Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-05
FLOOD OF ALLEGED FARMERS"
PETITIONS RECEIVED BY
LEGISLATURE.
NO TAX COMMISSION BILL
BEFORE STATE ASSEMBLY
Special Interests Appear to Be Work.
ing Without Apparent Reason-Werk
Of Formulating Bill Based on Report
Not Yet cempieted-Interestin De-
bate on Savings Banks Loans.
Special to Times-Republican.

<Des Moiues. March 5.-The senate
had little pleasantly yesterday over
the petitions of the farmers with
reference to the bill, or alleged bill,
for a state tax commission. Nearly
every member had one or more of these
petitions to present. They were all
alike, all printed, or rather there We're
TWO printed forms.
President Harding suggested that
the committee, which he minated has
headquarters in a down town office
building, should also print on the back
of each petition the proper reference
and it would save lot of trouble.
Senator Sullivan said he wished
some one would notify the commit
tee that as a matter Of fact there is no
bill pending for a state tax commission
and no such bill in sight. so that the
petitions have no pertinency 10 any
thing in the legislature.
Is Senator Ames made suggestion
which indicated he thought the petit
tons did not come from a down town
office building. hnt from the state
grange.
The fact was developed. informally,
of course tina, the petitions have all
been prepared al one place, in two
forms. that they have been sent OUT
from Des Moines by two persons who
appear to be in the employment OF
some special interest, that the petitions
all misrepresent and distort the situa-
rion as regards the tax commission re-
port, and that thousands of farmers
are being induced to sign them under a
very erroneous idea of what is contem-
plated. One set of these petitions is
being handled by a man who has
pretty good access to the newspaper
offices and who 10 working chiefly the
democratic end OF the fight, and the
other is being handled by a former
newspaper man who represents him
self TO be secretary of the state grange
hut who is also in the employment Of
special interests.
Inasmuch as nothing whatever Is
known publicly of the details Of the bill
upon which some work has been done
providing for revision Of the assess
menr laws Of the state the petitions are
said to not nit the mark at all. But
any way the legislative members are
now full well aware of the exact nature
of the campaign being carried on re-
garding reform in assessment matters
81 think Iowa has done quite enough
IN building up other states and fur
nishing money for other countries: it
is time for Iowa to care for her own
and we ought TO keep our capital at
home so far as We are able" So said,
in substance. Senator Ames. as he vas
discussing a bill to permit savings
banks TO invest their funds in real es
nj1tGifS 1~ Iowa
Objection was also raised 20 the
measure by Senator Garrett on the
ground that It meant an opportunity
for the savings banks 10 loan their
money in states where higher rates
prevail than III Iowa. consequently il
meant higher rates of interest in Iowa.
Senator Smith also got into the de-
hate and lambas1ed the bill as one
which would permit of the banks gath
ering up Iowa capital and permitting
its use to build up industries else
where.
Senator Schrup. Of Dubuque, warmly
defended the bill as did Senator Farr,
of Sioux City. They argued that as a
matter of fact It is unjust to require
that Iowa bankers make their invest
ments In Iowa alone, and ii would be
Just as consistent 10 require that an
Iowa pork packing house should not
sell It's pork TO anybody outside the
state. Il was urged that especially as
to the cities on the border Of the state
the authority 10 loan none; II other
states should be given.
The bill provides that savings banks
may loan money in any state south Of
the Canadian border and down 10 the
Kansas line and west in Kansas to
about half Of the state. Its chief ben
eft would be 10 permit loans in the
new northwest especially along the
lines of new railroad building in that
direction.
The bill failed Of majority vote in
the senate.
The senate substitute fer the Head
bill in regard to transmission lines for
electric current and the granting Of
the right of eminent domain for such
lines, was debated short time yester-
day in the senate just before adjourn
nent.
The bill places the matter in the
hands of the district court, which may.
upon written petition and after proper
notice, grant to an individual or cor
poration. in any place outside city
or town, the right TO put up poles ana
wire for transmission Of electric cur
rents across and over public lands and
streams and across private lands.
The cour, shall fix the compensation
to be paid to the private land owner
for such right OF way
At highway crossings notices shall
be put up of danger because OF the
electric currents and the wires shall!
be placed high.
In case of injury to persons because
of these wires or the currents, negli-
rence shall be presumed on the part Of
the operating company.
II the bill passes both houses it will
enable companies like the Keokuk Dam
Company and others TO send their
wiyes across the state and to transmit
power to all parts OF the state. II was
thought best to provide that these
lines should 60 across fields rather