Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-28
Iowa
TERMINAL TAX BILL DEAD
Senator Saunders the Only One to
Speak in Its Favor.
DECISIVE VOTE AGAINST r
Con over the Pharmacy COun-
missioner Goes 20 Court for a
settlement, says the
Governor.
FROM a staff Correspondent

tFrom a staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, March 2L-tSpecial)-
The senate ~emphatically refused to en-
dorse the terminal tax plan, which has
been %strenuously advocated in behalf OF
Council Bluffs. Senator SAUNDERS had
spent a large part of hts time working
for a bill 10 secure a change in the man
ner Of assessing and taxing railroad prop
erty so that the portion which lies within
a city shall be assessed locally and this
valuation be deducted from the general
assessment of the railroad, so that there
would be less Of taxation In the country
districts and correspondingly more In the
cities where the terminals are located.
The bill came up for passage and Saund-
ers spoke earnestly in its favor. There
was no other discussion. The bill was
lost, 10 to "a.
The senate also considered briefly, but
did not finish, a bill which looks to the
appointment of visiting committees TO go
to the various state Institutions and make
report at the opening OF the Legislative
session each two years. Senator Bruce
offered IN amendment to create another
committee especially to audit the books
and accounts of the state officials and
to go into various departments at the
state house. This was supported by
Gillillend and both of the men argued
that there was great need of a probe
OF this kind. The bill vas laid over with
out action on the amendment.
on Utilities.
The senate spent considerable time in de-
batting the various measures to create a
state board of utilities. Several of these
measures were brought before the senate,
also a bill to give city councils greater
power in the matter OF securing informa-
! fion aa N the n,,hIIo ,,tgIitto. - a. ..o4a
The day was largely spent in discussion
Of these matters. 1t was found that in
fact the telephone, interurban and other
companies desire that all Of this matter
shall be placed under a state board.
Controversy Goes TO Court.
The governor made a public statement
today as to the status of the controversy
between himself and b. F. keith, one of
the state pharmacy commission. He states
that in view of the discovery he cannot
remove a state official at will, he has
turned the whole matter over to the at
torney general for his action in court. He
recites that a week ago Monday he called
up Keltz over the phone and asked his
resignation. and he says that Keltz agreed
TO resign. The matter in controversy re-
lates to four days per deem at the time of
the republican national convention, and
the governor has information tina Ksltz
attended the convention and did no work
for the state at that time, though he
charged the state his expenses for the
time. 1t is because of this that the resig.
nation is demanded. The governor state
that the incident as It relates to ]. s
Goss of Atlantic, is closed, since the re
moval OF Goss was accomplished.
City to Build Market House.
The city of Des Moines will begin in
short time the erection of two marke
houses. An ordinance authorizing the salt
OF $4,000 bonds was passed today. Thes,
market houses will be the first Of thel
kind in the state.
Free Men ON Texas Land Deal.
Charges against G. W.. Slope, a loca
land dealer. and his associates, have beer
dropped in the district court. The mel
were charged with fraud in a Texas lanC
deal. The court dismissed the indictments
but said that although they were within
the law the law itself vas "a rotton deal.