Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-22
TO ENLARGE POWERS
OF RAILROAD COMMISSION
LIKELY OF ADOPTION.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
IOWA BY TRAFFIC LINES
Giving Of Rates Encourages People to
Go Elsewhere - Legislation Which
Will Prevent Repetition Of Haley
Case Adopted by Senate-other Pri.
son Reform Legislation Pending.
oecial to Times Republican.


Des Moines, March 22.-The issue
which long ago was raised as between
the railroads opareting in Iowa and the
farming and business interests of the
matter OF rates, SO that 1t is easier for
Iowa people TO go away than Ior out
siders or the Iowa people themselves 10
go TO places in Iowa, is not Yet settled,
so II seems. The biil to give the LAM
road commission authority to INK en-
curSlon rates is IN a Iair way to be-
come law. In the discussion of this
Dill before committee the other DAY
the opponents OF the measure made no
effort Whatever TO defend the action or
attitude OF the railroads IN refusing to
give any excursion rates to anything
IN Iowa but giving low rates for Iowa
people TO go elsewhere. They confined
themselves to making showing that
to authorize the commission 20 inter-
tere with this arrangement might be
unconstitutional.
Now comes Senator Justin r. Doran,
vino first and al the times stands for
the rights OF the farmers of Iowa, and
today he introduced into the senate
the following concurrent resolution
Whereas. for many years 1t has
been the custom OF the railroads OPP
Iowa, in conjunction with railroads
east and west. to tender to the public
each year what are known as home
seeker rates to influence travel from
Iowa and from points east of Iowa
across this state to the west for the
purpose Of exploiting Canadian lands,
Mexican ranches, dry farming lands in
the semi arid and desert districts, high
priced irrigation projects lands, ETC.,
and TO induce persons from Iowa and
the territory east of Iowa 10 purchase
these lands and become settlers. and
Whereas, the railroads have refused
to name Iowa points as destinations
for these rates, or TO apply them to
Iowa points despite the fact that there
are hundreds of opportunities in ev-
cry county in Iowa for homeseekers to
esta blish themselves upon lands that
do not have TO be irrigated and where
water tolls are not exacted, where it is
not necessary TO resort TO dry farm
ing. where markets are close at hand,
where the school system and public
conveniences are developed. and where
the climate and soil insure crop ev-
cry year, therefore be it
Resolved, by the senate and house
concurring, that the state OF Iowa re-
CARDS, in view Of the fact that home
Seeker rates are made and thousands
of dollars expended for advertising
them to points north and south and
west Of Iowa, and that these rates are
made TO apply across Iowa and from
Iowa points but not TO points within
the state and that colonist rates are
made in the same way-regard these
rates as not only discrimination
against the state and its interests. but
as destructive 70 the best interests, and
request and demand Of the railroads
operating in Iowa that in the future
they refuse all tenders of homeseeker
and colonist rates from connecting
lines and decline TO issue tariffs giving
these rates except that Iowa desti-
nations are included and the same
rates and the same stop-over privileges
given to Iowa territory g are accorded
TO any other territory to which the
rates apply
"A
terday which if it had been law the
past few years probably would have
made possible avoidence of the lion
izing of Convict Haley by his admirers.
1t makes il crime TO take into any
prison or reformatory any weapons or
drugs such as opium, or to leave any
such thing where conT!cts may get
them or in any way to carry on the
traffic in drugs in the prison. 1t is of
course well known that Haley was
making use of opium and taking reg
uarly about all that mis- body could
stand and while he was in the library
he carried on the traffic contrary to
the rules. 1t was when he was given
the same treatment as other prisoners
and sent to the ordinary cells to re-
main-except for proper exercise each
day and thus was deprived of the
chance to get his opium that he be-
came mutinous and refused to work
in the laundry or any other place. The
new law would put a stop to the opium
traffic in prison.
A bill which the senate passed yes
terday will. if the house agrees to it.
greatly aid in getting good business
men for mayors in smaller cities Of the
state The bill contemplates that
mayor may, instead of holding court to
try petty offenders for violation Of city
ordinances, designate some justice of
the peace or other magistrate to hold
such court. At present many good
business men do not like to become
mayor because Of the necessity at
times for Transforming themselves into
judges. This will relieve them.
The bill relating to prison reform and
to provide for industries for Iowa con-
victs are not being lost sight Of. Gov
ernor Clarke, Attorney General Cosson
and others are keeping watchful eye
on the same There has been some
| conflict as between bills but not enough
to hurt. The Jensen bill appropriating
| 100000 for establishment of Industries
! to take the place OF the labor contracts
| which have SO long relieved the state
OF this responsibility, is most in favor.
1t would leave it to the board Of control
] to determine on the Industries and pro-