Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-05
Gathered il, the By,Oays
to Times Republican

L
When Clifford Thorne and his asso-
ciates on the committee to put it up
to the federal authorities to see that
there IS a square deal in the matter OF
valuation of railway property. arrived
in Washington and got into touch with
various people they found that 1t was
Senator LaFollette who more than any
other was keenIy alive to the immense
Importance of the issue raised. OF
course there were others who became
interested and who gave respectful at
tention to the committee. Senator
Cummins had arranged the meeting
with the president so that it was Ger
tain the committee would get to the
top. But LaFollette became tnquisitlVe.
He wanted to know all about 1t and he
met the committee at lunch and went
to the room and talked it over again
and again. 1t was to the Wisconsin
senator, however, that the very best
argument could be made Of the neces-
sity Of having preparation made 1or
presentation Of the side Of the pubic.
Your Wisconsin commission made
valuation Of railroads and the supreme
court refused to accept this" Is what
was said to him. Now the commits
sioners were honest and meant TO do
risht, but when they acted they had
before them only one side OF the cues
ton. They had been bon1barded for
year or more with the arguments anc
statements Of the railroads. What the5
lacked was proper preparation anu
presentation Of the side of the puphc.
We have the utmost faith IN the IN
terstate commission, but that comnls-
sion can not adequately safeguard tne
public. We know our supreme court
is honest and well meaning. but we
hire an attorney general and special
attorneys TO see that the public side OF
the case is fully argued. So. also. IN
this railroad valuation matter, the peo-
pies side should be fully prepared
and presented
This idea of a commerce counsel. or
someone to represent the people berore
such boards as the interstate commerce
commission, was new one even 10
IaFo!lette and that was one thing
which interested him greatly. The IN
terstate commerce commission mas d
fund out OF which can be paid special
agents or attorneys for all public pur-
poses and it is probable the commits
sion will. on it's own motion, perhaps at
the urgency Of the president, deslS-
nate some persons to handle the pub
lie side in the valuation matters. but
unless it does so, 1t is certain that Sen
ator LaFollette as perhaps some otn-
ers. stands ready to take the lnltlatl'e
TO see to it that something Is done.
! the state executive council have au-
thortiy to see to it that lowas snare
in the matter is looked after.
Judge Robinson. who has just retired
from the board Of control. had the
| UNIQUE distinction Of having served his
country in several different capacities
not only as a lawyer and an edu-
| Gator. but in the military service. the
legislative branch, the judiciary and as
| an executive officer.
"And if ever there was truly faith
full Official" said DR.. Bannister of OF
tumwa the other day, sit was Judge
! Robinson. He always put the punlle
| interest above all else. Why, 1 recai
once when we were down at Fort Mad
! ison the suggestion was made that We
| go see the big Keokuk dam. The judge
demurred and said he didn't hardly Zee
that It was part Of our duty as state
officials to inspect that dam. And We
didn't go"
AS for Judge Robinson, he says tha'
he liked the judiciary best OF all. Blu
I shall miss the larger phases OF tins
great work for the unfortunates OF tht
state" he added. 1T Is work tha'
never can be mastered. 1t Is worthy
the time Of any man."
| Someone has suggested that the
board of control has been Numbered
up." That is more literally true thar
flguratively. Each and every one O.
the present members Is or had been
| lumber dealer. But primarily they are
all first class business men.
Neither George Cosson, nor James
Pierce. nor Howard Clark. nor George
! Curtis nor Jerry Sullivan nor B. F
Carroll nor Nate Kendall will be
candidate for United States senator
next year.