Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-20
RAILROAD TALK
Murmur Of Approaching Contest In
House Heard.
MERGER TALK is ALL BLUE SKY

'y ON 10 MOI OndefStooo-
/ Bill Passes Lower Body to Reeu.
] late Street Railways and Also De.
filming Their Powers.
lRstsklalss.&
DeS MoineS, March Is.
mere is the murmur of approaching
contest in the house over the question
OF railroad taxation, but no man seems
70 understand the final lineup. OF
course the wiseacres and the sensa.
tionahsts are in full song, explaining
tnls and that move, and attributing mo.
yves to this or that knot of men, all
OF which is. apt to be the veriest moon.
SHINE. Let me give my readers a few
samples of the current conversation to
which have listened during the past
tWenty-four hours. "Mr. Cummins
and his supporters are preparing for the
administration source of embarrass-
ment," said one member of the honse
Ihey went before the people upon 4
platform. which was understood if not
written by the resolutions committee
at Cedar Rapids, that the railroad
taxes should be increased. Had this
not been the case Herriott would have
been the candidate. Now Mr.. Cum
minis knows, and no one better, that
the railroads are already taxed to the
limit of fairness, yet if he or his sup
porters We're to so express themselves.
they would be at once accused of full
hlling prediction promises. l can
not see how the administration is to
be extricated from an unpleasant di-
lemma"
No Politics in the House.
1--WE don't want this thing to be a
matter of politics in the house." said
another. II think the members are
competent of looking at the whole
proposition of railroad taxation from
practical standpoint without consid-
ering whether this or that faction is to
gain advantage. In reality we are not
here to help or impede factions, but
to work for the benefit of the state. If
the roads are sufficiently taxed, in pro-
portion to other property, then it is
worse than useless-it is unjust-for
us to waste time in seeking methods
to increase their rates. To ascertain
this fact, and this alone, is or should
be our task. To do this and to gain
an intelligent idea of the matter we
must seek information. |, for one, pro-
pose to get this information from any
course. If the railroad attorney can
give it best he is the man to whom I
will apply. If John Herriott has a
broader grasp of the subject | will sit
at his feet to gain knowledge. But
with my present information, and 1
have given the matter some thought,
/ am inclined to believe that the pres
ent law, is sufficiently comprehensive
and cannot be bettered by any plan as
yet proposed"
Minority Against the Bill.
speaking as member of the mi.
nority," said another, Il am against
the bill. 1t does not improve on the
present law in single particular. Our
party platforms, of course, are COM
mitted to the principle of just railroad
but | do not believe in max
ing DOGGY out of the corporations,
and am not afraid every time hear
a railroad mentioned that one is just
coming around the corner to bite me-"
Senator's Idea.
''The Lord deliver us from the man
Of one idea" said senator, on the
same subject when man rides a
hobby in politics and others encourage
him in his prancings and curvettings
there is>apt to be an upset which may
hurt the rider and his friends. We
are having the one-idea man in some
things in Iowa, and those who are en-
the same are preparing trou.
Die for themselves and the party
From fhpso and q Dnp,bor Of CT
talks / incline to the opinion that the
members Of the house will not greatly
worry over the politics of railroad as
plan of fighting their political battles
with this as the shuttlecock.
"Sprine Fever" Is Here.
Some Of the members are getting
,ired. The breath of spring has blown
through the whiskers of the farmers.
and they are anxious to get through
and take up the real business of their
ives with perhaps an added zest be-
cause they have been in really congo.
hal company and in pleasant surround |
ngs for some time.
MoIesberry Bill Not Understood.
If there is one bill which has been
before either body of the legislature
which has been misunderstood, and of |
which much has been said and written
n ignorance or prejudice it is what is
Known as the Molesberry bill This
Measure, which has passed the senate
ind is now about due from the house
committee, provides that railroad com
,anies can increase the limit of indebt
edness. All manner of schemes have
,een read into this simple measure by
hose who are eternally discovering
Mares nests. To give my readers a
lear idea of the same | asked the sen.
ltor from Muscatine yesterday to give
ne something of-the nature of the bill |
Ind the conditions which made its pre-
;entation necessary AS is usual with
his big, whole-souled law-maker he
,ielded up his time with the show of
pleasures: ut is easily understood |
lie answered. In 1851 the first law on
he subject of controlling corporate in
lebtedness was passed in Iowa. This
provided that they could not assume a |
,onded Indebtedness beyond two-thirds
FN.K