Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-15
MESSAGE
NELL RECEIVED
Plea For Two-Cent Fare At
tracts Greatest Attention
Among Legislators
STATE DOCUMENT STRONG ONE
Discussion of Railroad Rates and Con-
troll Backed by Pertinent Facts-Des
Moines People Disappointed Because
of Governors Opposition to tho Com
mission Plan of Municipal Govern
mont.
pecial to Times-Republican.


zen. took the oath of office as governor
and committed himself absolutely to
the service of his state.
Yesterday, in the presence of the
members of the Thirty-second general
assembly, he gave brief accounting
of his stewardship, and spoke words OF
advice for the future.
OF the 15S persons who sat in the
joint assembly to listen to the inaugur-
al address Of Governor Cummins five
years ago, only twenty-four were OF
the membership Of yesterday. Only
four Of these are members Of the
house, so, that there are 104 house
members who have come into public
life since Governor Cummins was in
augurated.
In the body which listened to the
message of the governor yesterday
there sat only one member who was
an associate Of Cummins when he sat
in the house as legislator some few
years ago-such is the rapidity with
which changes are made in public life
in Iowa.
The governor was in excellent voice
and spirits and he read his message
in a manner to impress all with his
earnestness. He was received with
generous applause as BELTS a chief
executive of the state and he was ac-
corded close attention. Marked evil
dences Of approval of the more striking
passages of the message was shown by
the members during the reading. Be
cause of the fact that the message has
day there Were few present save the
members of the legislature, state Off
GERS and prominent Dies Moines people.
When the governor reached that por-
ton of his statement relating TO rail-
roads the members were all attention,
for it was at once recognized that the
governor would hardly approach the
subject without saying something i'm
portant. When he came out strong
and earnest for the adoption Of the 2
cent fare, and gave an argument which
it will be very hard for the railroads
to meet, there was evidence of hearty
approval Of. his words. Everywhere
It was remarked, afterwards that this
was the real important new feature
of the message. What he had to say
in regard to the necessity for some
thing to improve the condition in re-
gard to freight rates in Iowa was also
was a subject somewhat new to even
the older members and there was a
feeling that in this the governor had
mapped out big program for the
legislators. His distinct approval of
the general principle of recip-
rocal demurrage as a meas
ure OF justice in disposing of
one Of the great problems growing
out of railroad development caused
mild sensation.
That the governor is one not to be
swayed by passing fancies was shown
in his treatment Of the subject of re-
form in municipal affairs. He has
been beseiged to indorse and recon-
mend the autocratic commission plan
of city government in place of the
representative form, but he distinctly
declined to do so, and he pointed out
how improvement might be made
without seriously disturbing present
systems In view OF the desperate at
tempt being made by the politicians
of Des Moines to make Des Moines a
better city by legislative enactment his
discussion of this subject caused some
surprise.
But the general comment everywhere
was that the message was q strong
one and that 1t did credit to the gov
ernor His statement of the financial
situation confronting the state was
pleasing. The good record made in re-
cent years has been maintained and
his recommendations are in line with
the generous but just policy of making
| appropriations which has continued
under his administration. The gen.
eral remark was that the governor hao
covered the whole ground and hac
hardly left anything to be said in his
inaugural message Of next Thursday
| AS part of his message which ne
had not prepared until Monday, Gov
ernor Cummins added the following on
express and telegraph companies:
1.-The twenty eighth general assembly
passed an act providing for the taxa
ton of the property of express COM
1 panies, which the executive council
has. since it's passage, been attempting
to apply The object of the statute Is
to ascertain a taxable mileage value
of all the routes of a given express
company, and then take the proportion
in this state as basis for taxation
within the state. IInquestionably, the
general assembly had in mind the or
| binary railway lines over which ex-
press companies, do their business on
land. The fact is, however, that some
of the express companies have ocean
routes, of tremendous distances but OF
little value. and 1t is commended, year
after year, that in ascertaining the val
ue of the routes in Iowa the council
must take into consideration the oeear
| lines as we'll as the land lines. To dc
so would be TO reduce tht taxable val
ue of the lines in Iowa to an absurd
point. but the letter of the law gives
some strength to the argument.
| recommend a careful revision of this
statute go that all doubt respecting its
Interpretation will be removed and g
fair. valuation clearly imposed
1 500 unod raocnp xphv the