Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-01-28
IOWA TAX SYSTEM
FLAT MILEAGE LEVlES ARE NOT
LIKED BY CHAIRMAN OF
COMMITTEE.
BARRY MAY OFFER NEW BILL
Representative From Linn Will Take
Active Steps Towards Devising
Change In Methods For Raising
Revenues for Use of State.

| Revenues Tor Use OF State.
Des Moines.-The levying of nat
millage taxes will be done away with
if Representative Barry of Linn is
able to have his way in remedying
the tax system.
As chairman Of the important ways
and means committee, Mr.. Barry will
be the most prominent member of
the house in deyising the methods by
which the funds necessary to run the
state government and its institutions
are to be raised His attitude toward
the millage tax, therefore, is signi-
cant.
1t has been customary for the legis-
lature to provide, for certain special
purposes. special taxes of fraction
Of mill or one mill or some such
fiat rate on each dollar of the valua-
tion. The amount of the appropriation
was not fixed but the entire revenue
obtainable from the fiat levy was to
be used for the special purpose desig-
| mated.
Where the fixed rate was set by
the legislature, the actual amount to
be secured depended altogether upon
the valuation which should be placed
upon Iowa property by the executive
council. Mr.. Barry would just re-
verse the process, making the amount
of the appropriation the fixed thing,
and leave it to the executive council
to adjust the levy to the valuation
so as to produce the amount of money
appropriated for the special purpose.
In the Thirty-fifth assembly the
millage levies were made with the
understanding that each half mill
would produce $4,000 revenue. On
the valuation then in force, this would
have been the amount. but the execu-
tive council, following the legislative
session, raised valuations to such a
figure that not less than 5000, 900 was
added to each fund to be raised by a
half mill levy, and the amount for
each half mill became nearly $780,
600.
The executive council had no auth
GRITTY to cut the millage rate to bal
ance against the valuation increase
and the funds provided for by these
special levies, therefore, received sew
eral thousand dollars more than it
was contemplated they should
Would Repeal judiciary Law.
Representative P. ]. Klinker of
Crawford county introduced bill to
repeal the non.partisan judiciary law
and re-enact the old laws governing
the choice of judges.
The Klinker bill is one of the most
positive to come before the assembly.
| The author believes that it will have
little opposition in view of the ex-
IRENE disfavor with which the nom
partisan judiciary law is regarded
generally, the declaration OF the re-
publication platform against it, and
the advice of Governor Clarke that 1t
ought to be repealed. ~
the law was enacted to prevent
politics entering into judiciary cleo
tions," Mr.. Klinker said in discuss
ing his measure, "but 1t has resulted
in much worse form of politics than
partisan politics. Under the nonpar-
tisan law it is impossible for voter
to vote for one man he particularly
wants and vote for two more say,
without voting against his favorite
with those two extra votes. That
condition leads to plugging, which
is an unfortunate practice in voting.
think there is no doubt the law
will be repealed"
Bill to Investigate Institutions.
For the first time in years gen.
eral investigation of conditions in
state institutions, converts, sectarian
seminaries, hospitals and private SAN
itariums was proposed in the house
by bill introduced by Representa-
tive Rayburn of Powesheik county.
The bill caused no little stir be-
cause of its comprehensive nature.
Representative Rayburn denied that
the measure had been introduced at
the request of any religious organ
ization, but religious fight in the
assembly seems imminent because OF
the far reaching effect of the measure.
II the bill becomes law investi-
cation Of all hospitals and converts
conducted by the Catholic organiza-
tions, Episcopal institutions, such as
st. Monica's home, seminaries Of all
kinds, private sanitariums, and state
penal institutions, such as reforma-
tories and penitentiaries. will be per-
mitted.
The bill provides that the investiga.
tion is to be made upon petition of
twenty persons to the grand jury,
county board of supervisors or an Of
ficer appointed by the judge Of the
district court.
Temperance Forces Displeased.
Temperance forces are displeased
with the committees in the senate on
constitutional amendments and sup
preston of intemperance as annOunc-
ed by Lieut.. Gov. w. L. Harding. A.
u. Coates, secretary OF the Iowa Con.
stitutional Prohibitory Amendment as
ISOLATION, stated that there are only
four out OF twelve men on each Of
the committees who can be identified
as dry Out OF twenty.three dry"
senators who were suggested to Mr..
Harding by the three state temper
ance association six were chosen.
pruaoist Must Not Drink.
A druggist from little Iowa town
was forced by the pharmacy commits
| sion to sign the pledge and promised