Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-20
OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL
OF CAR LINES AND PHONES
Cities to Be Given Same Authority
Over These Utilities They Now Ex-
ercise Over Lighting and Water
Plants report Of Conservation
Commission Soon Ready.

lOr municipalities that authority over
street railway systems and telephone
companies that seems to pc called Tor
propose an amendment to the law TO
Civ. power to cities and towns TO con-
SIruct. TO own, to operate, TO ieSu4a tc
ana supervise 10th street railways a..o
telephone companies. At Present TINS
authority and power is exercised Over
wa.er plants, gas plants and All otilet
pubic utilities except the two named.
Just why it Should pe deemed proper
10 give a city the power TO regulate st;s
company charges and not reguiate
street railway service is not clear bu'
that is at present one OF the neon
sisteEcies OF the law.
Ia this connection it is certain that
Senator Van Laws proposal Tor CAV
ing 10 cities the authority and power
10 fully inquire into the details OF
management ana operation OF pubic
utilities. Us a basis LOT the regulation
and control which the Jaw contem-
plates. will receive much favor TINS
session. 1t was virtually sidetracAeo
for TIE so-ca!led public utilities conf
mission scheme which had the back
Ing Of most Of the large corporations
in the last assembly. But 1t Will prop
ably pass at the next session.
The street car situation in Des
Mcines has brought this issu: to the
front The city was beaten il. the re-
cent litigation and the company has
established tina. I has a franchise IN
fact. Only one other avenue remains
for those who seek 20 bring the COM
pany to time and that is a suit in court
to have the charter anEulied on the
broad ground that the charter is a
contract involving obligations on bosh
sides and that tbs street car company
has forfeited its rights by failure 10
prov ida adequate street car transport
tation. 1t is understood that proml-
nent lawyers here have been lnvesti-
eating this for some time and believe
that suit based upon that conte!l-
ton would be sustained in court.
But the Sullivan proposal for giving
the cities Of the state ths uHQuestloheo
right OF ownership or control would
have the effect of forcing settlement
here upon some kind Of a basis fair
10 all interests.
A settlement is ostensibly under
way, by a committee OF 300 persons
which committee has delegated its au-
on which of course there is majority
irg OF Importance Is expected from this
committee.
The report Of the state conservation.
rivers, and drainage commission pro-
vided for by the last legislature is now
in the hands OF the printer. Il viii
make a book of 200 or more pages. Tae
work covers not only survey Of the
rivers with reference to navigation
dams and reservoirs. bu. also drainage
matters out thru the state, and some
other matters. The commission spent
about 5000 OF Iowa money. out by
reason OF its existence made possible
the spending of $4,000 OF government,
money For instance. the survey OF the
Des Moines river was all done By
United States engineers and the ex-
tensiye surveys in northern Iowa with
regard % drainage districts and the
reservoirs al river headquarters was
by govecnIn ent authority over sle,-
600 was spent in securing the data for
this drainage work alone and the re-
port, il Is expected Will be OF vast value
10 the farmers Of northern Iowa. That
which is regarded as OF greatest value
py the commissioners. however, IS the
matter relating TO the possibilities Of
Iowa water power along the rivers. The
report viii SHOW that Iowa has Won
,,erful water power lying undeveloped
and unused, and that this may De i'm
nlenseiy incre ased by the expenditure
ot some state funds - provide the stor-
age resources and the dikes. An APP
propria ton via De asked 70 continue
ana enlarge the work OF this comn4ls-
sion.
Col Henry L. Bousquet. clerk OF the
supreme court, vii on Jan. : become
file c!erk in the office. He was deputy
clerk under Crockett prior to becoming
clerk. Colonel Bousquet is a war veter-
an, d most genial and accommodating
official and his retention in the office is
pleasing TO everyone having dealings
with the court. Chris T. Jones, at pres
ent file clerk, will retire from the office
after perhaps longer service in the
state house than any other. He was
deputy for years and clerk for term
or two. and on man has ever been more
familiar with every turn OF the ONCE.
So
While the association Of hunters Or
ganized here last week for the purpose
of getting all the holders of gun IL
censes together on a definite program
appointed a committee to take up and
consider what can be done to save Wall
lake, Wright county, for the hunters
and sportsmen, it is not probable any
| thing can be done now. This question
| has been an open one for long time
and the state executive council finally
gave authority for the drainage anc
sale of the land reclaimed. The argu-
ment for drainage included that Of the
value of the land going to waste, tbs
| fact that the swamp Is a breeding place
| for msukrats and blackbirds, that the
water becomes sta gnant and endangers
| the health Of the people Of the county
and because only few persons are in
terested in the hunting and trapping
The hunters, however, insisted that tht
place was great one for ducks ant
geese in their season.
T. Van Hyning, the museum director
for the state INTERNAL department s.
engaged In preparing a complete lis
Of the mammals Of Iowa for pubiica'
tIon. He Is busy Just now Arranging
the thousands OF specimens Of fossils
and mounted birls and animals which