Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-15
Believed That Committee Will
Report 1t Out For Favor
able Action
NO GREATER POWER FOR MAYOR
Municipal League Plan to centraIize
City Government Does Not Meet
With Favor-F,ailway Men Change
Front on the 500 Mile Mileage Book
Proposition.
Special to Times. Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
| Des Moines, Feb 15.-Objection wa
made TO every feature of the White re
ciprocll demurrage bill in the hearing
before the house railroads committe
/ yesterday afternoon. The one principa
argument was made by w. D. Eaton
attorney for the Burlington and law
partner of j. w. Blythe, who claimed
that the bill could not force railroad:
| to furnish cars for shipment on theil
line of road He argued that this woule
| operate against the shippers since rail-
roads fearing demand for cars would
| not furnish any cars for shipment OF
| their own lines and that such ship
ments constitute the bulk of the ship
| mentS.
He objected however, to other pro-
visions of the bill. He objected to the
days in which to furnish car, Claim
ing that other states give four to six
days in which to furnish cars and thai
they require the shipper to deposit
one fourth the amount OF freigh
charge. They ella med further that the
railroads under the White bill have nc
recourse if the shipper does not use the
car and that shipper could order loo
cars, the bill fixing no limit. or some
number which the shipper was sure
they could not furnish and then collect
81 day for each car every day.
Mr. Eaton further argued that the
bill furnishes an easy means for rail-
road to give rebates to favored ship
pers by allowing the shipper to order
number of cars and then not fur
nish the cars but pay the 50 day de-
murrage till the amount of the rebate
desired to be paid had been reached.
Representative White of Story coun-
ty, the author OF the bill, presented 1t
and introduced number Of witnesses
who testified to the car shortage and
furnished cars. They told of delays
and impressed upon the committee that
there is real need of the legislation.
The committee took no action yester-
day but at the next meeting will act
either to report the bill for passage
or indefinite postlonement. 1t may be
that changes will be made in the bill
but there is an impression that 1t will
pass.
At the meeting of the democrats at
luncheon at the Slavery the other night
it is understood the Nebraskan who
was the guest OF the occasion sug-
gested the feasibility Of postal vote
law. This is a provision by which citi-
zens away from home on election day
could vote by mail.
Ought a police judge to be judicial
officer or part Of the administrative
force Of the city? That is a question
which is botherins some Of the legisla-
tors
The question came up in connection
with the series of bills that have been
presented on behalf of the league of
municipalities One provision has a
change which wou.d make police Judges
subject to appointment of a mayor and
subject to removal by him without
cause. Mayor Williams, Of Oskaloosa,
who presented TIE matter on behalf
of the league, frankly admitted that 1t
was for the purpose of having the
mayor and police court in harmony so
that they would never be tempted to
pull apart and defeat justice.
But legislators present at the hear
ing questioned the wisdom of placing
;,, he rf
that administer Justice under ordin-
ances.
The general bill Of the league looks
to greatly enlargilg the powers of the
mayor and making his office more Of
an executive. Office while the council
becomes more of IA legislative position.
The bill would reluce the number Of
wards in second class cities to five or
less and have one alderman for each
ward with two at large; in towns five
councilmen all elected at large. Town
mayors would not be councilmen. BIZ
ennial municipal elections are pro-
yided. Engineers, physicians and street
commissioners would be appointed by
the mayor, and in cities under 1000 the
council would choose the solicitor.
chosen by the city council.
The provision that the mayor of a
city council should appoint the police
judge, and that all appointive officers
could be summarlly removed by the
appointive power, caused some spirited
discussion. One point made in its
favor was that in towns and cities of
the second class the mayor and judge
are one and the same, and the plan
suggested would come near to having
this same condition in first class
cities.
Other bills considered relate to max
ing a board Of public works free from
influence of the council; to forbidding
treasurers to loan out public money
for private gain; 10 increase the pos
sible tax levy for sewer purposes in
certain cities.
of care to the preparation of these
bills and they are being urged upon
the legislature With much force as
necessary to harmonic the laws OF the
state.
Nobody had discovered until the 9TH
er day that the constitution of Iowa
has been changed since the last session
of the legislature. The fact was dis
closed at the hearing Of the railroad
committee of the senate. 1t will be
recalled that year ago Mr.. Chassell
in the house bill for what
was called family mileage book at
2 cents mile 1t was moderate