Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-29

uuate valuation of railway property
for taxation purposes This senator was
appointed by the chairman of the
ways and means committee to investi-
gate the subject and report by bill II
necessary. 1t became noised about that
he had secured statistics that might
lead to additional railway taxation leg
iSlation.
zone day the president Of one or
more of the Burlington's branch lines
called on him, stating that 1t was at
the request of the Burlington's gen
eral solicitor, and solicited private
interview. This being denied, two IN
teryiews were arranged and held IN
the presence of witnesses. First. an
effort was made to get information as
to the alleged damaging statistics
That failing, at the second intervie"
it was sought to dissuade the senator
from his undertaking by suggesting
that he was good timber for a place
on the executive council, and that u
would be unwise to antagonize railway
interests.
ION the day the railway taxation bill
was to come up under special order
and this senator was to speak, TINS
railway president appeared on the fioor
of the senate, and calling this senator
aside. said to him Senator, can't
coo how this speae IA are about to
make for I assume III will make II,
can do you any possible good, and l
can see how it will do you much HARM
both as a senator and as a private
citizen
"The railway lobby, to secure In
f1uence over men who might oppose
their selfish interests first hold up the
hope of political preferment, ana tneh
do not hesitate to threaten with poht-
zeal and business humiliation those
who dare disobey their demands.
The senator related an incident IN
which a sheriff who impaneled jury
was found to have gotten pass from
tho railroads attorney and was pre-
vented from drawing the jurymen, but
when the next officer took up the du-
~ free mileage book was sticking
out of his pocket.
Senator Lewis said:
"How would you like to have case
at law tried by a judge, the jury suns
moned by sheriff and the verdict rem
dered by jury, each having $lOV
hill in his pocket, the gift Of your OPP
ponent in the case? Yet this IS tne
kind Of justice that has been meted
out in railway cases in Iowa under the
corrupt reign Of the pass.
A Hit at Shaw.
"The express companies are the
most expert and persistent tax dodg-
ers.. A few years ago the Iowa leg
islature passed bill that was estima-
ted wokld produce from 100000 to s4O,-
600 revenue to the state from taxes
on express companies. An Iowa COVER
nor. sitting on the executive council,
practically nullifed the law by a ruiz
ing on what should not constitute their
earnings. 1t was charged at the time
that the motive Of this ruling was to
earn the gratitude Of Tom Platt, the
New York express magnate and poll
teal boss, and to secure backing ana
influence of the corporations In general
for the promotion Of his presumptuous
political aspirations"
Senator Lewis suggested the follow
ing remedies, giving convincing argu-
ment for each proposition:
First, abolish the official and politi-
cal pass by law.
second, Danish the corrupting lob
byists from the capitol.
Third, send men to the national and
state councils who are free from en-
tangling railway alliances and who
will in good faith work for laws in
tended properly to control railway
rates and effectively destroy rebates
and determinations.
Fourth, the statewide, direct primary
law guarantees to every voter the
right to express his choice for nomi-
nees within his own party, without in
reference and in private on the same
fixed day, and that vote shall be coun-
ted and be of as much force in max
ing nominations as his vote at the
polls on election day is in determining
elections.