The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-23
DO|NGS OF THE
IOWA LEGISLATURE
Auditor Of State John BleatIey Says
Executive Council is Well Equip
ped to Handle Taxation
Problem.
UP TO LOCAL ASSESSORS
Some Suggestions That a County As
SCISSOR be Employed to Return
Tax valuations-other Iowa
News.

DES MONIES. Iowa, March 22.-
THE executive council Is sufficiently
equipped TO shoulder the responsible
lty of handling the taxation problem
in Iowa placed upon 1t by the people,
if given laws for definite basis o,
operation" said Auditor of State John
Bleakley, member of the council, in
reply ito claims of a permanent tax
commission supporters that the pres
ent officers do not hayo time to look
after the matter.
We have time now" said Mr..
BleakIey TO spend weeks listening
to arguments of railroad and corpora
ton representatives as to the value
of their property and fixing basis
of assessment If tie legislature pass
a law providing the proposed utility
commission make physical valuation
and certify that to the council as q
basis for taxation, the present coun-
Gil will be relieved of much of its
present labor and can as ably and
any commi ssion that might be ap-
pointed We now equalize valuations
of real and personal property as be-
tween counties. The fault of the pres
ent inequality is not because of lack
of power to equalize between counties,
but lies solely with the local asses
sors, who taken oath to return true
values If these assessors cannot be
depended upon to turn in true values
as between assessorial districts,
county assessor is what may be need
ed Without that tax c>nmission
council has been and Is doing. SO
far as / can see the present council,
elected by the people and responsible
directly to the people for its actions,
is as thoroughly equipped to handle
the tax proposition in Iowa as the
proposed permanent tax commission.
The claims that the council has not
the time is foolishr ess. The council
has adequate time. If there is In
equality in taxation in Iowa it lies
with the laws providing a basis and
no. with the executive machinery"
Secretary of State Allen, also d
member OF the state executive coun-
ell has previously expressed similar
views. Since the development of the
fact that the proposed revenue re
form bill gives to permanent taa
commission no more authority than is
!, I, O11 1.-Two
tive council, friends of the new Office
making plans have been making
claims that the council does not have
time to do the work. This members
Of the council deny and claim they
are not in any way trying to avoid OF
shirk the responsibilities placed upor
them by the electors who placed
them in office.
Senate Scores Against House.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, March 81
The senate scored against the hous'
Yesterday % to 2 in the passage o
bills. However, a large number o
The measures passed by the uppe
house We're legalizing acts. Amoni
the more important ones that passe,
are; The black plague bill, whicl
was passed few days ago by tn
house and has been urged by the "
G. T. u. of Iowa In the committe
strong argument was made for
by Dr. Margaret Clarke of Waterloo
The Sullivan bill authorizing court
to grant immunity to witnesses test
flying against illegal combination
and trusts.
Quigley's bill closing the seaso
entirely on QUILL
Perkins bill authorizing establis
ment of vice commission
McVicker's house bill authorizir
cities to levy seven instead of fl,
mills for electric lighting purposes.
Bingham's house bill authorizil
transfer of library building funds
the support fund when the buildil
is completed.
Francis bill providing an appeal
the court from the medical examine
revocation of a certificate
Initiative and Referendum.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, March %
With but eleven dissenting votes I
house yesterday afternoon passed I
initiative and referendum bill af
Il was amended so as to provide Il
the constitution may be amended
AZ II