Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-08

SuIllclenl. lOuk upon lie itpoItiou VI
passes and the adoption Of primary
law as parts of the same remedial leg
islation. They are both needed to Sc
cure the desired end. and neither will
be entirely effective without the other.
Biennial Elections.
In accordance with the resolution
adopted by two successive general as
semblies, there was submitted at the
general election of 1904 the constitu-
tional amendment to bring about BIZ
ennial instead of annual elections. The
amendment was adopted by the cleo
tors and due proceedings We're had to
make it part of the organic law of
the state The only concern that we
now have with regard to the amend
ment is the adjustment of our statutes
so that they will conform to the con-
stitution. as it now exists. There are
many sections OF the code which will
require amendment So vital Is the
necessity of bringing the code into
harmony with the constitution and so
careful and thorough, must the investi-
CATION be, that l take the liberty of
recommending that the work be
given to a special committee in each
branch of the Assembly.
One effect of the amendment will be
to bring into office all elective officers
at the same time. So far as the state
is concerned, do not think this is es-
pecially objectionable. but do believe
that in the counties it will be found to
be serious obstacle in the way OF
efficient management Two remedies
have been proposed. First, to make
the terms Of office generally four years
Instead of two, so that a part OF our
ofliciary will be elected in one BIZ
ennial period and part in the sue
ceeding period. just as they have
heretofore been elected in alternate
years. Another remedy to meet the
trouble that may arise In the coun-
ties is that, although elected at the
same time, the terms be made to be-
gin at different times in the year, and
thus preserve measure of continuity
and experience. l have reached no
settled conclusion upon these RENE
dies, and therefore express no opinion.
l only say that the difficulty is real
one, and should receive the mature re-
Election of the General Assembly before
any action is taken.
Practice That Ia Vicious.
There has been much discussion, not
only in our own state but elsewhere,
respecting free transportation, or
passes, over railway lines. The prac-
tice is vicious. and should be pro-
hibited. 1t is utterly indefensible from
any point of view. 1t is certainly not
true that every pass issued by rail-
way company is issued with corrupt
intent, nor it it true that every per-
son receiving a pass accepts 1t with
an unlawful motive. 1t is wholly Inn
possible to discriminate between those
who can he influenced with such cour-
tesies and those who cannot, and
therefore if the remedy is to be com
mensurate with the evil, it must pro-
hibit all free transportation. This is
right from any point of view. The
railways are public highways, and all
persons are entitled to use them upon
the same terms under like conditions.
Under the pass system, those who are
best able to pay travel for nothing.
and those who are least able make up
the loss.
l earnestly recommend the adoption
Of law which shall have no excep-
lions to the prohibition except two,
and they are not, when properly ana.
lyzed, exceptions. Persons in the ser
vice Of a railway company who receive
passes by the custom of the COM
panies as a part of their compensation
should be permitted to receive them,
and the stock shipper, who must either
accompany his stock or send someone
in his stead. should be allowed free
transportation and return to his home,
because an attendant is necessary to
care for the stock, and the transporta
ton for such an attendant is part of
the freight charge. In some states in
which there are statutes against
passes. the attempt is made to limit
the prohibition to persons holding Off
cial positions. l regard such statutes
as altogether inadequate, for there is
as much harm in giving free trans
portation to prominent men,. to leaders
in political contests and to delegates to
conventions as there is in giving them
to men after they have been elected to
office. ] sincerely hope that your patri
otto Judgment will lead you to make
an end, once for all, of this custom, not
a part of it but all of it, condemned as
it is by the universal opinion of man.
kind. 1t will be understood that what
/ have said about railways applies
with equal force to street railways,
telegraph, telephone, express com
panies and sleeping car companies =
in short, to all public service corpora
tons.
For Two Cent Mileage.
! respectfully recommend, also, a
further regulation with respect to pas
senger fares upon railways. AT the
present time, the ordinary traveller
pays three cents per mile. The rail
ways sell mileage book covering2,OOO
miles of travel, good for one year, at
the rate of three cents per mile with
a rebate for the mileage, to be ex
hausted within the year, of $3.50, OF
substantially one cent per mile. They
have also a credential system which
involves travel of 1000 miles within
the same period, with a rebate OF one