Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-26
commlrrRE DEoiNs hEARiNos
ON IMPORTANT MUNICIPAL
MEASURE.
Owes CITIES POWER TO
SECURE INFORMATION
Important step Towards Regulation
and Control Of esrvies Corporations
Committee on intsmpsranes De-
eides % Take No Snap Judgement
Dill 20 Prevent Sunday pssseratien.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Jan. 2e.-The beginning
OF an important series OF public near
ings was made this afternoon when the
judiciary committee OF tho senate IN
conjunction with the committee on
municipal corporations. met to consider
the: bill to give to cities the power to
secure information on which to base
their right Of regulation and control
This is the Van Law bill which Is be-
ing urged in behalf OF many OF ths
cities of the state. The law now pro-
yides that cities have the right OF reg
ulation but there is no power OF inVes-
tiRation. The pending bill would en-
able the cities to find out something
about public service corporations before
acting. would compel reports and open
the books for inquiry. Representatives
Of various public service corporations
will hsht the bill to finish. Yes
ferday there came to the city ENm-
Der Of persons opposing the bill. among
them L. l.. Kellogg and E. r. Kirk. OF
Sioux City. representing gas and cleo
trio light interests, also representatives.
Of corporations from Mason City and
elsewhere. They will oppose the bill
entire, and prefer some form Of util-
tiles commission. The hearing today
will not be the last as time will be
given for the representatives Of the
cities and towns to present their
side.
The senate committee on suppression
Of intemperance, at the head of which
is Allen, Of Jefferson, held full meet
ing yesterday, every one Of the twelve
members being present. and organ
tied for the session. It was unani-
mously agreed that. no bill would be
reported out in any form unless it has
the sanction Of the majority Of the
committee, even tho much less than a
majority be present. This was to pre-
vent any snap action being taken on
any bill. The committee will keep a
record OF the votes on the bills and
deal in the open. The committee has
cided upon waiting a little while before
doing anything in the hope that most
of the bills will be ready before any
are taken up.
The military committee of the sem
ate today reported for passage the
McAfanus bill to prevent nag desecra-
ton. also the bill to authorize payment
for the burial Of a soldiers widow, and
the bill to appropriate for completion
Of the soldiers roster. The latter goes
to the appropriation committee to be
passed on with other appropriation
measures.
The joint committee to visit the
state educational institutions and to
report on the work of the new board Of
education, held q session yesterday and
elected Representative johnson chair
man. Tho committee is required to
visit the three colleges. to consider and
review the report OF the board and to
state board. The committee is especial
~ favorable to the present board and
and plans for extensive changes con-
templated by that board. The COM
-mittee has before 1t only the printed
Introduction to the report Of the board
but the remainder of the report may be
ready before the session is over. No
visiting can be done until the senator.
ial matter is out Of the way.
The direct inheritance tax bill came
Ito the floor Of the senate today with a
favorable report from the ways and
means committee. This is the GILL;
land bill which has already passed the
senate once and is growing in favor. It
will greatly enlarge the field Of the in
heritance tax and bring to the state
treasury considerable sum Of money.
, There will be no law compelling
counties to furnish a house for the
sheriff. The bill to fix it that way was
reported to the senate today for kill
Ing. 1t is true, so it was stated in the
committee. that in a great many coun-
ties the sheriff is provided with a
house. but the legislature does not care
to make it compulsory.
The bill for revision Of tho law in
regard to the matter Of fixing dam
ages for the loss Of wife or husband
has been reported favorably by the
senate judiciary committee. 1t has
been found that about tho only thing
that can be done w.ere wife 10 killed
10 for the husband to fall back upon
the common law, and this IL not q
satisfactory matter.
Tho bill to abolish the pharmacy
commission and substitute commits
sioner ana three inspectors, involves a
$1,000 salary for commissioner and
$500 q year for each Of the others. It
differs materially from the bin Of last
session which was prepared for similar
purpose.