Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-23
70 CLASSIFY REPORTS
Railroad Accountants Confer
With the Executive Council
Regarding New Law.
Will Plan to Meet Requirements
in Regard to Classifying
Statistics.
Railway Men Pleased With
Change of Date in Max.
ing Assessment.
pecial to Times-Republican.


Special to Times Republican.
Der of railroad men We're in Des Moines
yesterday, representing the law depart
ments, the accounting departments and
the freight business. They were here to
consult with the state officials in re-
gard to the new law on accounting and
also on rate matters The consultation
on accounting was harmonious in every
respect. The men who were here by re-
quest are among the best accountants
connected with the various roads.
Among them We're F. P. Crandon, of
the Northwestern; A. L. Dudley and w.
n. d. Winnie, of the Milwaukee: S. C.
Matthews, of the Rock Island; III. L.
lSatchelder, of the Omaha, and c. T..
Sturgis, of the Burlington. The execu-
tive council really had nothing definite
to present to the railroad accountants
in the way of a plan for observing the
law which was passed by the last gen.
5eral assembly. The bill as originally in
troduced contained requirement that
the reports should show the four class
es as called for by the council at the
beginning of this year. AS passed it
does not call for such division of the
earnings. but leaves it to the council t,
require 1t. "Of course the council has
the right under the old law" said Mr.
brandon, ito require division of the
earnings into the classes suggested and
may do so now. If there is anything to
be gained by it we shall comply But
we do not want to be put to the ex-
pense of securing statistics which will
be OF no practical value to the execu-
tive council The four classes referred
to are Iowa business, that which origi-
mates in Iowa and terminates else
where, that which begins elsewhere
and terminates in Iowa, and that which
passes over Iowa. After the confer
ence yesterday it was decided that th.,
council should prepare statement of
just what is wanted of the railroad
companies and submit the same to the
accountants for suggestions or chan
ges. and this will be done as soon as
possible. The companies evince a dis
position to conform to ;the law a cosr,-
pletely as possible and the accountants
say they can do so with very little
trouble. Some of the companies, as for
instance. the Milwaukee, already keep
the business of the several states sep
arate. because in Wisconsin and Mich
igan they are taxed on gross earnings
on the business in these states alone.
The change in the Iowa law as to
the date of making the reports and the
assessments" said Mr.. Dudley Of the
Milwaukee, seems to be most excel
lent change. The old law required us
to get our reports in by the 18th of Feb
ruary. None of the larger companies
was ever able to do it. We could not
get the figures ready by that time. The
change will give us the time necessary
to make the very best reports of all
facts concerning the roads. The date
for the assessment, in July, ought to be
better one also. 1t will cause us some
trouble on the road tax this year. No
provision was made for that in the
law. It will not be certified out in time
to be worked out at the usual time this
year. In other years this trouble will
not follow. because the tax is to be paid
in cash. In South Dakota, for instance,
the road tax is levied on the assess
ment of the year preceding, and it has
been suggested this might be done in
Iowa."
The interesting feature of the other
hearing at the state capitol yesterday
related to stone for road work. Efforts
have long been made to get the rail-
roads to give a reduced rate for stone
to be used in highway making in Iowa.
The commissioners have been asked to
make special rate. What is wanted is
a rate something like that on slack
coal, and the commissioners and many
others believe that such a rate would
in the end prove profitable to the rail-
roads as we'll as to the people of the
state. 1t is expected that the commits
sioners will soon act on the petition.
Notice having been received by the
officials here of suit at Mt. Pleasant
by E. E. Hughes, a Des Moines dentist,
to secure his release from the state
hospital on habeas corpus proceedings,
the fact is again brought to the atten-
tion of the public that the state hos
pitfalls are being used In part as good
places for SOLDERING up" some of the
wayward but high-toned gentlemen of
the state. 1t is reported that quite
number of persons who have been sent
to the hospitals from Des Moines in re-
cent years had nothing the matter with
them other than that they We're on
prolonged drunk. This was what ap-
peared to be the matter with the doc
tor. but he has been at the hospital for
six months and feels that he is quite
sober enough to return home and re-
sume work The legislature provided
that at one or more of the state hos
pitals department be set apart for
Just such cases.
There are indications that the pret-
test of the fights of the year in state
politics will be over the position of
reporter of the supreme court. Corn
wall and Calinger are the candidates
in sight at present. In addition to the |
fact that it will be something of fac
tional contest between the two there is
the opposition of the lawyers to the
present incumbent on account of the |
slowness of getting out reports. Some |
time ago Salinger felt called upon to
send out circular to the lawyers of
the state apologizing for the slowness
in getting out reports and laying the
blame entirely on the contract printer !