Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-01
COUNSEL TO REPREsENr PEG.
PIE IN RAILROAD VALUATION
HAwkEYE IDEA.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BOARD
INDUCED TO TAKE ACTION
Iowa's Senators Planned 60 Force Bill
Thru Congress Il Necessary to Pro.
cure Represents tien-Raiiroads Ap.
point COMMITTEES TO Represent Lines
biggest Thing in Rate World.

Special to Times. Republican,.
Des Moines. Nov. 1.-The decision
OF the interstate commerce commits
sion to appoint and employ an attor-
ney to represent the people before the
national valuation board in the mat
ter Of valuation Of the railroads is
the direct result Of the meeting held
in the state house in Des Moines last
spring at which a score of western
railroad commissioners were repre-
sented, when the powers that be at
Washington were memorialized to
have this very thing done. At that
time the matter had attracted no at
tention among the people. There was
no interest manifested except among
the rail railroad men and the COM
missioners.
A committee was appointed which
went to Washington and with Chair
man Thorne at the head laid the mat
ter before President Wilson. He prom
iSed he would do something, but
thought the interstate commerce COM
mission had all the authority needed.
The commission did not seem to ap-
preciate the Importance of having the
public side presented. The two Iowa
senators-Cummins and Kenyon-took
up with the idea quickly and gave the
committee great aid Senator LaFol-
lette became very much interested in it
and vowed he would get a special bill
thru If necessary.
Later the railroads appointed a COM
mittee OF fifteen to look after their in
terests. which indicated that they were
not going to let anything get away
when rhe valuation matter was de-
cided. Then the railroad commission
ers appointed an advisory committee
to look into their affairs. In the
meantime the valuation hoard had been
partly organized and went to work.
More recently Commissioner Prouty
resigned from the interstate commits
sion to become head of the valuation
board, which further emphasized the
i'm portance Of the work about to be
undertaken.
Big Thing in Rate World.
Then It was announced the railroad
committee had made an offer to Pierce
Butler and to Governor Herbert Had
ley to become their attorneys before
the valuation board each at salary CT
$4,000 year. That showed how very
important they regard the matter. Now
1t is announced that the interstate
commission will employ Commissioners
Roemer or some other expert to rep
resent the public and see that the in
terests of shippers and consumers are
considered.
This valuation matter will be the
biggest thing in the railroad and rate
world" said Judge Henderson, COM
merce counsel for Iowa yesterday. 1.-THE
people seem to be just waking up to
what it means. Why, 1t is simply ap-
makes, as a basis for rates, when
there is apparently slight change in
the basis for figuring out some of the
elements entering into valuation. For
instance. 1t is Of vast Importance how
to figure in cost Of right OF way, cost
Of reproduction. interest on investment
during building and how much to allow
for the fact that railroads usually pay
more for right of way than others
pay for similar property All these
and hundreds Of other things must be
considered. When the work of making
an appraisement Of the American rail-
roads is completed it Is likely to work
a revolution in the relations between
the public rate making and assessment
bodies and the railroads"
It is probable that congress at the
regular session will make an appro-
priation to have the valuation board
we'll supplied with funds for carrying
on the work.