Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-28
ATTORNEY GENERALS ARGu.
MENrs FOR LOWER EXPRESS
RATES TRANSFERABLE.
SHOWS RAILROADS COULD
CARRY BUSINESS FOR LESS
People Of State Taxed Heavily to Main
tain Needless Express Companies
Talk Of James A. Smith for Senator
Revived - Young May Withdraw
From Contest Before Legislature.
Special to Times Republican

Special to Iimes-Republcan.
Des Moines, Dec. 2S.-The fight nut
up by Attorney General Byers for re-
duction of rates ON express business is
declared by attorneys tor the express
companies to be the most effective ever
made In any state, and the case which
has been pending in Iowa the past
year is regarded as one OF the most
important ever brought affecting the
transportation business and its relation
To the building up of industries. The
evidence brought to the surface by
Secretary Wrishtman of he Iowa
Manufacturers Association is said,
also, to be the completest on record.
Attorney General Byers, in his argu-
ment to the commission, declared that
j large percentage OF the present ex-
penses of the express companies is a
needless tax upon the people, and
when it operates as it has to prohibit
the people from using an important
branch of the transportation service OF
the ountr il is an in~tolerable burden"
He shows that the companies pay the
railroads from 80 to 81 per cent of the
gross earnings as ental OF the cars n
20 per cent OF the gross receipts go to
the railroad agents, so that in actual
practice the railroads get about 20 per
cent of the gross charges of the express
companies. Most OF this service could
be done by the railroad itself.
If the express companies can not
render this service al reasonable
charges he said, and make a profit.
the railroads can, and the country is
under 10 obligation TO tax itself 10
,,,o;,-oi, -Ja - o1,,roria.
The suggestion on the part OF the
state, thru the attorney general, that
unless the express companies can per-
form this service at a reasonable rate
it ought TO De done directly By the rail-
roads, has led TO the story being cir
culated that Mr.. Byers had urged gov-
ernnaenr or state ownership and opera
ton of the companies. This is o
true; but his argument has gon to the
length of insisting that it would be bet
ter for the railroads themselves TO
handle all the express business direct.
1t is expected that in the decision of
the case soon to be made this phase Of
the matter will be discussed at length.
Incidental to the coming of Senator
James A. Smith. Of Mitchell county, to
the city yesterday, there was substan-
tial revival of talk Of the availability
of the veteran legislator and floor lead
er OF the state senate for the Doiiiycc
succession. The talk did not proceed
from Senator Smith himself, however,
for he is boosting neither for himself
nor any other man. But word canlc
to the city that among the legislators
themselves there has grown up a de-
cided movement for the selection of
Senlf0r Smith and if iS i9ScI mar,
the theory that in choosing the senator
the legislative caucus ought to select
someone whose position on leading
public questions is we'll known, who
has been active in the cause of good
government in Iowa, who is in line
with the republican party policy in re-
gard to corporations, railroad control
and regulation, Il similar live issues.
Senator Smith will have a strong
following in northern Iowa, where he
is best known should he permit use OF
his name and he has never yet taken
himself out of the list of a~vailables.
After hasty conferences with a num-
Der of senators and representatives
from other parts Of the state, Senate
Smith left this morning.
S. NJ. Leach, of Dallas county, ons
of the close friends Of Governor Clarke,
who was in the city yesterday, secuted
the story that the friends of Clarke
could be induced under any considera-
lions whatever to do anything in the
direction of a trade or dicker that
would aid Governor Carroll to the
senate. There is no doubt, however,
that some persons have been very &C
tive in causing some discussion of the
advantage that might come to Gov
ernor Carroll and to Mr.. Clarke by
such an alliance. There is no chance
for it to go very far, for the influence
of Governor Clarke, insofar as it is
used at all will be for a progressive
senator.
Friends of Attorney General Byers
who has been absolutely inactive in
the senatorial matter are taking note
of the situation and it is said that they
will make a strong showing in the
caucus. The record of the office of at
torney general. especially in it's actlv-
tiles for the enforcement of the laws OF
the state, is attracting 10 his candidacy
q great many Of the republicans With
out regard to faction. Mr.. Byers has
himself done nothing.
ss
I0e SS8te COu6eES dllOu SOiiiAAiASS'oA
has decided that in addition to the
LOO copies of their report to be put
into q handsomely bound book for dis
tributton there will be 1000 copies
printed and covered with paper, since it
II evident that the demand for this
report is going to be more than can
be supplied. That which is causing
the chief demand, according to Chair
man Miller, is the Elliott report on
drainage, q report based on extensive
surveys made by the most competent
experts Of the government.
There is gossip among politicians to
the effect that Senator Young is on the
verge Of Withdrawing from the senator
shiD contest having satisfied himself
inst It 10 impossible for him to win.
One wager was mad yesterday that
0onator Young would make announce
&fsaen4 Of his withdrawal not later than
New ear Gay. la ,.S event he 3ces
himself out Of the contest, it is
eoDesally anticipated that he will sup
nGNe.0overnor Carroll as the candidate
e1tAo st~Andpatters. the iatter's friends
93n4 o3rsady becoT1e active IA his be.
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