Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-20


stances to give inessses service
Telephone. electric light and ~
companies ~ well - street railway
companies In many localities have ooeu
raising their rates or trytAg to and re-
ducinx the quality o. their service. The
managements claim that the high
prices for coal have hit them harder
then any other business, especially
since steam coal which they have pur-
chased at so cents per ton has gone
up 10 $40 per ton or higher. They
also claim to have been hard hit by
wage increases necessary to hold taeir
| help,
The public has had many complaints
to offer also Of inferior service and
higher rates and public indignation
| meetings have been held in some local
tiles and law suits started In others.
May Give Rail Board Power.
The indications are that the pro-
posed legislation will take the form OF
! bill placing some sort Of regulation
or control OF these concerns with the
state railroad commission which would
enlarge and increase the duties Of this
body Sentiment generally is against
The creating OF additional admin!stra-
tive or regulative commissions. Two
years ago any bill which suggested the
necessity Of another commission had no
chance OF passing the Iowa legislature.
Opposition to additional state commits
sions is as strong now or stronger than
IL was then. Hence the Indications are
that regulation of public utilities will
be placed with the railroad commits
sion. This will overcome the opposition
which would undoubtedly defeat any
bill authorizing additional state ma
chiuery to administer it's provisions.
Appeals from the rulings of the state
commission would undoubtedly follow
the course taken in railroad cases
they would go into the district courts
in injunction proceedings or on writs
OF mandamus or by similar legal pro-
ceedure.
Talk Of Postponement.
The question raised by State Repre-
sentative W. W. Epps, OF Ottumwa, as
10 whether or not the date Of the COM
Ing legislature be postponed because of
influenza will not result in deferring
the converting date in the opinion OF
officials here. Representative Epps
wrote 70 DR.. G.. II. Sumner, secretary
OF the state board of health, asking If
il would not be better to postpone the
session. Or. Sumner states he will take
i up with Governor Harding and will
address a letter TO the members Of the
legislature on the subject. He told
Representative Epps in a letter ad-
dressed TO him that he thought It
would be 4 wise move to postpone the
legislature thirty days.
However II the session were to be
postponed il would have TO convene on
the day specified by the constitution.
the second Monday in January in the
odd years, and then adjourn 10 some
future date. Reports Indicate that the
influenza is not so serious over the
state now as il was. Regulations in
Des Moines have been lifted. The
second Monday in January this year
falls on the 18th and it is probable the
legislators will prefer to wait until the
session is officially called before pass
ing on the question as to whether or
not in should not proceed with its legis-
lative business until some future
Members are usually averse to late
spring sessions because of the rush OF
work on the farms and in connection
with the financing the seasons agri-
cultural work.