Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-27
QUESTION OF RAIL COMMISSION
EXPENSES REMOVED FROM
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
GILL PRESENTED TO HOUSE
TO REIMBURSE BOARD
Also Pro posed to Provide Contingent
Fund to Mees Similar Emergencies
Considerable Confusion as to Status
Of ti-Saloon eills-Proposed Di-
vision of Supreme cour..

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. EFT will be left
TO the general assembly to decide,
"a Their than the executive council,
whether or not a member of the rail-
road commission in performance of his
duty, While member Of the commits
sion and acting unaer a specific resolu-
ton Of the commission affecting a mat
ser of great public moment shall be re-
CURED to pay his own expenses.
The issue was raised some time ago
by presentation to the executive coun-
eli, OF a bill for s4s5se for printing of
briefs in connection with the inter
state rate cases and travelling expenses
Of Comm sS Toner Thorne while in at
tendance, during the month of January
al the final hearings of the case in
volving the general advance in rates.
The travelling expenses amounted TO
about SLIT.
The case is so simple that there can
be no misunderstanding. The commits
sion last summer passed, resolution
authorizing ard directing the attend
anee of members Of the commission at
the hearing. which was then set for
a. certain TWO days III Chicago. Two
members of the commission and the
secretary attended on those days and
remained some time afterwards as the
hearing was not CON eiutled on the two
days. In fact the hearing was contin-
ued from time TO time and not con-
Guided until January "a. Members or
the secretary attended on other oc-
cas:ons last fall and participated The
expense accounts were audited by the
executive council and paid out of the
comm iSsions contingent fund Acting
under the same resolution and in the
same way as other members of the
com uisSior, Mr.. Thorne after he be-
came a member of the commission and
was duly qualified. incurred like ex-
penses. When his bill was presented
TO the council it was found the fund
was exhausted
On Saturday. which was the las. flav
on which any appropriation bill can
be presented to the legislature the
commission had a hill presented thru
Representative Moore. chairman of the
house appropria lions committee. COW
erins this EXPENSE matter; following
which the matter was withdrawn from
the state executive council It will he
left wholly to the legislature to decide
what shall be the policy Of the state.
Bills are pending which Will provide
a sufficient contingent fund for the
purpose of paying Just such accounts
and paving for the prepare ton OF the
many cases now pending before the in
terstate commerce commission in which
the Iowa commission. on behalf of the
people of the state. became a party
last year.
As long as Des Moines has two sem
ators 1t is probable that Postma ste,
Myerly will continue to enjoy the
emoluments of his office unmolested
He VIII not he re-appointed for that
would Bring it before the senate. but
ne can be permitted to remain in Of
fee indefinitely because of no s,1cces-
sor His term expired a few days ago.
NO recommendation has been made as
to his successor. Senator Cumnins
announced long ago that when he
made recommendation 1t would be
that Of L. c. Kurtz, and this decision
met with such universal approval in
Des Moines, especially among the SUBJ
stahtiai business men, that there has
never been at any time since any sug-
sestion Of any other candidate. But
with two senators deadlock is main
tanned on the postmastersfip. Prob
ably after the close of the legislature
the matter will be settled
The bill of Senator Gillilland for en-
largement Of the supreme court oro-
vides for division into two parts. which
differs from the suggestion made some
time ago by Representative Shankland
OF court divided into three sections
! OF three each. Lawyers have reached
tho conclusion that at least for tho
present court of two sections would
be able to care for the business per-
fectiy. Some years ago the legislature
made it more difficult to get befer.
the supreme court in some cases and
this had the effect OF reducing for ~
time the number of appeals, but now
| they are increasing so fast that the
court can not attend to all the busi-
ness
There seems to be come confusion as
! to the status of some Of thu anti-sa-
loon bills. The so-called daylight clos
ing bin went Into senate committee
where i will likely remain snnaa time
and the fve-inile limit bill is safely
laid away. The house has proceeded
upon the theory that 1t would send al
most any kind Of bin to the senate
but the committee on suppression Of
| intemperance has reported adversely
to one Of the hve-mie limit bills and
has another yet to act upon. The pro-
| hibitory amendment has now been
brought in to take the cen.er Of the
stage and to receive greatest attention.
and 1t is expected some hearings will
be given upon 1t.
Buell. Will contea%sd.