Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-22
Senate Ways and Means Com.
mittee Begins Hearings on
Railway Tax Bill.
Report OF the Subcommittee
Received..Mr, Herriott and
Others Heard.
Over Six Hundred Bills Printed
and Ready for Consider.
alton.
,pecial to Times-Republican.

committee on ways ana HledilS IeCelNeu
the report of the subcommittee on the
railway assessment law yesterday
ton, but the chief matter discussed in
the committee was the time of hearing
on the bill and who should be heard
and in general the method of arriving
at conclusion. Those who listened
at the keyhole declare that there was a
hot time In the committee meeting and
that there was great abundance OF
linharmony manifest. Be this as it
may, the members are saying nothing
about 1t. The committee listened to
Mr.. Herriott and some others who We're
called before it, and set q date for
hearing the railroad men who may be
anxious to say something In antago-
nism to the bill. But it is not entirely
certain that the railroad attorneys will
fight the bill very hard. There is much
lack of knowledge about the bill and
many members profess ignorance of
what is intended and what may be the
result. The bill is such a radical de-
parture from the present method that
members say they are unable to make
up their minds right away. The hear
ing next Tuesday afternoon may be n
very interesting one; but the members
OF the committee give 1t out cold that
they do not want hearings prolonged
unreansonably long.
The number of bills printed and
ready for consideration in the legisla-
ture is 500 in the house and 236 in the
senate. This does not include the bills
presented Thursday and Friday which
have not been printed. The records of
the file clerks show that the largest
number of bills introduced by any one
member is by Senator Courtwright, a
new member, who put in sixteen, and
close to him is Representative Teach
out with fourteen and Senator Hay
ward with thirteen. Hubbard has in
troduced eleven. Alexander, Dowell,
Garst and Sweeley nine each, and An
derson and Emmert eight each. Those,
Who have seven each to their credit are
Buchanan. English. Hamann, Hughes.
Secor and Crawford. Those who had
not up to Thursday morning put in a
Il,
Brooks and Hartshorn; and Represent
atives Whiting, Walters, Pritchard.
Patton, McClurkin. Mcclure, Langan of
Crawford. King. Gilchrist, Flenniken.
Tiker. Grouse, Cowles. Christianson
and Bailey. Fields introduced three,
Cummings six, Couburn two Classen
four, Willett one, and so on.
The G. a. r. visiting committee
which appeared before the legislative
committees in behalf of the appropria-
ton for the Soldiers Home impressed
upon the members the fact that the
board OF control has asked for too little
rather than too much. Mr.. Crapo de-
clared before the committees that the
ought to increase the ap-
preparation asked for the hospital ad-
d.tion, and that in a few years another
addition will have to be provided for.
He showed that the tendency is to use
as the years go by there will be greater
need for it. There is no doubt that If
1t is possible to do so the committees
will grant everything asked for by
the board of control for the Soldiers
more.
The Trewin resolution to cause the
committee on retrenchment and reform
to make inquiry into the cause for the
failure of some of the state officials to
make proper reports concerning the eN-
penses of their offices is now thru both
houses, and the burden is on the COM
mittee to see that the investigation is
made at once and that it is thorough
The committee consists of six good men
-Junkin. Healey, Garst, Clarke, Hughes
and Temple. If these men are not
to force from unwilling state
officials some information as to why the
laws have been ignored, then no mem
bers of the legislature could succeed in
such task. The fact is that quite q
number of state officials have deliber-
ately failed to make itemized reports of
expenditures. that they have evaded or
avoided the law, and that the book pub |
ished by authority of the executive
council which is supposed to be com |
plete report of these items of expense
IS far from satisfactory. AS soon as
the investigation is entered upon sew
aral bills will be introduced looking
to strengthening the law. 1t may be |
necessary to provide a penalty for fail
ire to make the reports. This is pro-
fided for in bill which has not been
introduced yet. A bill put in the SEN
ite by Healey. chairman of the iudi |
,iary committee of the senate, makes |
provision for the employment by the
executive council of two expert ac
'ountants to go over the books of all |
state institutions and Offices except the
BOARD of control institutions. and make
'eport not only on the showing of the
books but the manner of keeping the
BOOKS and accounts and all other mat
ers regarding the conduct of officials
The bill also authorizes the executive
council to direct how the accounts shall
'e kept so that reports may be made in
accordance with law. Such a bill would
greatly strengthen the executive coun-
II in the matter of securing and pub
ishing complete reports of the expen-
litures.
"A bill is pending to make the office
# reporter of the supreme court an ap-
'ofntiye one and to be filed by selec-
Ion of the supreme judges. Such law
would end long series of troubles over
his Office There has been a rreat dnnI u