Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-23

tihcates: law granting towns the same
power Of cities to construct sanitary
sewers and sewage disposal plants, ana
levy tax Tor the same; law prohipit-
ing municipal officials from being IN
terested in any contract or JOB OF WORK
for the municipality. or to receive any
favors or free service from any puohc
utility corporation; increase OF num-
Der of special funds that may be levied
by cities and towns: and law estap-
fishing a state inebriate asylum.
ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY.
Mr. Pierce referred at length 10 one
of the important questions to come up
before the league at this session, that
OF the assessment OF property. move
ment started in a test case brought III
Polk county to compel the executive
council 10 comply with the law ana as
sess the property of the state at ITS
real value. While increases nave oeen
made as q result of the leagues ac-
Invites, the league believes there Is
sill room for Improvement, and its
future policy in the question VIII PROB
a,,ly he determined at this meeting.
Mr.. Pierce said in part the citles
ested in having all property assessed
NJ its full value in accordance with law
The broad underlying legal principle in
regard TO assessment OF property ina
all property must be assessed equally
would not permit a city or town 10 as
seSs the property within It's limits al us
fall value when another property III
the STATE. or the county. Sucn as raii-
roads and farm lands. are assessed al
only 80 or 30 per cent OF tneir Naiue-
So long as the revenue OF the state ana
county is secured by direct taxation on
ali property. it would be mani1es'iS
unfair to the taxpayers OF the cities
and towns TO assess property therein al
a higher percentage than is the other
property of the state.
This adjustment OF values Will re-
suit in The saving OF thousands OF dol
lars 10 the taxpayers Of the cities and
towns, so far as the state and county
expenses are concerned and this saw
ing will amount 10 more than the an
.vsl dues of the members Of this or
sanization. for many years
LOCAL OR STATE RULE.
Local or state rule. =. community
state commission. was a problem adj
vanced as one that would confront
:h=s people within the neN- few years.
Mr. Pierce went on record as favor
ing the right of the people TO control
,h=ir local affairs, rather than be gov
erne: by state commission. appointed
by the governor.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
IN presenting his financial report Mr..
Pierce showed the league : income fer
the year 10 have been $3,s11-26. !nclud-
ing balance OF sl+..26 d. the begin
ming of The year. The Total disourse-
ments for the year We're s.. sss.So leav-
ing balance Sept. l OF sl.1.
No attempt has been made during
the year to increase the membership
of the league, il having been deemed
advisa BILE to await the holding of this
convention. when new table Of dues
VIII be adopted.
At the Sioux City convention last
year it was declared that the league
Increase the dues to be paid by towns
OF less than 1000 population. and Mr.;
Pierce urged the recommendation of a
year go be voted at this meeting.
COMMEEDS CO-WORkERS.
In closing Secretary Pierce said: Il
especially desire to call the attention
of the league to the work of our presi-
dent. Mayor Smith, and 10 that of the
chairman and members OF the legisia
live committee. At ~
Mayor Smith spent much of his
time in Des1 Moines during the meeting
OF the legislature and his work in OPP
position 10 the state utility commits
sion. produced definite and important
results
Mayor Sheldon. the chairman OF the
legislative committee. ma all the
members of this committee. We're in
Des Molnss on Neutrality-suspicious. and in
connection with thezuaii-y bill and all
other bills. this committee we'll repre-
scented The league and was able 10 i'm
latu-e their honesty OF purpose and I'M
selfish motives
1t IS certa'nly a pleasure 10 work
with men Of this kind and ] can not
in words express ny aooreciation of
their many acts of kindly assistance
IN my work
Meetings Open TO Public.
All Of the meetings are open 10 the
ClDlic. ana paISlel4ns ana members o.
the wouean's clubs % the city viii be
particularly interested in tonight's ses-
sion. which is 70 be meeting with the
state board o. health. Some of the
subjects 10 he discussed are The Ply
stefan and public Health" by DR.. w L.
Bia--:-g. president Of the state board
81 health; The Sanitary Engineers
W'o-k". I-ayfavette Higgins. sanitary
engineer for the state beard: Pure
Water Srcply''. Prof c. y. Kinney. the
boards chemist. and a paper by DR..
G. II. Sumner, secretary of the board.
Wednesdays Program.
Wednesday forenoon's session VIII pc
called a 3 o'clock. The convention Will
divide into departme for discussion
The meeting place OF these depart
nents viii be: Cities under genera!
law and special charter, east court
room: cities under commission govern
rnent. office OF Councilman Dorr L.
Lamb: towns. Mayor Miila-d's ei-
flee: ATTORNEYS. office Of City Sell
ci.or y e Northrp: accounting offffi-
GERS. office OF the city clerk.
At o'clock the league will come to-
gether in the east court room to hear
reports on the suit against the execu-
1--WE council: on street lighting and
discussion Of the public utility COM