Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-16

classes: First. that which originates
and ends in the state of Iowa; second,
that which originates In Iowa and ter
inmates elsewhere; third. that which
originates elsewhere and terminates in
Iowa; fourth, that which neither orig
mates nor terminates In iowa, but Is
carried over some part of the state. 1t
Is manifest that with regard to all the
business save that which originates and
terminates IN the state there must in
order to ascertain the gross earnings
within this state, be established a basis
of division; and that l believe should
be the work of the legislature and not
of the executive council. The basis OF
division being shown, it is then clear
that in order to do justice there must
be uniform system OF accounts kept
by the railway companies SO that their
reports will furnish the same infcrma-
ton, computed in the same manner,
from each company. The executive
council has no authority to so require.
and the remedy Is in the hands Of the
general assembly. With such amend
ments, and with faithful reports, the
assessing board could ascertain, with
reasonable accuracy the gross earnings
of a railroad property in this state.
With respect to net earnings. the in
adequacy of the law is still more appar-
ent. have much reason to believe that
the phrase, met earnings" has differ
ent meanings with the various railway
companies What should be deducted
from the gross earnings. in order to ar
rive at the net earnings. ought TO be
declared by statute. and such uniform
accounts should be kept by railway
companies as will enable them to make
their reports upon common basis.
With net earnings. as with gross earn
ings, 1t is palpable that with respect to
those railway companies which have
systems doing business in two states or
more, there must besome rule adopted
for the division of the cost of mainte-
nance and operation by the law. With
the gross and net earnings thus ascer-
tanned, many of the obstacles In the
way of a just assessment would dis
appear.
/ am heartily in accord with the pro-
posal to make railroad assessments in
July instead of March; that is to say,
at the time which the executive coun-
ell has under review the assessment Of
QUIET MINUS VI property. ldNOI SoSA
change in the law for two reasons:
First, because it will enable the exec
utive council to have more fully before
it the general basis of assessment of
other property, and to put the railroad
property upon the same basis: second.
because the time between the coming
in of the reports from the railway COM
panies and the time at which the as
sessment must be made. is inadequate
for the work that must be done. The
executive council should have the am
plest opportunity, not only to examine
the reports themselves. but II such re-
ports fail to disclose all the informa-
ton which the executive council should
have In order to fully and fairly dis
| charge it's duty. 1t ought to seek that
information from other sources. My
final thought in this connection is that
Inc executive council should have the
power to employ. If deemed necessary,
an expert accountant, and acquire the
| facts which the reports may fail to dis
close.
ST LOUIS EXPOSITION.
There Will occur next year at st.
Louis the celebration of an event of
greater significance to the people OF
Iowa than any other in the history OF
America. We We're deeply interested In
| the exposition which took place in Phil