Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-30
HEALTH, PHARMACY AND OTHER
commissions MAY BE AeoL-
isHED IN IOWA.
SENATE BILL PROPOSES
ONE BOARD FOR ALL
"comn,ssion Of Public Health May
supplant Others if Senate Bill Be-
comes Law-Salaries of $500 For
Members-Debate Continues on Sam
mis- Utilities Bill
Special to Times-Republican.


Des Moines, March 30-The senate
committee on public health introduced
the bill to create a commission of pub
lie health" and place in its charge the
tuberculosis sanatorium at Iowa City,
the lecture work on tuberculosis, the
veterinary department, the inspection
and regulation of creameries, hotel in
spection. inspection of seeds, paints and
foodstuffs, enforcement of the phar-
macy laws, duties of the medical
board, etc. The commissioners are 20
receive $500 a year, and the state
board of health and other boards are
all abolished
The house voted this morning to not
hold night sessions, a resolution pro-
yiding for this being before the house
The senate today listened to con-
tinuation of the speeches on opposition
to the Sammis utilities bill. Frudden,
Dowel Moon Francis and Clarkson
spoke against, and DeArmand and
Quigley for it, This afternoon Sammis
closed the debate
The house defeated the Fox bin to
take from druggists all permits for the
sale of liquor.
The house passed the Holmes bill TO
take from the railroad commissioners
their right to free transportation While
inspecting railroads and to require the
state to pay their fares.
Fourteen hundred dollars year for
court reporters who work less than 10
days, and IS a day for those who work
smore than 125 days was the compr.N-5
mise. agreed to yesterday over the pro-
test Of Chairman Will Drury by the
house committee on the compensation
of public officers.
Because politics in this legislature
blocks any attempt to secure a redls-
tricting, we should not blame the court
reporters" said Representative Cum
ningham. 'Men as capable as they are
should not be asked to be on hand
ready to answer to service for less than
81, 400 year."
"The bill is dead and has been for
three days; what's the use Of drag
ging the corpse up and down these
aisles and abusing it in this way? The
principles all right, but there are
things in it not just right. and this
senate will never pass the bill"
1t was President Clarke, who was
speaking to a group of senators after
the debate of Monday afternoon on
the utilities bill. He was referring to
the Sammis bill, not that he would
show any partiality or take any part,
but just as disinterested on-looker.
And his guess is the guess of the CO.
terie of newspaper men who also have
watched the proceedings.
Senator Van Law gave the Sammis
bill some of its hardest knocks in what
he said yesterday afternoon. He took
up chiefly two points and he showed
that the Sammis proposal was to in
fact give to all corporations operating
any public service plants in the state
perpetual franchise. In every place
where there is any reference whatever
to the right of the city or town to
regulate or control or to have anything
to say as to the franchise terms, there
is also an express reservation to the
state commission to finally pass upon
the same. All that a city can do is
when a franchise has expired to
amend the franchise charter and pass
it UP to the state commission. Then
there is also the cleverly devised
scheme for making these franchises
not only indeterminate and perpetual
but making them exclusive and per-
petually exclusive. 1t is absolutely
forbidden that where a plant of any
kind is being operated any other shall
be granted the right to do business.
Under no circumstances, no matter
how much the people may be willing
to buy and a company desirious OF
selling, can city or town engage in
municipal ownership. Even the con-
troll of the present municipal plants
would go to the state commission ap-
pointed by the governor.
Senator Peterson took much the
same line of argument with some ad-
ditions. "If this Is bargain day tor
franchises" he said, why not give
general notice so that others might
come in? 1 could find a corporation
willing to give a million dollars for
franchise such as you propose here
with the assurance Of no competition
and another million for the 1ndeter-
inmate part as provided in the Sam
mis- bill. Is it right to take from the
neonle their power of control and to
give these corporations right worth
millions to them? What are these cor
porations paying or to pay Tor these
extraordinary privileges? He made
strong point of the principle of the
Sammis bill In taking away from the
local communities the rights they en-
ioy of regulating these corporations.
During the last few days
evidence has accumulated that
the large corporation lobby which
has been at work all win
Ter for state control of corporations,
has redoubued Its force and is spend.