Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-12
IOWA STANDS ALONE IN EN-.
PLoYMENT oE.ATToRNEY FOR
COMMISSION.
SENATE ASKS FOR REPORT
ON OPERATIONS OF OFFICE
Information Sought in View Of Pending
Bill to Abolish Position-House and
Senate conferees Get Together on
Compensation Of Officials Of Com
mission Governed Small Cities.
,ecial to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March 1.-THE senate
yesterday passed concurrent resolu-
ton offered by Senator Allen asking
for report on the operations of the
office of commerce counsel the past
two years. The office was created by
the last general assembly. Senator AL
len explained that in view of the fact
that bill is pending which indirectly
abollShes the office, at least puts it out
OF business in its present form, the leg
lSlature ought to know something about
the practical workings of the system.
The resolution was readily adopted
without opposition.
1t is not generally known, but it is
fact, that the office of commerce
counsel is something peculiar to Iowa
alone and no other state of the union
has taken such an advanced step in the
matter Of providing a counsel for the
people in rate and transportation mat
tiers. 1t is altogether a new and unique
thing.
For this reason the report will be
awaited with some interest. AS a mat
the newspapers, the commerce counsel
has accomplished wonderful amount
Of work in the two years. Judge Hen
derson has devoted himself assiduously
to the work and has handled a vast
amount of business Of great import
ance to the shipping interests Of the
state. He has co-operated heartily
with Mr.. Thorne and the commission
in all matters the commission has TAX
en- before the interstate commission at
Washington. He has also handled a
great many cases before the state COM
mission, seeing to it that they are fully
prepared for presentation and appear
ing to bring out the full testimony and
proper arguments.
Senator Allen was one of the original
advocates of the commerce counsel
idea and will probably not let the Of
fee be abolished without a hard fig hit,
The committee having charge Of the
bill to authorize the railroad commits
sion to order excursion rates to fairs
and similar gatherings will be given a
hearing on Thursday afternoon. The
representatives Of the state board of
agriculture will tell why the bill would
be a good measure and ought to pass
and representatives Of the railroads
will resist it. Nothing was accom-
plished last year by the conferences on
the subject and unless the bill is passed
probably there will not again be re-
duced rates to any Of these gatherings
in Iowa as to those outside the state.
George Jepson, of Sioux City. was
appointed by Governor Clarke to be the
new judge in the Fourth judicial dis
trict provided for by the law which has
just passed. AS a matter Of fact, the
bill had not yet become law by pub
LEGATION yesterday when the matter was
decided. Mr.. Jepson is a brother Of
Chris Jepson, ex-representative, and OF
DR.. Jepson, long time connected with
the state medical department. He has
been in the practice in Sioux City
twenty-five years and was born in
Wayne county. Iowa and educated at
the state university.
The exact form of the application Of
the commission form Of government to
the smaller cities Of the state has been
agreed upon. / he MUSE iIlo SeAioeS
found themselves deadlocked over this
matter ten days ago. The disagree
ment was in regard to the salaries TO
be paid the officials. The bill as 1t
has already passed both houses permit
a city Of any size, that is. down to
1000 Of population. TO take on the COM
mission form Of governm ent.
Conferees were named on the disa-
sreement as to salaries to be paid and
these conferees today made report,
which was signed by Messrs. Spauld-
ing, Weber, Head, Mitchell. Sherman.
-Stipe ana Lund. the vniy one H1.
signing was McManus.
Under the compromise it is provided
that for all cities below $4,000 popula-
tlon-which was the point of contro-
| YersY-the salary to be paid the mayor