Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-03

The preparation of the copy for the
, booklet has been delayed because of
SO many new; questions coming up or
variations of the main problems, and
the deeper the annotators get into it
the harder it appears to get the in
structions worked out in satisfactory
manner.
The office Of attorney general may
the matter of having bridge work done
this year on old or continuing con-
tracts. If there are valid contracts for
individual bridges existing the con-
tractors of course can go ahead and
finish the same and collect. But if work
is commenced on new business under
what are known as the blanket con-
tracts, which are really on price
agreements, and the state highway
commission specifications are not fol-
lowed there is danger that some sharp
taxpayers will go into court and en-
join payment for the same. A vast
amount of litigation is possible unless
great care is taken, so the state Of
ficials say.
Members of the state highway COM
mission are to meet here next week
and consider with state officials the
methods for the greatest efficiency in
office work and the handling Of the
business. A. w. Wilkinson, former
clerk Of the courts Of this city, and at
one time accountant for the board of
control, has taken charge Of the open
ing Of the books for the commission.
He made the investigations into coun-
ty affairs in Clinton, Jackson and some
other counties last year which brought
to light so much Of public interest re-
garding bridge contracts.
1t is the plan of the commission to
divide the state into three districts for
convenience in the matter Of the Wis
itation of members to different coun-
ties and with regard to the expert en-
gineers. The commission is abund-
antly supplied with funds for carrying
on the work.
An erroneous impression seems to
have got out thru the state to the ef-
| feet that the decision Of Judge Bren-
nan in district count here means an
| enormous expense to the state and
| that because of such decision the state
executive council is forced to begin at
once to spend million or more IN
making an inquiry into property values
in the state. Members Of the council
say they see nothing in the decision
which in any way compels them to
change the program already outlined
for the preparatory work prior to the
| annual job of reviewing, adjusting and
assessing property in the state.
The impression seems also to prevail
that the state officials have decided
upon making an immense relative raise
in farm land assessed values in the
state and that this is what the court de-
cision comemplates. But state officials
declare that this is far from the truth.
What the court decided was that all
assessments should be made in accord
with the law. namely. with the valua-
tom fixed at actual value, and the tax
able values entered at one-fourth this
amount. No class of property will be
raised more than another by this pro-
cess unless 1t has In the past been es-
Gaping its share Of taxation.
During this month the reports from
various counties in the state Will be
coming in for the perusal OF state OF :
fcials. There will also be secured a vast
amount of information in regard to the
actual value of all kinds Of property
other than real property.
Governor Clarke will probably issue
an interesting statement in regard to
the blue sky law whether he vetoes 1t
or permits it to become a law by grace
of the general assembly. He has had
considerable experience in commercial
law and in passing on securities. He
is pretty familiar with what has been
going in Iowa. He is not taking any
body's word for it but is making a
careful study of the whole situation
and will decide the matter according
,o ,he fair statements of all concerned
The fact that the bill leaves so much
to the discretion of properly elected
state officials and that they will be
presumed to enforce the law with due
regard to all legitimate interests and
not In q manner to be oppressive to
any one is one feature Of the SITUATION
that will not be overlooked. All or the
arguments against the Dill seem 70
have been based on the theory that the
state officials would make use OF the
! law to prevent legitimate business. The
governor has not yet reached de-
| cision.
The state optometry board held a
session yesterday at the state house
There are now about 500 Of the OPP
! tometrists registered under the Iowa
law, but the work Of the board has not
been prosecuted very vigorously in the
past Now it is proposed that q new
hitch be taken In the work and the
board will see to it that all who are
eligible are given certificates. Cover
| nor Clarke will appoint George j.
Feige, of this city: DR.. Buchanan, OF
Waterloo; and DR.. Bouton, Of Eagle
Grove. as members of the examining
board. DR.. Feige had more to do with
the passage Of the law a few years ago
than any other.
w. S. Allen, secretary Of state. will
make a careful investigation into the
legal questions involved in the very in
teresting little controversy that has
come to him from Cedar RAPIDS in re-