Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08
OPPOSITION TO
TAX REFORM IS
VERY THOROUGH
Legislators Deluged With
Protests Against Meas
ure Yet Unframed; Pro-
test on Utilities Bill.
lBY ORA WILLIAMS.1

Des Moines, March IA probe into
the source, supply and purpose OF the
systematic campaign and to SO para
lyze the thirty-flfth general assembly
that it will not be able to make any
progress toward reformation Of the
assessment and taxation system OF
Iowa is being considered by legisla-
tors.
1t may include an inquiry into the
connection to which suspicion points
as between the mysterious silence in
some quarters about the need Of re-
form in taxation methods and the
somewhat hysterical beating Of tom
way problem. 1t is more than limited
that the people who especially do not
want anything done for tax reform
are able to pull the strings for show
ing of fierce demand for radical .legis-
lation on some other matters.
The daily flood of petitions to mem
bers, or protests against the bill for a
permanent tax commission, is thus far
the cause only of merriment among
members; but some of them realize
that it merely represents how easily
the people are fooled, and what a COM
plete machine exists for doing the job
whenever the money is ready for the
task. Every day each member receives
these signed papers In large number
and they are going to the committee
on ways and means in steady stream.
Protests Are Numerous.
There Is no concealment of the facts
about the protests. They are all either
printed or typewriter, in one Of two
forms, showing that they have en-
anated from a common source. The
names of two persons are being freely
used as those who are doing the work.
Neither one pays any taxes, nor prob
ably ever will; and neither one has
dollar Of his own money to pay post
age on the vast correspondence which
has been carried on from a certain
Office building In Des Moines. The
work of securing the names of asses
sors in all parts of the state was first
taken up, then the names of others
who would be interested financially
In the matter. then they were circu
arized with statements regarding wnat
the legislature is supposed to be in
tending to do. The foundation having
been laid the printed protests were
sent out and the men got busy getting
signatures.
One of the senators told of his ex-
perience at home the other day. He
was besieged by persons demanding
of him that he "vote against the tax
commission bill" He was threatened
and beseeched. do you know what
is In that bill?" he asked. No., they
did not. Neither do l." he said, "for
the bill has not been prepared as yet.
Maybe the bill will be just what you
want when it is prepared. At any
rate I'm going to vote for good bill
If there is one presented"
Interest in Utilities Bill.
Regulate everybody but US; leave us
alone" That is the song that Senator
Crist and his committee arc hearing
nowadays. Delegation after delegation
of commercial standpatters have ap-
peared to protest against the public
utilities bill Everybody is for progress
If it is in different direction.
Telephone men got first crack at the
bill; but also came the owners Of gas
plants, lawyers for waterworks sys-
TENS, lobbyists for the railroads, repre-
sentatives Of cities.
Today the committee heard from the
representatives Of the cities. What
they complain about is that too much
power goes to the central authority and
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