Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-30
SOME BIG CORPORATIONS
HAVE PAID STATE FEES
Corn Products Company, Cracker
Trust, Harvester Combine and 9th
ers Refuse to Contribute to State
Treasury Under New Corporation
Laws-"Joker'' in Railroad Bill.
Special to Times-Repuhlican.

ognize Iowa laws, or will they con-
tinue to disregard the statutes and taxi
chances with the courts?
1t is believed that the fight being
made by the asphalt people, which
aims at defeat of the Iowa laws, either
in court or by an attack on the legis-
lature has the moral support of all
the large corporal tons that have re-
fused TO come in under Iowa laws. 1t
is we'll known. and has been before
that there are a number of
these big corporations that are per-
sistently in the attitude of outlaws
against Iowa statutes and have been
SO for many years.
Some of the largest of the corpora
tions have complied with the Iowa law
and are legally entitled 10 engage in
business in Iowa. For instance, the
United States Gypsum Company, COM
monty known as the gypsum trust. has
paid fee OF $4,000 for the right to do
business on its capitalization of 81
100000 The American Linseed Oil
Company. long in control of the lin
500 900 and paid $4,000 for the right
to do business in Iowa.
Armour & Co. is a New Jersey COR
poration with 100000 capital and The
Armour Car lines. has also 100000
capital. Each one is doing business in
Iowa legally under these articles, and
on each one was paid a fee of s115.
Cudahy, Swift and others have not
paid anything for Iowa protection.
There are also a large number of
other companies that have not con-
tributed one cent to the Iowa treasury
for the protection of Iowa laws and the
privileges of corporation work in Iowa
Among these are the Corn Products
Company, the glucose trust; Quaker
Oats Company, making oatmeal, etc,
National Biscuit Company. controlling
the cracker business, Pittsburg Glass
Company, the so-called glass trust,
Barber Asphalt Company, the paving
combine, International Harvester Com
pany, implements and machinery.
If these corporations had been
formed in Iowa they would probably
have paid the fees required. AS they
are foreign corporations they have not
done so, tho now and for period since
/ long before any of these commenced
/ doing business in iowa, the laws of the
state have made no discrimination as
between domestic and foreign corpo-
rations.
1t is estimated that if the present
laws of Iowa can be broken or re-
pealed it will save nearly half million
dollars to the big foreign corporations
/ engaged in taking possession of the
Iowa field.
The situation in regard to railroad
/ corporations presents an aspect show
ing how a Joker" which was put into
the laws in the days when corporation
influence was all powerful in Iowa
4 legislatures, worked out for practical
discrimination. This was inserted ir
1896, and the effect of which was tc
give right to any railroad corporation
which had been in Iowa for ten years
to secure a permit or charter without
paving any fee. Just who put this
into the law does not now appear; but
straightway advantage was taken of i
by the Chicago and Northwestern, the
Chicago, Milwaukee &, ST. Paul, the
Illinois Central and several other com
panies. They are doing business legal
~ and without paying cent for filing
Ia The Chicago Great Western did no
| get in under this law, and later wher
notified it must comply with Iowa
laws, the fee was $4,000. Since then {
reorganization has taken place and +;
fee of $4,000 paid. The Santa Fe
which operates twenty miles in Iowa
,1--A
could have become Legally incorporate,
for $4,000, and it failed to act. 1t i
not now acting under Iowa laws
The Rock Island was organized a
an Iowa company in 1853, but is nov
an Illinois-Iowa company, and is pos
sessed Of all the rights possible in bot
states. 1t has paid filing fees in larg
amount.
The laws Of Iowa as regards corpora
, tons were. prior to a few years age
, N deplorable condition. In fact any
body could incorporate a company fo
almost any amount and for any pur
. pose, and begin business with or with
out dollar of actual capital, payin
s a fling fee of only So There was n
supervision, no reporting, nobody t
look after the nature of a company c
corporation-in fact, Iowa corporation
were simply irresponsible creatures ,
law.
} The first step was to raise the film
fee from IS to a minimum of $25 wit
maximum of $3.50. In 1898 the max
mum was raised to $4,000 and in 1876
the limit was taken off, SO that a COZ
poration pays in accordance with il
e capital. There is no discrimination BIZ
u tween domestic and foreign corpora
e tons If foreign corporation desire
to do business in Iowa it is quite con
mon to organize a subsidiary low
company, with capital sufficient to 1
the Iowa business, and upon this fl
ing fee is required. At all times the
mas been exemption of companies TIL
engage in mutual cooperative cream
cry business and also companies tn
are organized to engage exclusively
mercantile and manufacturing bus
ness. Railroads, banks insurance al
some others come under special sta
utes.
! Various amendments have been ma
to make more clear some OF t
4 exemptions. It became necessary,
J amend the law as to mutual cooper,
tive creameries to make it clear, al
:. to clarity the law as to mercant
and manufacturing corporations. T
corporation reporting law was pass
by the last legislative and it reQuir
] a foe of 81 each year with the annu