
Grafton, IL competition remains, consti-
tute menace to the prosperity and well
fare of the people. He recognizes, how
ever, that the most manifest evils OF
these tremendous aggregations is their
effect upon competition. How to pre-
- rye competition while permitting COM
b,nations proper scope is the question
that awakens anxiety. While he does
rot believe a perfect remedy is within
reach, Governor Cummins urges that
certain restrictions should be enforced
He believes that every corporation
should have Its capital stock paid for at
ear, in money, In order to avoid the evils
Of over-capitalization. He believes also
that the question Of regulation and con-
troll is a national one and that power
should be conferred upon congress thru
an amendment OF the constitution, diff
cut as II may be to reach It, He is un-
able to agree with those who assert that
we can cure whatever evils may exist in
these organizat tons thru publicity. the
view now so widely held by public men.
He favors a modification of the tariff
and the making Of reciprocal treaties
with view of giving our people the
greatest possible amount of work, en-
bracing both agricultural and manufac-
turing interests.
AS to contentious between labor and
capital. and the proper and peaceful adj
iustment of their relations, he thorough
i. believes that the government must
bear hand in the solution of the prob
lem.
In considering corporations he con-
cedes that they have certain rights, but
one of them is not the right to vote.
Corporations have. and ought to have.
many privileges; but among them is not
the privilege to sit in political conven-
ticns or occupy seats in legislative
chambers" he declares, and the infer
ences are plain.
Nearly one-fourth OF Governor Cum
Minis inaugural message is devoted to
general taxation and railroad taxation.
AZ to the general subject he believes
there is no economic question that has
been so inadequately answered as the
cne relating to taxation, yet he thinks
the fact that our present law relating to
the assessment and collection of taxes
is imperfect should not discourage the
general assembly from attempting to
remedy It's defects. He notices that the
most fragrant defect is disclosed in the
escape OF SO large a part OF personal
property from the view of the assessor.
The plan recently adopted (the tax fer
ret law to bring 1t to light can not be
eaid to be permanent in Its character.
Final relief will come, he suggests,
first from the gradual growth Of a SEN
worthy citizen, and next from the impo-
eition Of reasonable penalty for the
failure to list taxable property. Another
weakness is revealed by the defective
work Of assessors. He thinks 1t is prob
ably true that personal property fails to
bear it's Just measure Of taxation partly
thru the weakness or connivance, or
both, of assessors: but the more serious
charge Is their disobedience of the stat
ute which requires that the true value of
property shall be made the basis of It's
aasessable value. In his judgment the
compensation of the assessor is too low. !
1.-THE effort to make taxation just and
uniform begins with the assessor: and
the general assembly can not render a
greater service to the state than by dill
gently inquiring whether there is any !
method Of selecting assessors that will |
be likely to yield better results than are
now before U.S."
Perhaps people will turn with morein-
terest to his discussion of railroad taxa
ton than to any other topic, but only a
careful reading OF the text OF his mes
rage will give them full understanding
os his views. He recognizes the difficult
Ties involved in practical and lust So |