Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-23
LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO HAVE
PUT ONE OVER. WHILE IN
rEREsTs WERE NOT LOOKING.
TAXATION POWERS OF STATE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ENLARGED
Can Inquire Into Property Values For
Taxation Purposes and Statute May
Uncover System Of Dodsins Between
Various Taxing Bodies - Railroads
Are Affected.
Special to Times epu bl,can.

DeS MONIES, AprI .o.-The ieg!sia-
ture ofiowa slipped one over the tax
dodgers. While the opponents of all
reform in taxation matters had their
eyes firmly fixed on a tax commission
Dill which never fully 1nateriaiized, the
assembly quietly passed bill tina, Will,
il the law IS made Use Of property,
cause CONSERVATION in the ranks of
those who have evsded their fair share
ot the burdens OF state hy slipping
around between multiplicity OF taX!ns,
forces
The state executive council has been
given tbs mos: extraordinary powers
and authority IN this Mates bill, which
has been ps-slstently ignored ny the
critics uf The legislature. The essen
tial feature Of the lay is:
The executive council is authorized
10 incur such expense q 5 il may find
necessary TO make investigations 10
determine the facts affecting or relat-
ing 70 any duty that IS now or may
hereafter Re imposed upon said coun-
ell by law. Its authority shall extend
TO and Include the procuring Of data
for the determine ton q the V3lu@ al
which property may be accepted by
corporations in payment for issues OF
capital stock: the investigation OF
property values for the purpose Of
assessment and taxation and for the
purpose OF adjusting the valuation o.
property Of taxing districts and coun-
ties: matters relating 20 the census 10
he made under chapter 5. title II, OF
the supplement 10 the code 1907. moro
amendments thereto matters relating
70 official expenses and expense &C
counts; matters relating 10 public rev.
euues or 70 procure anything not 9TH
erwise provided, necessary TO enable
said executive council 10 properly or
adequately perform any duty imposed
by law II may also incur the neces-
sary expenditure TO perform or cause
10 be performed any duty imposed by
law upon the executive council which
the mem bers or its regular employees
are unable 10 perform. or for which the
statute imposing the duty fails TO
make the necessary provision for the
execution thereof"
Filled With Possibilities.
A careful study OF the blanket law
as 10 the executive council VIII show
10 anv one that il is filled with great
possibilities.
one of the senators who had a hand
in framing il declared his belief that
II the legislature, or rather the LOBBY
ISIS had discovered what was in this
bill before il was passed il never would
have got very far. But there was no
cart load of petitions piled UP il a
back room pleading not 70 have Il
passed.
Under this law the state executive
council can. and proba bly, VIII, proceed
20 make an inquiry into property val
ues for the purpose Of assessment and
taxation" preliminary 10 the annua!
adjusting Of valuation which takes
place in July.
The council may even proceed 70
cause an investigation 10 be made at
once into assessments in the various
counties in tbs state and 70 lay the re-
suits before county and local boards OF
review: that they may adjust things TO
the letter Of the law
Possible TO Value Railroads.
Under this law it viii be possi5l" TO
have some investigation into the actual
value of railroad property. az 10 its
physical value and to cause an inVes-
tigation to be made into the account
ing system ano 10 ,lho out -
not the reports 10 the couheli aie - 'e
relied upon
Inc eSecut4N co0i'S1- 81
law proceed |" lnq n'Ge isto ,-lv
OF reduction o. lo'al
certain classes Of property in the state
or in certain counties, and take steps
70 see mat property toi--' 1t - '''-
assessors is properly assessed and
taxed
Heretofore ana Tor Years '"ste
been complaint mat 'he STATE -
council has acted az an ASSESSING ','@i
ard as board Of e4ua i!zalIrh "4'!i' . :
sitilclent hno'4Fose' t''@' u 10,
had taA authority 70 secure any ~,