Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-15
MUcH.pEsATEp MEASURES LIKE.
" TO De ADOPTED IN CLOS.
ING DAYS OF LEGISLATURE.
AMENDMENTS TO TAX BILL
CUTS FEET FROM ENEMIES
One Of Greatest Objections obviated-
Calls for Lsvies on Actual Value Of
Properties After 1s16-chanees for
Utilities Commission Seem Brighter
Governor Will Sign Both Measures.
Special to Times-Repu blican.

Special to Times -Repu blican.
| Des Moines, April 1.-two features
Of the legislative program as laid out
, at the beginning Of the session are
| likely TO be put thru with a rush at
| the close, not SO much that haste is
needed at any time on important mat
tiers but because il seems that this is
the only way, in view of the character
of the fight made to defeat progressive
measures. to accomplish anything along
the two lines suggested.
| One is the proposed reform in tax
alton to effect more nearly exact equal
i,y of the tax burdens.
The other is the measure for utilt-
ties commission to take over direction
of the public service corporations Of
the state.
The conference committee at work
on the latter virtually reached a de-
cision Saturday night Some details
r, manned to be worked out later. The
conferees may report today or tonor-
row. The bin is largely the senate bill
with all the safeguards suggested in the
house bill. There has no: as yet been
agreement as TO the number OF mem
bers of the commission. Conferees say
that the report viii be che on which
both houses can agree and it is one
which will be not Objectionable to the
cities.
Tax Reform Surorse.
AS for the tax reform measure.
surprising new turn has been taker
which cuts the feet from beneath those
who have raised big storm Of opposi-
ton. Today there was laid before the
senate amendments Of which the fol-
lowing is one, being a new clause:
All property. real and rersonal. tan
gible and intangible of every kind. ma
ture and description and including the
good will OF going concern. whether
owned by an individual company, part
nership. association or corporation. and
also franchises not especially exempt
is subject TO taxation in the manner
prescribed by law" a."
That clause covers one of the biggese
of the ostensible objs ctions' to the bill
as the committee had framed it, and
leaves no room longer for discussion of
the danger of leaving untased the in
tangible values Of the corporations.
The bill also provides that ali tax
OF the actual value of the property: but
in the case OF the ,miilagc taxes levied
by the state these shall be laid against
the property for one-fourth the amount
designated. This will answer the OBJ
lection that the proposed tax reform
would greatly increase the state rev
enues going TO the colleges and else
where.
Cd I'll q
the whole thing IN the hands OF the
state executive council to be the state
tax commission This takes away from
the strong lobby that has Teen making
the fight the main argument under
which they secured the active oppost-
, ton Of great many we'll meaning per
sons who did not understand the stu
alton. II nu!lifes 95 per cent OF the
petitions tina, have been received pro-
testing against the creation Of another
commission and involving great ex-
pense for the support Of new state Off
Gers.
With this BILL amended. the leaders
of senate and house sincerely believe
they will be able TO pass il TO the gov
ernor in a day or two. The governor
has never wavered in his position and
| he desires the passage Of some such
nlea sure
The plan TO have these two import
ant measures come In for final action
a the close is one we'll thought out by
the leaders OF the legislature. II was
realized this is the only way TO get the
legislation. II viii be known very SOON
whether the reactionary forces are too
strong to De overcome