Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-07-17

cal attorneys, the reason being that the
casualty companies are assuming most
of the risks for personal injury in gen
eral business and on firm will handle
a casualty companS's entire business
employing a force of lawyers who work
on salary and perhaps having 500 to
900 such cases on it's docket alone.
| With this concentration of law BUSH
ness and contraction of the volume OF
litigation because of the consolidation
| of many possible litigants into one
Incorporation it would seem that the law
graduate each year enters a more and
more difficult field. Yet there is the
consolation TO him that his special
education will prove of great assist
ance in almost any business he may
undertake. There are few positions in
| the commercial and mercantile world
today that can not be better filled by a
man educated in the law, other condi-
| lions being equal. However, when one
Hooks at the field and its competition
while the world is seeking and fairly
| begging for artisans everywhere he is
trade. A few lawyers make great sue
cesses now-a-d days, While the majority
are comparatively poor. On the other
hand the great successes in mechanics
are growing more numerous with the
development of this mechanical age
and today practically all artisans are
very we'll paid with little or no trouble
finding market for their skill.
i:,3 Ia II Ia, I'D
The old perplexing problem that has
bothered Iowa for many years is now
up before the executive council for SOL
ution. The assessment of railway
property is being considered and spe-
cial advocates heard pro and con. For
tunately the executive council this year
is composed of men who owe their cleo
ton directly to the people, with no OBJ
| legations due the railway attorneys
pleading before them, and measure of
justice may be expected.
AS is natural, the arguments of the
attorneys show that on comparison to
the amount of taxes paid on each 800
worth of actual value in real estate,
| railway property pays higher proper
ton, but each argument bases COM
parison on some one phase of the ques-
ton, while Governor Cummins has ex-
planned very clearly that in his opin-
ion the executive council should place
itself in the position of a purchaser of
the road and consider all conditions in
determining what constitutes the ac-
tual selling value of the property. Ger
tain parties have contended that such
value is accurately determined by the
stock market quotations of stocks and
bonds, but Governor Cummins suggests
Indirectly in his statement that pros
pective purchasing committee would
not buy on this showing alone but
would take trip over the road, exam
lining its physical condition its loca-
ton, the character of the country thru
which it runs and everything about the
property that would contribute to an
Intelligent understanding of its real
value.
Do; Sci "a
appeared before the council with an arr
gument in favor of higher assessments
of railway property, which, in the
MAN. was an excellent plea but per-
haps rather extreme in its conclusions.
Mr. Campbell's citations of compara-
tive assessments per mile in other
states is a point hard to meet for the
railway attorneys. 1t is true that Iowa
railway securities rank alongside of
those of roads in the states Of New
York, Illinois and Pennsylvania, while
the assessment per mile for taxation
ranks way down with Georgia anG
Florida. The assessment per mile fails
even to reach the average for all the
states in the United States, when Iowa
railroads are certainly above an aver
age in value.
| 1t is almost certain that railroads in
Iowa will have to submit to very ma
terial increase In their assessment this
wear. but they need not fear so drastic
and revolutionary rule as the stocks
| and bonds measure of values being ap-
nlied. The public would like to see
lieutenant Governor Herriott go before
| the council with an oral expression of
his views upon the subject. The Times
Republican has been told confidentially
nv railway officials who had appeared
before the executive council that, In
| former councils, Mr.. Herriott was the
| ONLY member who was really Well in
formed on the subject. The same
| could not be said of the council this
wear, with men of such experience as
Governor Cummins, Secretary Martin
and Treasurer Gilbertson sitting as
members, but nevertheless Mr.. Herr-
OTIS experience and study should be
awaited.
IOWA OPINIONS AND NOTES
Referring to cartoon representing