Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-31
AMENDED BILL ACCEPTED" BY
REPRESENTATIVES, OF MUNIc-
IPAllTiES.
FAR IN ADVANCE OF THE
ORIGINAL COMMITTEE DRAFT
Pu. Thru Senate After Vigorous Fight
- Important Amendment Makes
Commission Taxing Body at End Of
Year-controI Of Municipal Plants
Preserved-Lesislativ Gossip.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Repu blican.
Des Moines. March 31.-The amended
and modified bill for a public utilities
commission as il was finally voted on
by the senate Is so far in advance OF
the original committee draft of the bill
that 1t was practically accepted oy the
representatives of the Iowa municipal
ites and the friends Of the telephone
companies and the champions of the
CORPORATIONS. Among the votes cast
for the bill were those of several sena-
tors who represent important cities
owning their own utilities; but also
among the senators who withheld their
votes from the bill was a number VINO
have cities at home protesting against
the state taking over control OF their
local affairs The bill got a number OF
votes by reason Of the Very important
amendments made on the moor without
which it is doubtful II it could have
been passed al all.
The bill was put thru the senate by
a group Of senators who made a de-
7ermined fight for it. By common con-
the senator from Grundy and unitediy
carried on the fight, sometimes fighting
amendments 10 the end and sometimes
yielding gracefully, more often car
rying their point of opposition
10 success There were r"ore amend
ments proposed than were accepted.
This group in charge of the bill con-
sisted of Francis, Crist. DeWof. ana
Cowles Important amendments We're
secured by kimball. sullivan and Allen.
The Kimball amendments related TO
the question Of home rule and preserV-
ing to the people of the cities the con-
troll Of their municipality owned plants.
The Sullivan amendments were those
prepared by Mayor Hanna. Attorney
Byers and others on behalf of Des
Moines
The most important amendment TO
the bill was that by Allen which makes
of the commission. after a year, also an
assessing board for all the utilities. in
Guiding the railroads and interurbans,
telegraph and express companies. and
in this respect supplanting the state
executive council The commission Will.
of necessity. secure very much fuller
information as TO the value Of all these
properties than mas ever been secured
by the council hence will be in much
better position to fix actual values for
taxation. In the matter OF rate max
ing the companies will make a showing
of value of the plants. which II may be
assumed will BE fairly accurate. and the
commission will be able II take this as
a basis FOR taxation if il is deemed
high enough. This is a labor which
would have been given the state tax
commission If created
OF equal importance are the various
amendments which preserve to the
cities the control. in general way. Of
their municipality owned utilities; and
Others which give decided encourage
ment to the movement toward munich
pal ownership 1t was freely charged
that the bill had been framed 20 dis
courage and finally TO destroy munich
pal ownership. and 10 that extent the
bill was branded as a corporation meas
ure and hurtful 10 a very healthful
movement Amendments adopted
changed the character Of the bill in this
regard tho not 20 the extent desired
by some, and representative Of some Of
the cities doubt very much If anything
would be gained by its acceptance.
The house bill embraces many of the
features which have been at the finish
embodied in the senate bill. but also
many others that are regarded by some
members as very desirable. The house
viii undoubtedly take its own bill as the
basis Of action. If il is passed prompt
" the whole matter will 60 into con-
ference between the two houses. 1t is
the hope Of The friends Of the measure
that out Of a conference Of house and
senate leaders a bill can be framed up
that will be acceptable and will become
the law
No matter which bill is accepted il
viii mean that the present railroad
commission viii De the nucleus Of the
new commission, that two members
will be added, that after the expiration
of the terms Of the present elected
commissioners the commission will be-
come one Of three appointive members,
bipartisan in character; that the office
of commerce counsel will continue as
at present, and that there viii be larger
salaries paid than to the present rail-
road commissioners.
The situation in regard to the bill to
nullify the anti-compact law by penal
izing for rate cutting in insurance has
been got into a position that is almost
this into the code is enough for book.
In two or three sessions efforts were
made to slip it thru as a part Of fire
marshal bill and this failed Some years
ago there was an insurance commission
which spent a large part Of one sum-
mer making a report on Iowa insur
ance companies and laws. An echo of
the fierce controversy in that commits
sion came near reappearing the other
day in the senate III the debate on the
insurance bill. It was declared by one
senator that the bill had the approval
Of the insurance department and by
another that it did not have such ap-
prevail, also the same as to the attorney
generals office. Then Senator Jones
remarked that IT was the same old
Eight over again that was thrashed out
an that commission. Mr. Jones was
one OF the commission. So was State
Auditor Bleakly. And the secretary