Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-02-18
STATE COMMISSION ASKS LEGIS.
LATuRE 70 GIVE IT POWER
TO REDUCE FARES.
BOARD BELIEVES STATE FAIR
ENTITLED TO EXCURSION RATES
Surmised That Attack on State Far
Board Was Inspired by Desire TO
Head OF Legislation OF This KIND
Highways Committees Reporting
Progress.
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines, Feb. lS-It the legis-
suggestion Of the Iowa railroad COM
1nissicners as stated in their annual
report just printed and placed on the
desks Of the nembe II Will take steps
that win decide once and for a.! as 20
the right OF the state to compel rail-
roads to extend excursion rates 20 puo-
lie gatherings Of great interest 10 large
bodies of the people.
No bill has as yet been introduced 10
that effect bat probably there viii be
such a bill, and IL VIII authorize the
railroad commissioners TO investigate
and If deemed advisable TO direct thal
the railroads shall in certain cases
where application has been made oruer
that excursion rates be put into effect
like those which had been in vogue
in Iowa many years and are still
granted in other states.
I'VE believe public policy demands,
saws the railroad commissioners II i..e!r
report. "and the courts. when the mat
ter is fairly tested. will hold that
state fair, representing an investment
on the part Of state Of a million dol
1ars. attended by two hundred thous-
and Of It's inhabitants, Of great educa-
1ional value to its citizens. Is public
institution and that a state has the
mower to compel rates TO the same cor
responding to those which have existed
for the past twenty years and upon
which the investment has been made
md this institution has been built up.
We would recommend that the legs
lature should thoroughly investigate,
and II the facts justify what appears to
be rue, then that the legislature should
enact q law prescribing such reduced
rates or else empower this commission
in such certain and unquestionaole
terms that no other issue can be car
ried into court on the constitutional
power Of the state itself to act"
, The commission has recited that able
LAWYERS differ as to the right OF the
state TO take such action and that 1t is
q. question which involves other states
as well as Iowa, and IAN issue which
should be decided finally one way or
the other and the case that raises II
should not be embarrassed by any other
questions which 1t is possible to avoid.
It has been surmised that the counter
attack upon the state board Of agr1rul-
ture has been inspired in some way 10
head off any possible legislation OF this
kind by causing general lack OF con-
fidence in the annual state fairs,
Lawyers are not going to permit any
three fourths verdicts in civil cases IN
Iowa. There IS a law permitting an
agreement to that effect which the
LAWYERS say is not made use Of. a bill
all civil cases was defeated in the SEN
ate judiciary committee yesterday by
one vote. The argument against 1t was
that the present system which has been
handed down from past generations
has been found 20 work we'll and there
is no occasion for change. For the
bill it was found that 1t would lessen
the number of mistrials.
A bill to legalize the practice Of "sug-
gestive thera peutics" is on the way to
the bill room, and 10 the scrap heap.
Senator Robinson has on the calen-
dar bill to make it possible TO transfer
from a state insane hospital TO q coun-
ty asylum a patient without the con-
sent Of the parent, but upon request
Of the board Of supervisors and insane
commission and with the approval OF
the board Of control. Sometimes il rs
found impossible to secure the consent,
of a parent even tho there can be no
valid reason for the refusal.
Members OF the highways commit
tees say that they are coming very
rapidly to consideration Of the supple
mental bills in regard to highways that
are planned to follow the general bill
4 revising the administrative method for
road work Chief among these is some
form Of state aid for road buildings and
( the raising OF a fund by taxation or
otherwise It Is agreed generally among
the members that whatever else is done
it will be necessary 10 leave the actual
expenditure Of funds TO the local
Z authorities under the supervision Of a
state commission. Two proposals are
being considered-one for state mil
lage tax and the other for a county tax
In either case It is contemplated that
a large part Of the funds for any sec
! ton OF road comes from the people liv.
ing in the immediate vicinity Of the
road. But the details of the supple
mental bills have not as yet been
9 worked out
Now for change in the date for the
holding Of the regular primary cleo
tions In Iowa. The senate today re-
ceived and placed on file a favorable
g report on the bill by Senator Smith
of Shelby, to change the date for the
primary from the first part Of June TO
the second Monday in September. Sem
afor Smith first planned for the first
Monday. forgetting that it would coin
eide with Labor day. The senate com
mlttee on elections believes that there
should be a change and that the later
date in the year will give the people
OF the state all the time needed for
q proper political campaign. Besides,
1t will obviate the apparent necessity
now Of commencing the state cam
psiRns in the middle OF the winter.
80 me LII "a rra1,ida a S2l faQ erner.