Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-14


and bonds, the making Of rates, the
methods of accounting, has power to
inspect, etc. The authority granted
to the commission In other states is.
in this state, lodged with various Off
Gals, viz, the executive council Of the
state. the railway commission, the city
councils and the people OF cities by
the granting Of franchises. It would
perhaps be more satisfactory it the
exercise of these various powers were
lodged with a single board or COM
mission to be known as q Public
Utilities Commission This might be
done by the creation OF an entirely
new commission, by enlarging the
powers Of the railway commission or
by converting the railway commission
into a public utilities commission.
Should this last suggestion be adopted
/ think it might be advisable to In
crease the membership Of the COM
mission to fve In such an event,
believe that the additional members
should be appointed by the governor
and confirmed by the senate, and as
the terms OF the present commission
ers expire their successors should be
appointed and confirmed as above sug-
gested. Should an entirely new COM
mission be created, It should be placed
in Office by appointment and confirms
ton.
The fact that ours is . compare
lively young state and has few large
cities may lead to the conclusion that
the same necessity for legislation
along the lines above suggested does
not exist as in older states, but It
should be remembered that we legis-
late for the future as well az. tho pres
ent. We have already enacted laws
with reference to public weighing
places in order that those who have
commodities to sell may not be taken
advantage Of by those who buys Il It
not Just as necessary that those VINO
buy shall not be wholly at the mercy
Of those who have to sell, especially
where there can be no choice Of places
of buying, such as in the purchase Of
water, gas and electricity. and is It not
lust as proper. that the meters through
which the measurements are made
should be tested and read BY . public
official or employe who 10 In NO way
influenced by the corporation selling
the commodity as 1t Is that there be
public weighmaster to stand between
the buyer and seller Of commodities
disposed of by weight? The cities Of
the state perhaps have authority over
most of these matters now, but local
influences are often such that the ex-
ercise Of authorities granted 10 very
meager.
This whole subject Is one far-reach-
ing in its effect ana Of great import
ance to all of our people. In my judg-
ment its consideration cannot and
should not be long deferred. believe
that it is entitled now to your most
thoughtful consideration.
A Revenue Commission.
There has been inaugurated in our
state, as in many other states, a move
ment in favor Of a general revision OF
our revenue laws. This Is, in my
opinion, one of the very important
subjects that you will be called upon
to consider at this session. There 10
perhaps no other chapter in the en-
tire code that so directly affects all
Of the people OF the state as the chap
ter pertaining to the taxation OF prop
erty. Neither is there another chap
ter more difficult to frame SO as to
meet with general approval. That
there are many provisions In the pres
ent. law which are both inequitable
and indefensible cannot be denied,
neither is it probable that any law
will ever be enacted, which is not, to
a greater or less degree, subject to
these criticisms But, 1t is desirable
that such conditions be avoided, 80 far
as is possible. Neither can it be de-
MED that in some respects at least
our tax laws are not up-to-date as
compared with the laws Of some other
states.
It is proposed that commission be
appointed for the purpose Of making
study Of the question Of revenues
and taxation, which commission shall
report to- the next session Of the gem;
eral assembly bill embodying q pro-
posed new law upon the question OF.
taxation. Our past experience with
such commission has not been very
satisfactory, the report Of one or more
such commissions having been re-
jected by the legislature, but the mag
nitude and Importance Of an attempted
revision of the revenue laws u such
that In my judgment it could not, with
satisfaction, be accomplished during q
regular session of the legislature un-
less the preparation Of the bill 10 made
during a recess. The last revision Of
the revenue laws was made at q spe.
cial session of the legislature, that is.
at the extra session of the twenty.
sixth general assembly, and that after
the code commission had reported .
bill and it had been worked upon by
the ways and means committee Of the
preceding regular session. ] believe
that il a revision OF the revenue laws
of the state is deemed. by yeu, to be
desirable, commission, either com
posed OF members Of the two houses,
to be appointed by the presiding OH
GERS thereof, or Of other persons to be
selected In such manner as you may
determine, should be created for the
purpose. The commission should be
given power to make thorough and
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