Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-12
rRv ORE Milliams.l


Des Moines. Sept 13.-Alrsady IL IS
becoming evident Shat most OF the big
problems that viii confront the lesls-
lature when it meets rext winter vii,
be. as usual, those concerning wAicn
there has been practically 10 discus
sion before the public. u viii be re-
called that the last legislature was
harassed from the day OF its opening
until its close by an Impossible con-
troyersy o-e- The details VI internal
MANAGEMENT OF the state educational
institutions, and this quarrel so COM
pleteiy overshadowed everything else
that there are persons who actually
believe the Legislature lid not give
consideration TO the many very i'm
portant measures that were passed.
Just what diversion IS being framed up
for the legislature is not YET clear out
the politicians Will find something. II
IS already evident. however. that the
legislature vii concern itself seriously
over the question Of laying the founda-
tons for permanent reform in assess
Inent and taxation matters II IS re-
called that the report of the tax COM
mission. not acted on by The Thirty
fourth general assembly, Sill again De
before The Thirty.fta as basis Tor
action: and bills that were abandoned
before Will be revived with great force
next January. Then there is the
rnendynent TO the state constitution
that must De acted on again by the
next legislature. This 5 the amend
ment which Is intended TO give the
( legislature q free hand in the handling
/ OF the TAX question. The makers OF
7 the Iowa constitution knew some
/ things our they had a narrow view
OF the future OF the state and they un-
dertook 20 MAKE a constitution that
would permit OF 10 real expansion.
They fixed & debt limit 10 the state
mat IS now about The size fo- second
class city o- good school district.
They tied me state % he hard ana
fast rule q taxation II Ill property Of
every cless in exactly the same way,
The state has got away from this IN
;vvo respects: cae r@gard.1gs moneys
and credits and ihe ot1s- = regard 20
car E-es. Bl- rh!s vas ~ scratch.
+ Now me proposal K 70 change the con-
sz5t-r3oa - ...z- some modem IDEAS a 3
70 taxation methods MAJ really De
4.optei. Il = q movement similar -
tE.gC which Vas necessary before the
STATE vas ac.e 70 tacsle the drainage
question -1-eI.tgelt.y. The constitution
lad % y charged TO meet modern
conditions. 50 as 70 taxation
There ls going 20 be opposition, Of
course 5Ls. as there mas Always oeen
opposition 10 every forward move.
cry re:orua worth having has been
secured az result If fighting down re
action. First n3n- Of the line OF OPP
position came the other cay al Bur
lsngLon When the league Il munich
yal.-ses uset. The legislature commit
zee NED Z report which Included among
other -a3ngs ~ attack On the proposed
amendment 70 tns state constitution 70
give me legislature ne right 70
classify properly FOR taxation pur-
poses and % provide for different
methods q taxation according TO
classes. The leg isiat ur- uIsd-E ti.ls L. =.
could provide for state taxation Of
railroads. after the Wisconsin plan
leaving only me physical property Of
the railroads 70 Dc taxed l1cslly. ana III
MS way 70 proviGe enough revenue
for general fund d the state 50 that
the state tax levied foT general reY-
enUe could De abandoned entirely. This
would then remove GGe Of the creates.
Incentives TO Judging on assessments,
which has been the GAUGE OF more
trouble than anything else in I'll the
history Of the state reiatiEg TO taxa
ton. with this amendm INT there would
be possible laws 50 that isere would
not longer ne any reason fo- one coun-
t. desiring 10 beat the game by keep
ing its assessments down ard no long
er any occasion for glarreling because
ali counties are made 70 obey the law
much against the VIII OF sosne Of them
and some Gemagogs But the legisla-
tive committee calls upon the people
OF all the cities and towns to oppose
this amendment
The reason assigned for the opposi-
ton is that il would make possible a
law so that the municipalities would
not get any of the taxes from rail
roads and similar corporations. The
legislature could foroid city taxation
Of railroad values. of course other than
the real property values in the cities
That would reduce the sum total OF
city revenues. But inasmuch as the
cities now pay the larger proportion
OF the state tax II is a question wheth-
er or not the loss would no. be more
, than offset by gain. 1t is notoTiiot;:
that the present method OF taxins
railroads Is one devised by the lobby,
, is.s for the railroads who got tn,
farmer members of the legislature OIL
their side by showing shat the system
would work out to the advantage .
rural communities as against the prop
e-.v owners OF cities and towns. An,
e | it is well within the knowledge Of ell o