Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-02-13
.HoGUE STIRS UP
RAILROAD LOBBY
Introduces Bill to Compel
Roads to Promptly Furnish
Cars to Shippers.
PASSED BY THE SENATE
VIII Be Harder to Get Through the
House-Opaorsunity for Municipal
Ownership Advoe ates--Rei-
road Assessment.

road Assessment.
Des Moines, la. Feb. IL Senator
Hogue of Monona county stirred up the
railroad representatives when he passed
his bill to make more eNacting require
mentS for furnishing cars to shippers.
The law has been explained hereto
fore in these dispatches. 1t provides
that when it is within their power,
the railroads shall promptly furnish
cars, reasonable notice being given
them. Experience having proved that
the roads get out of damages ON the
claim that it was not within their
poyer, Senator Hogue introduced his
bill to stl.ke out this reservation. The
bill was reported for passage on the
day it was introduced, and before it
had been printed it was called up, eX-
planned and passed.
Immediately the trouble began. Tho
railroad representatives soon discov-
cred it, and one of them said today
that he had already received about IA
hundred kilograms protesting against
such measure. 1t IS represented by
the roads that the new reading of the
law is jug handled proposition. If
they furnish cars which II shipper de-
cllnes to use. they can't force him to
pay for them. But If he demands cars
and they fail to send them, he can make
good in damage suit, provided he can
SNOW by the market quotations that he
lest money by not being able to ship at
the time he demanded the cars The
BIN Will have to fight hard for it's way
through the house, where the railroad
influence will he solidly arrayed against
1t.
Senator Hoeue insists that the com
lffaC. fs.y-
as against individual shippers or pri-
waite elevators in furnishing cars. This
ne claims has become so serious in Mo-
mona county that other shippers cam
not compete With the favored elevator
lines. N. NJ. Hubbard of the Chicago
and Northwestern road positively de-
MED this. and declares there is no such
discrimination. If there is any inequity
In furnishing cars. it may be as be-
tween stations where there is competi-
ton and those where there is none. 1T
is possible that ordinary seltishness
would dictate, in a time of scarcity of
cars, that competitive business be bet
ter taken care of than non competitive.
But this is the only possibility of dis
elimination.
Municipal Ownership Bill.
If there is any virile sentiment i'm fa-
vor of municipal ownership i'm this
state. 1t might accomplish something
by favoring the Harper bill, TO per-
INIT cities to increase their debts i'm
order to build or buy waterworks. gas
works, etc. Ottumwa has voted TO
build waterworks, but cannot take a
step because its debt is up to the statu-
tory limit, "A per cent of valuation
The Harper bill provides that in order
to buy or build the facilities referred
10. cities may contract debt above the
limit now fixed
This bill would open the only possible
chance for an extension of municipal
ownership in Iowa. The court decisions
have made it very definite that even /;
constructive debt may not be incurred
IN addition to the statutory limit If a
city could by 9 Sl,000000 for. $500 eco pay
Ing for it in bonds against the plant the
dealwoud be rejected by the courts. The
fact that the city acquired property
worth twice the amount of the debt
would not Re taken into considera ton.
The sole fact that the added debt ex
ceeded the limit would rule
There is much opposition to the bill
and the friends of municipal owner
snip Will have poor showing If they do
not make an effort. Senator Harper
admits that present chances are that
his bill will not even get out of com
mittee alive.
t1dlTOd0 assessment
The ways and means members from
the senate. conferred with Governor
Cummins and talked over ideas of rail
road assessment legislation. Not much
was given out after the conference.
but 1T is announced that the committee
is considering plan to have the ex-
ecutlNe council appoint Il commissioners,
10 lhNesllgate and report on the values
of all the railroads. This commissioner
would be an expert backed with ample
legal authority to compel reports and
get detailed information. He would be
named by the council. but If The. ,res
eht proposal is adhered to- he would
have to be confirmed lv !. two-t thirds
vote of the senate. just as members of
the board OF contro! are. The committee
viii confer with Lieutenant Governor
Herriott, who is reported to favor the
stocks and bonds plan of assessment
more strongly than ever 1t is said that
When the committee calls on Mr. Her
T,ott Tor g discussion. he will reply
that he will submit his views in writ
ing When these are submitted TO the
committee they will also be given to
the newspapers, and Mr. Herriott win
nave put himself on record i'm a way
that VIII leave him secure from any
Misunderstanding if the Legislature
TAILS to act as he believes: it ought. Mr..
iiei ilotl lilslStS lhat something definite /
and positive must be accomplished ar 4
TINS session, and his friends say that he
VIII not overlook any proper means to
make his own record straight
owa-Nebraska Boundary.
The question of fixing the boundary
line between Iowa and Nebraska. so
that the migratory disposition of the
Missouri river will not make people
along that stream uncertain whether
they live in Iowa or Nebraska. has
Deen receiving some attention Speak !
er Sears of the Nebraska Legislature
came here recently to confer with the
people most Interested i'm this matter
ara as result of the discussion then
ned II has been announced that iowa
can do nothing without constitution
~ anendme..t. The constitution adopt !
ed wheE this state was admitted to the |
union, and since readopted, fixed the
boundary line as the middle Of the Big
MUDDY Any change must be made by |
constitutional enactment. Whether an
will be proposed is uncer-
tain; probably nothing will be done.
The Titus biennial elections measure.
however, has been reported. and 50
has the proposed amendment TO give
every county member of the lower |
house. These have got out of the con
stitutional amendments committee. but |
woman suffrage is still waiting for its
chance.
The Hughes anti-pass bill came out
Of the house judiciary committee by a
vote of 9 to 8. 1t was considered at
TOWNE AS TAMMANYITE. !