Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-18
HIGH COURT MUST SAY
JUDGES MUST DETERMINE WHAT
CONSTITUTES A cHARiT-
ABLE SOCIETY,",
TAXES ON SEVERAL REQUESTS
THE BONE OF CONTENTION
Masonic Order Insists 1t is a Charitable
Institution and Therefore Exempt
Des Moines Wants More Lenient In
corporation Laws Enacted in Iowa
State Capital Gossip.
pecial to Times-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Dec. ISIS a Masonic
lodge charitable institution within
the meaning of the law? Is a bequest
to Masonic lodge exempt from pay
ment of the collateral Inheritance tax?
The supreme court must decide.
Strange as it may seem the question
has never before got up to the high
court. A year or two ago the Masonic
lodge at Boone received a bequest on
which the collateral tax was paid
without going into court. An Ottumwa
lodge received similar bequest from
the estate of James E. Wilson, but re-
fuses to pay. The fraternity insists on
the definition of a charitable society as
one whose objects and purposes are
to nurse, care for and provide for the
sick, afflicted, etc." while the state
treasurer insists that better deflni-
ton is a society whose chief and fun
damental characteristic and purpose
is dispensing aims and charities, and
not a mere incident to society formed
wholly for different and distinct pur-
poses."
The Commercial Club of Des Moines,
on behalf Of various corporations or
ganized in other states which have not
complied with Iowa laws, will start
an agitation to have repealed that por
ton of the Iowa law which requires
foreign corporations to come in I'M
der the Iowa law while engaged in
business as Iowa concerns. This in
cludes such corporations as the asphalt
company, railroad companies, telegraph
companies, oil and sugar companies,
etc. When Iowa people organize cor
pcration they pay certain fees which
are not regarded as oppressive, then
a nominal annual fee for continuing in
business. Recently two Iowa senator's
Smith and Maytag-both of whom
favored these various corporation fee
bills, each paid over $1,000 for privi-
lege of organizing their business I'M
der Iowa laws. A number Of large cor
porations of other states desiring to
enter the Iowa field and compete with
Iowa corporations are bucking hard on
the Iowa law which puts them on a
level with local concerns.
Very appropriately the fight in con-
gress for an appropriation for the sur
vey of the Des Moines river with a
view to determining water power, ETC.
will be made under the leadership OF
Nate E. Kendall. the Sixth district
member. The Des Moines river does
more business in. Kendalrs distric,
than in any other and might be led to
develop more power there than in its
upper reaches Kendall has a bill to
appropriate 100000 for the survey.
Fred Russell, formerly member OF
the state pharmacy board, is now a
resident of Billings, Mont, where he is
employed in a drug store. His wife
and family have removed from Rock
well City but did not join him. He
still retains his certificate Of qualifica-
ton for dispensing drugs under lowe
law.
w. S. Hart, of Allamakee county
former member of the Iowa house, who
has been credited with ambition to SIT
at the feet of Gar Cannon, while ir
| the city this week, stated that in his
estimation there would be no contes
whatever in the Fourth district mex
year, and that Gilbert N. Haugen would
be returned to congress without oppo-
sition. There is no talk whatever Of
any contest there.
The rumor is receiving some circula.
ton in the Eighth congressional dis.
trict that in his fight for reelection
next year Congressman Jameson will
not have the support of the democratic
members of the bar Of the district fol
the reason that in the matter of re
sisting the threatened contest for hi
seat he employed a lawyer who did no
live in the district. On the other lant
it is denied that the lawyers woult
permit little matter of that kind t.
stand in the way of giving him sup
port.
1t appears from evidence that il
coming in that some one ostensibly i,
the name of the national republican
committee or national republican con
gressional committee is still engaged IL
sending out literature to party work
ers which is in fact an attack upol
the position of the Iowa delegation il
congress and reflection upon the lont
time attitude of the republican part.
Of Iowa on national matters. Thes
circulars are not sent unfortunately
but to persons who are expected t.
make use of them in a quiet way to eff
feet a reversal of the party attitude Il
Iowa.
Not all of the Iowa delegation in con
eress will return to Iowa for the foli
days. Senator Cummins will be HON
tomorrow and Captain Hull by Mon
day. Senator Dolliver is coming home
Representative Woods does not plan t
return. Several of them are at wor
on important measures and desire tn
recess in which to do good work Il
preparation.