Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-07

iieilDeIS; Dut SOME OF them realize
that it merely represents how easily
the people are fooled, and what a ccm-
plete machine exists for doing the Job
whenever the moneylis ready for the
| task. Every Gay each member re-
ceives these signed papers in large
number and they are going to the com
Hittee on ways and means in steady
stream.
Work Done Openly.
There is no conceaiment CT the facts
about the protests ,Ptee Ore all either
printed or typewriter, in one OF tHo
forms, showing that they have ema-
mated from 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 a
dollar of his own money to pay postage
en- the vast correspondence which has
been carried on from o. certain office
building in Des Moines The work OF
securing the names of assessors 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 circularized with state
ments regarding what the legislature
is supposed to be intending to do. The
foundation having been laid the printed
protests were sent out and the men
got busy getting signatures.
Methods Of Opposition.
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 cum
a
beseeched do you know what is in
that bill?" he asked. No. they did not.
Neither co L. he said, "for the bill has
not been prepared as yet. Maybe the
bill will be just what you want wnen
it is prepared At any rate I'm going
to vote for a good bill if there is one
presented"
Ex- Senator Newberry, who is here
interested in school legislation, says
that while at home the other day
farmer friend. an assessor. showed him
letter he had received from Des
Moines containing what purported to
be information regarding a tax bill
and petition to be signed. The man
was very much excited over it because
he had been informed it meant move
to increase the taxes of the farmers.
L
But it illustrated the methods.
One of the agents employed in hand
ling the petition business in Des
Moines is working the democratic
members. and his chief line is said to
be to influence the democrats with the
idea that it would be a great political
stroke to line up the party solidly
against any and all commissions on
every subject, and to make the claim
that the chief purpose of any state
commission is to increase state ex-
pense and make the farmer pay more
taxes for the benefit OF some office
holders.
One Of these forms used by the Des,
Moines petition agency Is this:
"The duties and powers OF the state
executive council pertaining to taxa
ton are not well understood. They are
more than a board OF review to equal
ize taxes among the several counties.
The law provides that they shall adj
just the value Of property by adding
to or taking from the valuation Of each
kind and class Of property such per-
centage In each case as will bring the
same to its taxable value. What great
er powers can be given to a permanent
tax commission? What reason for cre-r
ating high salaried and centralized
commission to assume duties which al
ready belong to men elected by the
people? We do not favor radical
changes in our revenue sys-
TEN which are proposed under
thez name OF permanent tax
commission nor do we favor any
tax legislation that shall take away
from the people the right to assess
collect and disburse their own local
taxes in their own way"
Democratic End Of Agency.
The above is the form which 1t Is
said is being used by the democratic
end OF the agency. The other form is:s
I'VE are opposed to q pernlanent TAX
for lows Wherever 1t
has been tried the farmers' and land
owners taxes have be4e radically In
It il needIaG expense and
suhverse ef the peonigs rights TOT
asseso 0sa 4isburse taxes az their spe-
cial needs require. The small inequalf-
ties that now AFFECT the state tax do