Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-26
CORPORATIONS Kill
COMMISSION BILL
Their Strong Advocacy of Pub
lie Utilities Measure Puts 1t
to Sleep Permanently
INTERESTS WERE TOO JEALOUS
Lobbyists Representing Corporations
Only Ones Who Appeared to Demand
Passase-As Vigorously Oppose Van
Law Bill Calling for Inspection of
Books-Doctors in Losing Fight.
,eeial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 26.-The corpora
ton scheme for general public util-
ities commission to take over all the
matters relating to public service COR
, porations is declared now to be "A
dead one. The last thing necessary to
effect it's defeat was when the repre-
sentatives of many of the largest pub
lie service corporations in the state
made united onslaught upon the leg
islative committees and demanded its
passage. This was sufficient to con-
vince all who are observant that the
real purpose of the bill was to give
not now enjoyed by them.
Il did feel little like giving the
bill some consideration" said one of
the senator's last evening but | guess
1t is all off now. 1 went into the COM
mittee meeting and saw who it was
that is for the bill and that gave me
a different idea of it. There was Joe
Lane, who represents the street rail-
/ way and electric light company at
Davenport: there was Walsh. who rep
resents similar companies at Clinton
and Burlington: there was Jim Trewin,
engaged as a lobbyist by the corpora
tions and who represents the gas COM
pany In Cedar Rapids; there was Mr..
Grimes of the Mutual Telephone Com
pany of Des Moines; there was Mr..
Shoemaker. of the Corn Belt Telephone
Company at Waterloo; and Nat Guern-
sey, who always represents the public
lservice corporations of Des Moines or
the railroads. These men have all been
Fat work for the bill. So far as / have
| observed not single pelson repre-
sentfng the patrons of these various
companies has appeared to advocate
the measure. l have not seen a petition
signed by the consumers of water or
gas or a letter of Endorsement by any
one who rides on the street cars.
understand that persons interested in
the bill have offered to amend the bill
in any way to make it acceptable,
which shows that they already realize
that in its present form the bill can
not be got into the laws. l wish that
someone had taken charge of a bill
to strengthen the railroad commission
and give that body some additional
powers of inquiry, and we would get
such bill thru very readily and it
would be great>help.'
The bill in it's present form would
extend and perpetuate every existing
franchise of public service corpora
tions and take from all city councils
all right to regulate them. 1t is es-
timated that to get the work started
would cost at least s50,000, and in time
1t would be very expensive COM
mission for the state. But many Of
the members believe that it will never
pass the house.
The debate in the committee over
the Van Law public utilities bill proved
to be a decidedly warm one. This is
a bill which the public service corpora
tions unite in saying ought not to be
passed. They are making a very de-
termined fight against it, and appear
to have the best of the matter thus
far The bill was reported out adverse
ly to the senate but it was permit ed
to go on the calendar and the bill with
some amendments which the commit
tee had first adopted was ordered
printed in the journal of the senate
This makes it certain that the bill will
receive consideration on the floor Of
the senate. Senator Van Laws argu-
ment for this bill is that the law at
present provides that city councils
shall regulate corporations and fix
rates, but it does not provide any way
for getting at the facts upon which
regulation can be intelligently done
This bill would make it possible for
city councils to really investigate all
corporations.
A somewhat remarkable scene was
witnessed in the senate on Thursday
when the optometry bill was brought
to finish. Senator Chapman, Yho is
doctor and who led in the doctors
fight on the optometry bill. gained the
floor just as the senate was ready to
vote and was about to do so, and for
an hour and half held the floor. read
ing a long dissertation, which it was
openly declared to the senate was writ
ten by DR.. Thomas, secretary of the
state board of health. Senator Allen, of
Pocahoontas, tried to head off Chap
man by interposing a motion to per-
nit the speech to be printed, but me
doctor wouldn't have it that way. AS
matter of fact before the conclusion
of the long address a. great many had
left the room, large numbers were IN
the cloak rooms smoking and not
single senator in the room was paying
the slightest heed to the sarcastic and
some times almost insulting phrases
prepared in the office of the state
board of health The result of the lons
speech was to secure three votes
against the measure. No such lament
able spectacle of misguided oratorlcai
zeal has been witnessed in the senate
for many day. DR.. Chapman offered
an amendment which was rejected. 10
make the qualifications for optometry