Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-06
FERRET LAX ATTACKED
RECENTLY ENACTED STATUTE
MAY BE DECLARED UN.
CONSTITUTIONAL.
IRREGULARITIES IN LAW
HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
Tax Ferrets viii Lose Profitable Vo-
cation if Supreme Court sustains
Contentious Advanced in Case From
Sioux city-Iowa System Attracts
Attention in East
pecial to rimes-Republican.


Des Moines, Oct. 6.-An unusual case
was given into the hands of the Iowa
supreme court at the last sitting, in
volving the life OF a very important
bill passed by the Thirty-second gen
eral assembly and having an important
bearing on the effectiveness of the tax
ferret law. In fact the tax ferrets pro-
cured the amendment of the law un
der which they operate and this
amendment is attacked as in contra
vention Of the state and federal con-
stitutions. If the amendment IS an
nulled It will leave the tax ferret law
largely subject to local option in the
matter Of enforcement or application.
The case IS the old one involving the
assessment on the Sio:x City stock
Yards. The assessors have uniformly
assessed the physical property and a
small amount Of stock and refused 10
assess the value Of the stock Itself IN
this the distrtc. court has sustained
them. And when the lax ferrets ap-
3ealed 70 the supreme court II was held
that the courts have no power 70 com
pei the county treasurer 70 assess the
stock An appeal from the assessmeE.
disclosed. also. that the laws give the
courts power 10 decrease an assessment
but not 70 increaes the same.
The legislature three wears ago
changed this and specifically gave the
courts the right 70 increase as well as
decrease an assessment.
Under this an effort is being made TO
compel the courts. or somebody 20 as
sess the stock Of the Sioux City Stock
Yards Company for 100000 instead
of 81 900 or to really assess the stock
al lis value.
The argument in the supreme court
last week was wholly upon the question
OF the constitutionality of the act Of the
Thirty second general assembly which
grants additional authority to the dis
-ricr court The attorneys for the COM
many % course contend that the act is
ar attempt 70 authorize the courts 10
exercise executive or legislative func-
-ions. which is forbidden. On behalf
Of the law 1t is contend ed that what IS
authorized Is nothing more than
judicial determination OF the correct
ness of an assessment.
The lawsuit Is regarded. a. least by
the tax ferrets. as very important, be-
get property assessed after it IS un-
covered there is little use in making
the effort.
The New York Charities Aid Assoc
citation VII, probably make a report
mex. winter on the Iowa idea OF con-
troll of state institutions by a single
boar. that viii be more valuable as a
presentation Of the value IF the system
than anything ever printed. That as
sociation has had in Iowa. at work on
an Investigation a Ny Wright. who
spent a great Geal Of time al the insti-
tutiors and in the Office Of the board
ard who has also visited other states.
His purpose IS 70 MAKE a report TO the
legislature for basis for legislation
for the Improvement Of tna methods in
use in that state Mr. Wright set out
. make his investigation complete.
He was given every facility for q COM
ple-a stigatiQn. and had access u
al books and papers ana documents.
He will De able 70 report not only as
to whether or not the board Of control
idea is good, but in what way il is good
ana the exact croft from the system
used The business methods n use il
the board are those which were insti-
tuted by the original board consisting
% MesSrs. Lar-abee. Cownie AMI
kinne \ report on me actual results
OF the system thus inaugurated will
prove Of immense value in Iowa and
other states.
The county hospital movement bids
fair 10 make much headwav this year
in Iowa. The law enacted three years
ago permits vote upon a proposal for
countv hospital to be supported By
the public The agitation for public
assistance in stopping the ravages of
tire white plague in Iowa has suggest
ed the use OF hospitals in connection
with what would virtually be retrea IS
for the consumptives. and this idea is
taking well DR.. A F. Kepford. the
able state lecturer in the tuberculosis
department of the state, has done q
great deal to encourage the county
hospital movement, with the result
that a half dozen or more counties will
next month vote on the proposals.
There is a serious problem ahead for
the state in the mater of knowing what