Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-31
PRESENT COMMISSION TOO SMALL
Argue That the Business is Too Heavy
and That Small Board is Not Rep
resentative Of the People-Democrat.
to Caucus to Determine Position on
Primary Legislation.
Special to Times-Republican.

l
other shipping interests are having a
bill prepared increasing the number of
railroad commissioners from three to
seven, and providing that the governor
shall appoint the additional four to be
added to the present three members
| In the message of the governor to
the legislature he recommended the
appointment of a commission to inves-
tigate the question OF freight rates in
Iowa to report at the next meeting Of
the legislature in 1909, and maintained
that there had been no substantial
change in the freight rates in this
state in the last eighteen years, tho the
rates in other states have been low
cred.
Representatives of the manufacturers
gathered here to urge the legislature to
adopt the suggestion, of the governor.
In the discussion of the proposition
among the members of. the lobby it was
suggested that 1t would be consider
ably over two years before any SUBJ
stantial relief could be had by that
method, as the present commission
would hesitate to make any changes
while the subject was being investigat-
ed by legislative commission. 1t
was therefore suggested that four adj
ditional members be added to the COM
mission to be appointed by the COVER
nor. Sharing views in harmony with
the governor, it was maintained the
majority, OF the commission would then
favor an investigation and the commits
sion could act on its own motion to
reduce the rates If 1t ascertained that
there were grounds for the reduction.
The three members of the present
commission were elected by the people
and their terms are for three years
each. 1t is understood that when the
commission was created Governor
Cummins was member Of the legis
lature. and he favored the appointment
Of the commission by the governor. 1t
is presumed he is still of the same
mind, tho his opinion as to the present
proposed increase in the membership
has not been ascertained
A bill is now in course Of prepare
ton along the lines outlined above and
will be ready in a few days, probably
by the last Of this week. The measure
will then be introduced in both houses.
The members who will introduce the
bills have not been determined upon.
= =
A joint caucus of democratic mem
bers of the legislature will be held
some time this week to determine the
party action in regard to a primary
election law, in favor of which the
party platform of the last election
takes a stand. The bill is now in
course Of preparation and an attempt
will be made to get the democrats
united upon their bill
The party is not in unanimous ac-
cord in regard to the provisions of the
measure. There are those who favor
the extreme both ways. Some wish
to have the lines drawn hard and fast
to protect party organization" while
q few declare that the party organiza-
ton will take care of itself and they
wish to leave the voter free to vote
as he wishes. The chief question at
issue seems likely to prove to be the
question of party affiliation and wheth-
er ,or not the voter will be required to
make such declaration.
There is very strong sentiment
against requiring a declaration of party
affiliation. Some of the democrats OBJ
ject to it, declaring that it does not
protect the secrecy of the ballot. They
wish the same secrecy to prevail in
the primary that prevails in the general
election. For this reason there is
strong sentiment among the democrats
for a provision similar to that of the
Wisconsin law whereby voter at the
primary is given a book in which are
the ballots of each party. The leaves
are perforated and the voter tears out
the ballot of his choice, makes crosses
opposite the candidates for whom he
wishes to vote and returns to election
judges both the ballot voted and the
unused ballots, it being thus impossible
to vote for candidates Of but one party
and the party utilization of the voter
being kept secret from the election
judges.
There is some sentiment among the
republicans in opposition to the pro-
visions Of the Crossley bill calling for
a declaration of party utilization and it
is not unlikely that as soon as the bill
comes lTOIQ LIE OH dAASAAA
ment will be ready to be offered cut
ting it out. One republican declared
today that he was coming to favor
making no restrictions whatever. He
was nearly ready to favor giving the
voter an Australian ballot and allowing
him to divide his vote between the var
!ous parties if he so chose.
Three bills were reported for passage
by the insurance committee of the
house this morning. One is bill pro-
viding a plan for assessment life in
surance companies to incorporate un-
der the legal reserve plan, another is a
bill requiring all insurance companies
to preserve vouchers for all expendi-
lures of 800 or more and the third is
bill allowing fraternal accident insur-
ance companies to do business in the
state. The bill providing a minimum
rate for fraternal insurance companies
was discussed and 1t was decided to fix
next Wednesday for a hearing on the
bill at which time representatives of
fraternal insurance companies will be
heard.