Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-31
.N[N ASSESSMENT BILL
Rumors That Another Measure
Will Be introduced In Iowa
Senate.
Provides for Only Slight Amend
ment to the Present AS
sessment Law.
Executive Council May Take In.
TO Consideration Stocks
and Bonds Value.

Des Moines, March Si-IIleie die
rumors that a new railway assessment
measure will be introduced in the SEN
ate. Such bill was prepared py some
of the men who We're most interested
In the other bill They have hesitated
about it's introduction at this time so
late in the session and it may never
come to the surface The new bill pro-
vides merely for slight amendment TO
the present law where it enumerates
the things which the executive council
NAV take into consideration in arriving
at the value of the railroad properties
for assessment purposes. The new bill
would insert among the things sPeclfi-
cally mentioned there a reference to the
value of stocks and bonds The law
row reads that the council may take
into consideration gross and net earn
ings, physical conditions and other
things. BY inserting a clause referring
specifically to stocks and bonds the au-
thors of the bill believe all would be
IlaW. In this connection there has been
some inquiry as to the fate of the En-
glish bill, which passed the house and
was sent to the senate many weeks ago.
This is the bill which was specifically
asked for by Governor Cummins. 1t
carried out his idea and that of the en-
tire executive council as to what new
Legislation is needed that the executive
council may make just assessment.
The bill provides for further informa-
ton from the railroad companies in re-
gard to the division of profits between
state and interstate business, but more
particularly it contemplates that the
railroads shall keep their books in a
manner that will be less confusing, that
twill enable the council to understand
4 the relative Importance of the various
Items and will afford q better basis for
comparisons between the reports The
bill was put thru the house avowedly
as measure to fulfill the suggestions
csN.tained in the inaugural address of
Governor Cummins. 1t went to the
senate where it was hung up to await
the fate of the senate committee rail-
way assessment bill. It was contended
that the latter would cover the whole
ground. But since the latter has been
defeated the friends of the governor
are demanding that the English bill be
PASSED in the senate. Some of the SEN
ators are showing signs of holding back
because they claim that the friends of
the governor defeated their bill in the
house. and they say they will not allow
the governors bill to get thru. But this
stand can not be maintained much
longer.
There was not a quorum of the SEN
ate present this morning, and after a
memorial resolution regarding the late
Henry Dashiel of Monroe county, the
senate adjourned until tomorrow. The
insurance committee introduced a bill
providing for a standard policy of in
surance, based on the Iowa law, the
state auditor and the attorney general.
There is nearly as much opposition to
the passage of the English bill as there
was to the railway assessment bill, at
least as much of a feeling among the
railroad men that it would be burden
some, and for the Identical reasons
The bill provides for division of ac-
counts and report on this division. A
year ago when the executive council
had finished the assessment the secre-
tary was instructed to send to the rail-
road companies notice that they would
be expected to so keep their books that
they could tell what proportion of their
profits was realized on Iowa business
and what portion after the business
crosses the line. Now they declare that
the books can not be- so kept without
great expense that this would necessi-
tate pro rata figuring up of profits on
every way bill of the entire system. But
the feature of the English bill which is
really what was most fought by the
governor is that of uniformity in ac-
counts and reports. If the accounts are
uniform the council may go far toward
remedying the errors of past assess
ments.
The new Molsberry bill is now in the
center of the stage. Its history thus
far is simple. 1t was introduced by
Senator Molsberry when the senate
opened Saturday morning. 1t was. as is
the universal custom, referred to a
committee at once. 1t was sent to the
enrolling clerk and it's title copied. The
newspaper reporters got it and cleaned
it's import. The word was passed about
the senate before 10 o'clock that the bill
was a new bill to accomplish the same
thing as the one vetoed. Chairman Ho-
bart got the bill and called all the mem
bers of the committee together who
were present and the bill was passed
On and about noon was reported with
favorable recommendation and was
placed on the calendar. 1t is not un-
usual to do this at the close of the ses-
sion. The other day bill was intro
duced, reported and passed in the house
within an hour. The same thing has
been done in the senate recently. The
sitting committee will be named early
this week and then all bills will have
to get in line by order of this commit
important measures only will be al
lowed to come up, and all members
have been very Jealous the past week
in getting bills thru before the sifters
get at them. There is little doubt that
the plan of those who are pushing the
Molsberry bill is to send 1t to the gov
ernor as soon as possible and to then