The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-04-26

independence of party or political die
tation, and to demonstrate their faith
fulneSS TO the railroad companies.
whose support they had received and
solicited, the members who voted
against house file No. 374, Mr.. Cum
Minis among the number, had their
portraits taken in a group and present
ed copies to the leading railroad COM
panfes represented in the city of Des
Moines. This picture for months and
almost for years was displayed in q
prominent place in the several rail-
road offices. 1t contains the pictures
of the following members: Hon. A. B.
Cummins, now governor of Iowa; Mr..
Hipwell Of Scott, Craig Of Lee, Curtis
of Clinton. Buell. of Clinton, Lirnback
of Des Moines, Redman of Poweshiek.
Beech Of Scott, Custer OF Jasper.
Thompson of Clayton, Luke of Frank
lin, and Moore Of Tama.
Opposed Reduction Of Fares.
After committing himself upon
these leading measures, as outlined,
it must be stated that Mr. Cummins,
in order to reinstate himself in favor
with his associates, and recognizing
the fact that its passage was abso-
lutey assured, since 1t had been dem
onstrated in both the house and
senate of the Twenty-second general
assembly, that the overwhelming pop
in favor of its enactment, Mr.. Cum
minis supported house file No 373,
which is today the law OF Iowa and
an essential part OF the code His
support of this measure was corltem-
poraneous with his Introduction OF
an unconstitutional bill for the maxi
ing OF railroad rates, as above re-
ferred to, by his opposition to the
bill providing for the election of
railroad commissioners. and by his
opposition to the bill for the reduc-
ton of passenger fares to 2 cents
per mile.
Opposed Trust Legislation.
Mr.. Cummins' later record sup
porting Gov. Roies as democratic
candidate for governor on two sue
ccssive occasions thereby putting
himself out of the pale of the re-
publican party, is well known 10 the
state. His return TO the republican
party WAS contemporaneous with his
demand for republican honors as "A
candidate for the United States sem
ate and later for governor OF Iowa.
Mr.. Cummins' position upon the
trust question is likewise disclosed by
his record in the house OF represent
tatives of the Twenty-second general
assembly The first trust measure
ever acted upon by the general as
sembly OF the state, and which be-
came a law, met with his opposition
at every stage. His final vote against
the measure, which is known as sem
ate file No. So, is shown on page 1908
of the house journal of the Twenty
second general assembly.
Attorney and Judge at Same Time.
Mr.. Cummins has had a peculiar
career in the matter of taxation ques-
lions. As heretofore stated, he was
identified with the Des Moines Union
Railroad company as director and
attorney. That connection has con-
tInued ever since. This corporation
owns valuable terminal facilities in
the city of Des Moines. 1t purchased
property which was subject to taxa
ton as private property built its
tracks thereon, built passenger sta
tion involving an investment OF sew
eral hundred thousands of dollars, a
freight station, and owns today in the
city of Des Moines in the neighborhood
hood of seventy-five miles OF track.
The property purchased by the Des
Moines Union for its business was
formerly assessed and taxed by the
city OF Des Moines, Polk county. and
the state of Iowa and thousands OF
dollars of revenue realized therefrom.
When IL became railroad property 10
was assessed ON a mileage basis and
while, as shown by the sworn reports
of the company 10 the railroad COM
lnissionefs, this company Is capitalized
at $2,000,0Oc, Its assessment, as
shown by the records OF executive
council, aggregate tile pittnnce Of
$56,250. II contributes this sum only
TO the support Of the municipal. coun-
~ ana state gf.sfnments. N0twittl-