Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1907-01-17


examination and until It had been salts
factnr.ly shown that it had l,cen paid for
either IN n, money or property at a fair
.allc The universal practice of issuing
capital stock without any regard to the
value paid for 1t is the fruitful source OF
more injustice and oppression than any
other in which corporations indulge.
To permit corporations 10 issue
{: stock as they now do is no more
defensinle than to license the pi-
rate TO pre- upon defenselcss
lcnp'
L; is believed by many of the most
thougiitful students of governmental al
fairs that the time has come for an annual
franchise corporation TAX concur in
that belief. You could add greatly to the
revenues of the atate- and at the same
tine place some of the burdens of govern
mont where they belong by providing such
IL tax
Contributions by Corporations.
That 1t has become 4 custom with cor
tribn,ions to accomplish or defeat the
nom!ration of c,,nddatcs for public office
and to assist In the election of candidates
for public office is so we'll known and has
been so completely established that 4 need
not pause To prove It's existence. There are
many reasons. OF the weightiesl character
which demand an immediate prohibition
against such misuse of corporation funds
coupled with n penalty of Imprisonment
for The violation OF the law: First. the
growing tendency to use money in political
campaigns is sabversive of the funda-
mental principles of good government, for
IL not only destroys he purity of motive,
but ii overthrows the safety which :s al
ways found IN individual or Independent
artlon. Second, ut is a plain theft from ev-
cry stakeholder who does not give hts CON
sent TO the contribution and the msappro-
prIation : peculiarly obnoxious because
II oftentimcs puts the money of u stock
holder at work for candidate whose suc-
cess The sfockholder does not desire.
Third. the practice gives 20 the corpora-
ton an influence in public affairs chiefly
because Of The money so contrib,.ted an
Influence which IS necessarily both selfish
and vicious
Corporations should. OF their own mo-
ton. vigorously exclude themselves from
politics. and tie most effective way in
which 10 give them strength To resist
temptation is to fix penalty for partic-
patton so severe that tho honest cours.
Will he the mos attractive one. J recon-
nicrI with an my earreStness lllt n!l;lct-
inn1t of 4 Treasure upon tins subject that
Will stop. NJ once and forever so udio,,s a
misuse. of corporate property
Publication of Expenses.
II, this connection desire to submit an
other suggestion. ! recognize Ila there
muse be som" expenditure of money in
every political campaign. whether for
,omination or for election. There are le-
gitimate purposes for which money can
be expended and to this extent. when con
tributed BY individuals there can be no
criticism Of the practice. Yon will ALI
agree. however, that the expenditure of
money IN political controversies has
passed bcNond u fair and reasonable limit.
Other countries and other states have at
tempted to restrict the use of money with
N honest bounds through tha: very eff
ciclt correction. publicity think the state
of Iowa should do likewise. and / strongly
recommend u law that VIII require not
only political committees bur candidates
for nomination and for election tn publish
Their expenditures.
Lobbying and the Lobbyists.
My Vow. upon lobbying and the lobbyist
are fairly well known but I venture once
moro to express them. Corporations as we'll
as individuals oft@utimes have n direct
pecnniars or aroperty interest in measures
THAI are proposed before legislative
body. When sach measures arise, it is
fundamental that ,hey have the right To
he heard, TO deny them the privilege OF
men who make tho laws would he ntoler-
able i'm an enlightened government. Mani
fcsty, however. the privileges of such rep
rcscniatiNes should be limited 10 the sub
mission of such matters as toucs1 the merit
or ,lc,nrr.t of the legislation proposed ana
whenever and wherever a corporations or
individual attempts 10 influence member
by any consideration. no matter what it is
he commits a crime against morals. and
the punishmen; should he swift. sure ;lnd
severe. ! understand perfectly thai such
oiteuses ar" not easily discovered but
that is no reason for immunity when thes
are discovered,
~ good reptite, and therefore make this
distinction. He who cores before you.
fairly argues Inc case gwen - him. sub
n,i;S has cas- honestly, and goes his WAY.
IL not lobbyist. and the term which has
becont. ono pf relroach ough, nor 10 be
applied In HIN. Tho real ioDhyist is the
man Who has no coMccru foi. the merit of
ms law which he advocates or the demotit
Of tho law winch he opposes. lie is II man
Who attempts 10 create rersonal obiisa
.ioiiS Nyhicl, VIII iniiHenpe votes He is the
nan who iiitrlucs for combinations in
Which votes tor or against one measure
art TRADED fo, or AGAINST votes Tor another
measure. iie is the man who Iersl!aS his
avoe,tion behind locked doors. and in dark
corners Ipis the man who wants TO win.
right or wrong. and puts his deaire TO ac
coinpish !.i pulpos. above his; duty II
ciizen. such :, lobbyist ought not to he
registered :tnywhert He ought to be ;ibol-
! shed everywhere.
are growing every year less conspicuous
/, ard less uuinerons. hope to see the spe-
ces wholly disaprHar, and THAI the his
I torian of the future may be able To write
| That about this time the race became OK
| t.net.
Direct Inheritance Tax.
We now have ,. statute which ievics
nme %a'1 Th g"nt W M
4 also direct inheritance tax may well en-
/ gage you, attention do not look upon
! II taN of that character as method for
| The reduction OF swollen fortunes. I view
/ 1t solely as another effort to eauaiize tho
/ burdens of society. Il ought not TO he
4 levied upon small nhcritances: but after
! the proper limit is passed there is no
reason which ilstiiics Il collateral inheri-
! lance tax which will not also vindicate
i. one upon direct inneritanccs. earnestly
| hope that you will interest yourselves in
the subject. and take such action upon 1T
| as the best interest of the state re-
| GuireS.
Municipal Government
One of the propositions upon which all
! persons and all parties seem to agree is
/ that the established system of govern
4 mcnt in our larger cities is hopelcssly In
4! cfticicnt. In these days when franchises
| 10 public service corporations have be
come so important. when the sums en-
| pcn.lnd for public improvements have be-
i come so vast and the expense of admin
iStra,on has SO multiplied. the form OF
! municipal government ough; 10 receive
tho best thought Of The general assembly.
ing revision of Our statutes upon this
subject There are wide differences re-
spccting the changes that should be made
My own view is that the Representative.
served Aldermen should he elected a,
large, and the city couhcil confined
strictly to legislative duties. Power should
10 concentrated in The mayor and h
shoMd be the responsible administrative
head of city affairs. He should appoint
the officers who are to administers tn,
should be extended. The compensation
ri the mayor should be sufficient to cal
ae3er 10 the office and The term Ions
enough to enable him To accomplish some
thn@. II, however. the term be length
rned it should he ACCOMPANIED with In;
move him from office through mn election
! called for that purpose upon proper peti
tion.
delayed the Opening.
The date of opening the Thirty sec
4 ond general assembly of Iowa was al
~ lot = tie, p,, \