Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-26
STATE LEGISLATURE
REFORM IN RAILWAY ASS ESSMENT
LAWS UPPERMOST TOPIC.
Recent Action of the Senate Sub
Committee Brings the Question into
Sharp Prominence = Proposed De.
partment of Insurance.

the one overShad0wing subject be-
fore the Legislature for the last few
days. Ever since the session opened
there has been quiet discussion of re-
forms in railway assessment laws.
The question has been brought into
the sharpest prominence by the recent
action of the senate subcommittee APP
pointed to draft a railway taxation
measure This subcommittee, consist
ing of Senators Healy, Lewis, Junkin
and Porter, has drafted a bill and
submitted it to the senate ways and
means committee. 1t has taken the
opponents of changes in the railway
assessment laws by surprise. In so
far as the constitution of Iowa will
permit, it proposes to take away the
present discretionary power of the eX-
ecutiye council in making railway as
sessments. Under the present law the
council is required to give greatest
consideration to gross earnings in fix
ing assessments. Under the sub-com-
mittee plan the item of chief cOnsid-
Grafton in fixing values would be the
worth of the roads as determined from
the market quotations of their stocks
and bonds. The value of the Iowa
line of a system partly within and
partly without the state would be de-
termined by proportion, the mileage
of the whole system bearing the same
relation to the mileage in the state
as the value of the whole system to
the value of the Iowa line. 1t Is not
the intent of the bill. however. to make
the stocks and bonds the only deter
mining factor. Gross and net earn
ings and other data are also to be con-
sidered. The bill aims to require the
greatest publicity in the proceedings
of the council pertaining to assess
ments. The proceedings are to be
made public and the council. if the bill
is enacted, will have to make re-
port setting forth the valuation of
each road us ascertained from the
market quotations of stocks and bonds
and why there has been a deviation
from this method of valuation, if any
such deviation has been made. The
bill has been prepared with the object
of making it stand the tests of the
courts. 1t is based on the Connecti-
cut law, the Nichols law of Ohio and
decisions of the United States supreme
court. written by Justice Miller and
Justice Brewer, in cases involving the
validity of the stocks and bonds meth
cd of assessment. 1t will be the chief
subject of consideration in the senate
this week, hearings on the measure
before the ways and means committee
having been arranged for. The rail-
road interests will be heard in OPPOSE
ton to the bill early this week. The
hearings will be public and will at
tract the greatest attention.
Other railroad legislation that has
come up recently includes several
bills. Among them is the Hughes anti
pass bill. This has been tabled by the
house, the opposition to it being
stronger than it was two years ago
As an outgrOwth of the anti-pass bill
Donahue of O'Brien has introduced
a bill to require railroad companies to
give free transportation to members
of the assembly, state officers and
judges of the courts. The house rail-
road committee has voted to indefinite
ly postpone, the HOgue DILL passed by
the senate. to compel railroad cor
pOratiOns to furnish cars for freight
shippers under all circumstances. The
bill removing the limitation on the
Indebtedness Of railroad corporations
has been reported for passage in both
senate and house.
Bill for an Insurance Department.
State Auditor Merriam has caused
TO be prepared and submitted a bill
providing for state commissioner of
Insurance and a state insurance de-
partment. Under the present system
the insurance business is under the
supervision of the auditor of the
state. The volume of it has grown to
such proportions i'm recent years that
a strong demand for separate depart
ment has arisen. The bill provides
for commissioner to be appointed by
the governor, with the confirmation
of the senate, who is to receive a sal
airy of $500 year and to hold office
for two years. A deputy at $500
year and a chief clerk at 81, 300 year
Us authorized. 1t is provided the Of
ficers of the department shall have
no connection with insurance cOmpan-
les. either as directors, officers or
agents. The commissioner will be
charged with the general execution
or all insurance laws. The first com
missioner, If the bill becomes a law.
Will be appointed by the governor
prior to Dec. 81, 1902, under provisions
VI the niedsufe IOf ming vacancy
when the lie islature is not i'm session,
and will assume his duties Jan. 6,
1903. Provision is made for an Office
at the state capital for the commits
sioner.
The grocers of the state are doomed
to disappointment over the measures
they hoped to see enacted at this ses-
sion. The one i'm which they were
most interested is the bill that In
less drastic form. embodies the princi-
pies of the Eiker exemption bill of
two years ago. 1t provided 10 per
cent. of the personal earnings of the
head of family should be subject to
garnishment. The senate judiciary
committee has reported this bill for in
definite postponement The house
ways and means committee, by vote
of to 8, has reported it for passage
but there is a minority report against
the measure. 1t is expected there will
be contest over the measure in the
house, but even II it passes the lower
body, it Is doubtful II 1t will receive
any considerable support in the SEN
ate. The judiciary committees of
both houses have killed the bills to
abolish trading stamp projects The
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