Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-07-13

PAY LESS THAN 3 PER CENT
Claim is Made That Farm Lands arc
Assessed too High, When Compared
With Railroads and Other Property
Governor Packard Interested in
the Pure Food Law.
,ecial to mes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, July 13.-Some very
valuable information was given the
members of the executive council yes
terday by j. j. Ryan of the Corn Belt
Meat Producers Association. and half
% dozen other farmers on the matter
OF the farm valuation Of the state.
Since the hearings on the matter OF
assessments began the railroads have
argued that they ought to pay per
cent and that In fixing the value OF
the roads that ought to be figured.
The farmers on the other hand yester-
day told the council that between the
rates fixed by the railroads and the
prices paid by the meat packers, the
profits in farming have shrunk till the
farms pay less than per cent. Messrs
Thornburg OF Dallas county, Dern OF
Boone county, Thompson of Greene
county and Goodnow of Sac county, all
farmers on large scale, and owning
upwards Of 1000 acres each, claimed
In proportion to the interest on the
investment when compared with the
railroads, and figures were produced
to shcw that in Story county one farm
on which there had been no improve
ments for five years had advanced In
the assessment 46 per cent. while the
Northwestern railroad, which ran past
1t and which had been double track
ed and had new depots erected, had
been advanced but 81 per cent.
On the other hand Attorney Davis
Of the Northwestern argued to the
council that the agitation Of the freight
rate question had tended to decrease
the value OF the railroad properties OF
the country and that since the buyers
of railroad stock will not buy with the
same confidence now that they bought
two years ago, there should be at
least no increase in the railroad as
sessment.
There seems to be grounds to believe
that the Council Bluffs people will
win in their fight to get the assess
ment OF the Union Pacific there rails
ed. Heretofore there has never ap-
reared before the council any one from
Council Bluffs TO dispute the state
ments of the Union Pacific attorneys
that the value Of the property had
decreased. 1t has been represented to
the council that the terminal OF the
Union Pacific there is in much the
same condition as that at Sioux Guy
of the Union Terminal that the ten
ants we're leaving 1t and that the
property was in bad shape. The facts
presented by the citizens OF Council
Rluns were somewhat of revelation
and II is quite likely that the assess
ment will be advanced.
-
Governor Packard of Marshall-
town has been in the city conferrins
With Dairy Commissioners H. r. Wright
as TO the pure food law which will be
presented to the Legislature at the next
session. Governor Packard Is conf
dent that IL the bill as it was when
k,lled in the committee had been pre-
sented to the general assembly 1t
would have passed without difficulty.
Gov. Packard is chairman OF the COM
rn,ttee Of the agricultural department
that has the matter in charge and 1t IS
proposed to present the bill at the nexl
session of the legislature in about that
form. Governor Packard is endeavor-
ing to bring the matter to the atten-
ton of the people of the state and Is
feeling confident that a bill Will be got
ten thru at the next session. II IS un-
derstood that Representative Cum
mings, speaker pro tenn OF the last
house, is being interested in the Dill.
Governor Packard is In hopes that the
provisions of the bill will be brought to
the attention Of the people of the
state thru the press and feels that the
bill will speak for itself. He thinks the
women's clubs over the state that are
taking the matter UP are doing consid-
erable good in that direction.
Representative Teeter of Marion
comfy. who was in the city yester-
day says the farmers of his county are
insistent on the repeal Of the road law.
"In Knoxville" Mr.. Teeter says, the
farmers are in the habit Of coming to
town every Saturday and there are
from one to a dozen who speak to me
every Saturday about the road law.
For my part believe that at least 1t
should be made optional with the
townships. There are some townships
and sections of country where the new
law might work very we'll but down IN
our county the farmers find that the
roads are not in as good condition now
as formerly. Under the old law the
farmers worked out their poll taxes
and the road supervisor warned out
the men as needed. They worked IN
their own section of the country and
from desire to have good roads they
did good work Besides they went out
and worked pretty much as the roads
needed it and in that way piece OF
road didn't remain out of repair long
before fixed. We have good many
bridges in Marion county and under
this new system when the farmers pay
their tax in money and men are hired
70 keep the roads in repair they don't