Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-06
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STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
WONDERING e PIERCE WILL
( APPEAR.
COUNCIL MEETS NEXT WEEK
TO FIX VALUATIONS
prswioos Suit Brought 8y SECRETARY Of
Iowa Municipal League Dropped ~
Recommsnosment Of Action Would
Cause Dsiay mad Embarrassment -
state to Appeal Dipsomania Case.
cial to Times Republican.

&.
Special to Times
Des Moines, July 6.-Wiu Frank
Pierce, representing the Iowa munich
appear again before the state
executive council, or In court. to seek
a radical change in the assessment OF
That 10 question that 10 causing
some worry to state officials. 1t ID
recalled that last year. at the time OF
the real estate assessment AZ weI AZ
that of other property. Mr.. Pierce ap-
peared before the board and speaking
for the cities and towns OF the state
demanded an increase in farm real es-
tate assessments or reduction IN town
assessments. and general eQualizing
of the tax burden in the interest OF
the owner Of urban property.
The state assessing board having
paid little attention to him he went IN
to court to enjoin them from certifying
out the assessment and charged viola
ton of the law by means OF fraud ana
collision and accused the governor and
his associates of willful disregard OF
the law as to manner Of making as
sessments.
This suit in court was never tried.
In one way or another it has dragged
along until now it is time for another
assessment, and the case will be
dropped.
But IL Pierce should go into court
again. before the next assessment Is
actually made, and compel the state
officials to show the basis they have
for fixing valuations, it would be de-
cidedly embarrassing to the officials.
The claim is made, and much evidence
can be produced to support it, that
there is very great inequality in the
as fixed. and especially that
the city property pays larger share
Of taxes than it should. One trouble
with the whole business is that there Is
really no definite way Of determining
what should be the actual assessment
of railroad and similar property.
The council begins its hearings on
Monday, and any citizen Of the state
has a right to be heard on any matter
affecting the fixing of values for tax
alton. The sessions Of the council are
all open.
The state will appeal case decided
by Judge Theophilus. at Davenport.
involving an Interpretation of Iowa law
as to state institutions. Assistant At
torney General Robbins handled the
case for the state but the court held
against him, sand - H. desired TO have
an opinion from the supreme court on
two matters. It was q habeas corpus
case in which one Myrtle White sought
release from the dipsomania depart
ment Of the Mount Pleasant hospital
on the ground that she believed she Ia
cured. Protest was made against trying
the case in Davenport instead OF
Mount Pleasant, and the state contends
that the superintendent is the sole
Judge of the condition Of the patient
as to whether cured or incurable.
Judge Theophilus held to the contrary
The state desires to know whether or
not a patient can go into court and
secure a reversal of the decision Of
the doctor in the case.
There is work on Iowa farms for
thousands of farm laborers at the
present time. Men are scarce and in
great demand. E. w. Van Duyn, state
labor commissioner, says he could
place several hundred farm hands at
once in good positions on Iowa farms
He has calls from various counties ev-
cry day and the farmers report that
It seems impossible to find men to take
care of the big crops that are in sight.
They are offering good wages and fear
they will not be able to get what help
they need.
A conference was held here yester-
day Of persons deeply Interested in re-
form of the Jail system in Iowa with
a view to having plank inserted In
the republican state platform endors-
ing some change in the system In
vogue and pledging the party to such
action. There is going to be an active
campaign to secure some action In re-
gard to the jails Of the state.
There seems now to be no doubt that
money will be secured from the federal
to pay for the encamp-
ment of the Iowa National Guard
which some time ago was ordered to
be held at Iowa Falls contingent on
federal appropriation in time to pay
for the same. Now it is reported that
the army appropriation bill has been
put In condition 80 that there Is no
doubt of the availability Of the money
needed for the camp