Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-20
AFTER RAILROAD COMPANIES
Bill Reported to Legislature PrsVidinE fsl
Rsars,s,ment Of Th,ir PrspsrtieL
SHARE OF TAXES SAID NOT TO Be PAID
of AntI-PRss B~ill-Bennett
wins Regimental Honor
Big Estate IL
settled.
From a STAR correspondents

! DIES MONIES, Feb. 9.-NSpeclal.J-lh
most important matter which has yet come
to the attention OF the Iowa legislature was
developed this afternoon in a report Of
a senate subcommittee in favor Of general
revision of the laws Of the state relating to
railway corporations and the assessment
thereof for taxation purposes. This sub
committee, consisting of Senators Healey,
Junkin, Porter and Lewis, has been at work
| some time on the measures to he proposed.
The committee made a unanimous report
to the ways and means committee this
afternoon, presenting two bills and suggest
ing that the committee give a hearing on
these bills Friday afternoon of this week.
The committee in it's report said:
The committee is of the opinion that the
general belief that the railways of the
taxes necessary for the support of the
various departments of state government Is
sions we nave gathered considerable data.
which will be submitted at the proper time;
We have examined into the constitutional
inhibitions and limitations and the laws OF
our own and other progressive states in re-
lation to the subject of railway taxation
and have reached the conclusion that in
some respects our present laws are en-
tirely Inadequate to meet the new condi-
tons in railway management and hnancier-
ing.
The first Of the bills proposed provides
for employment Of a competent statisticfan
by the governor to make an investigation
into the value Of all corporate property
subject to assessment by the executive
council and to provide for publication Of a
report thereon. The other bill provides a
unit rule for the assessment of railroad
property, to assess 1t at its actual market
value, measured by ordinary standards, and
to fix the valuation for taxable purposes
at rs per cent Of the actual value. 1t pro-
vides for a substitute for the present law
and that the executive council shall take
into consideration in making the assess
ment Of railway property not only the gross
and net earnings, the taxes paid and other
items, as in the present law, but also that
1t shall take into consideration the amount
Of money, stocks, bonds and current assets
Of whatever nature on hand or in possession
Of oficers or others interested in the COM
pany; also the lumber Of shares Of stock
and the par value thereof, the amount OF
the floating and funded Indebtedness and
the market value Of the same, and the bonds
Of the companies and all other evidences
Of indebtedness. In regard to the manner
Of assessment, the bill provides;
The railway property of the state, tan
gible and intangible, shall be valued at it's
actual value and shall be assessed at Is per
cent of such actual value, which shall be
considered as the taxable value of such
property and the value at which it shall be
listed and upon which the levy shall be
made. The actual value OF such railway
property shall mean its value in the mar
ket in the ordinary course of trade. The
executive council in determining such val
uation shall take into consideration the sum
OF the market or actual value of the stocks,
bonds and securities of each railway, to-
gether with any other matter necessary to
secure a just and equitable assessment.
! When only a part of the railway lies in
this state that part of the value of the en-
tire railway which is measured by the pro-
way In this state TO that Of the Whole rail-
way shall be considered in estimating its
value in that state for taxtion purposes
within the state.
In ascertaining the value Of the stocks
and bonds, the council may consider the
brokers' reports and other similar evidence.
The bill is one which has been urged by
those who have commended that the Iowa
assessments have been inadequate. 1t has
been carefully drawn by the committee.
after consultation with leading members
and with Lieutenant Governor Herriott and
others, and it is regarded as the most re-
markable legislation which has yet APP
peared. The committee will report the
bill to the senate in a few days.
Anti-Pass Bill Killed.
The chief business Of the house today
was the killing of the Hughes anti-pass bill
This had been made a special order for
} 1880 o'clock and after some formal busi-
ness was taken up. Hughes, Black and
Whiting made speeches in favor OF the bill
? and Hamann spoke against 1t and ridiculec
the bill. He moved to amend by including
, among those who should be prohibited from
} receiving favors from the railroads min
listers Of the gospel. He discussed this
3 amendment, and on a motion to lay 1t or
the table this was done by a vote OF 81
: to A, three members not voting. TIL
carried the entire measure with it and the
bill was ended.
The house held a short session this after
noon. Al effort was made without success
to revive the anti-pass bill. jerks calle'
I up his resolution to adjourn two months
= on account OF the epidemic Of smallpox II
e Des Moines and 1t was laid on the table.
. The bill introduced by Boysen to hx tn
: salaries Of sheriffs was passed by a vote o
76 to IA. The English bill TO secure add
tional information for railroad assessment
Q was passed unanimously.
= Senate on vital Statistics.
= The senate consumed most OF its lime Of
= a bill to return to the old law requiring
doctors to report births and deaths. 1t wa
opposed by DR.. Emmert, DR.. Bachmsn
Senator Hobart and others, and finally, Of
motion OF the author OF the bill, was recon
mitted to the judiciary committee. A bill
s to establish a law in regard to divorce
uniform with the laws Of other states wa
e passed. which law recognizes the cause 70
divorce in states from which persons seek
g ing divorce have Just come. A bill to pro
vide for caring for cemetery funds wa
passed. A resolution to require the fedora
relations committee &c report on a resolu
tion memorializing congress on the anti
injunction law was passed.
valued Policy Bill.
The valued policy bill in regard to in
surance was presented in the senate b
Brighton. This is the bill which passe
the legislature two years ago and was We
toed. 1t provides that companies shall pa
he face value Of their policies where losse
! occur. Senator Trewin introduced a BIZ
a o provide for commissions to look aft'
river front property in cities.
e PatFIarehs Militant to Meet.
The program has now been completed fo
he convention of the department council
be Patriarchs Militant Of Iowa in Marshal
own tomorrow and Friday. There will ;
= prize drills by various companies from dill
L. t.r.n. parfa 81 tha state There will he