The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-09-25
From the Dcs Moincs Daily News. Rcpub)
LYONS AND THE RAILROADS.

From the Dcs Moincs Daily News. Rcpub)
LYONS AND THE RAILROADS.
Farm property in Iowa Of an aggre-
gate value Of $500, OOO, 900 is assessed
at about $l2s, OOO, 900, or 40 per cent.
Of its value; but the railroad proper
ty OF the state, which is represented
by stocks and bonds to the amount
Of 1920, OOO, 900 (and paying dividends
and interest upon the most Of IT'D, is
assessed at *4s, s5s. 800. The taxes on
$Sj, OOO, 900 OF railroad property Gas
sessed value) are paid by the farmers
and business men OF Iowa. II the
railroad property Of the state was as
sessed at its proportionate value, the
state on its two and one half mill levy
would receive $212, 500 a year more
from the railroads than it now does,
and the counties, estimating their
average levy at Is miles, would re-
ceive 81, 275. 900 more per year from
taxes on railroads than they now do,
a great relief to our burdened pro-
ducers and business men.
The men who are politically respon-
sible for the railroad assessment are
the members OF the executive coun-
Gil. which in our state is composed of
the governor, secretary Of state, aud
itor OF state and treasurer OF state.
As James A. Lyons, our present audi
tor Of state and member of the ex-
ecutive council, is seeking q third
term at the hands of the people, it
will be interesting to the farmers OF
the state to know that Mr.. Lyons is
on record as a consistent and determ-
ined opponent of even moderate
measures of relic: from this great in
iquity.
Governor Larrabee early in his adj
nlinistration saw the monstrous
wrong involved in our railroad as
sessment and undertook to secure q
moderate increase OF the Is per cent.
assessment. The record shows that
Auditor Lyons opposed this step.
March %, 1887, Governor Larrabce
offered in the executive council the
following resolution which we copy
from records in the Office of the secre
tary Of state:
/ Whereas, 1t is shown by the report
of the board of railroad commission
ers that the net earnings Of the rail
roads of this state for the year end
ing June 30, 1886, was $13, OS6, 55l "A
and corresponding amount for Z
series Of years, and upon a proper
basis of valuation the property tina,
will yield such IN annual income
must at least be worth $3.50, 900, 900; OF
a proper valuation, either upon tn.
basis OF the original cost Of the prop
erty at the time the roads were con
structed, or upon what it would cos
to construct them Mt the present cur
rent market value Of the stock ant
bonds representing this property
will lead to a valuation Of not les
than $3.50, OOO, 900, and
Whereas, The aggregate assessablt
property Of the state is assessed a
at about 80 per cent, of its cash value
Resolved, That the executive coun
ell proceed to assess the railroad
property Of the state at not less thar
81, 900, 900, and proportion it anon:
the various systems of railroads
chiefly upon basis Of gross earnings
and thus secure in the state NOR,
. equitable distribution Of the burdens
of taxation.
To this exceedingly conservative
resolution, the records show tina
Secretary Jackson proposed the fol
lowing amendment:
Whereas, The gross earnings of tn,
various railroads OF Iowa for the yea
: 1886 do not show any material in
, crease over the gross earnings for tn
lyear 1885; and
Whereas, The resolution offered b.
, the governor, il adopted, would il
: crease the valuation of railroa,
| property for the year 1887 more thar
50 per cent, over the assessed valua
ton for 1886 without any correspond
: ing increase in gross earnings; there
i fore
; Resolved, That the resolution oil
! fered by the governor be amende,
by striking out a., 0OO, 900 and inser,
ing in lieu thereof $40, 900, 900.
: To Secretary Jackson's amendment
Treasurer Twolnbly proposed tn
following amendment:
Whereas, 1t is evident that in orde
i to maintain an equilibrium between
y the assessed valuation of the railroa'
3 property of the state and that of 9th
er property, there should be an in
crease in the assessed valuation @
; such railroad property; therefore b
o it
e. Resolved. That the railroad proper
ty of the state be assessed on the has
is of an aggregate valuation of abOu
$3S, OOO, 900. or basis of 3d. per cent
of the gross earnings to the assess
;. lnent Of the Chicago, Rock Island
Pacific railway system as q medium
! making total increase over the a.
; sessment Of 1886 OF about 81, QUO, 600.
Twombly's amendment was lost
Governor Larrabee, Secretary Jack
son and Auditor Lyons voting NJ
> and Twolnbly voting Aye. jackson
amendment was lost, Jackson an
Lyons voting Yes, and Larrabee an
: Twombly No. The governors rest
luton was defeated, his own vot
: being the only one cast for it. Jacl
son. Twombly and Lyons all vote
: against it. The next day Treasure
Twombly offered the following:
i Whereas, The general tendency (
the assessment officers and boards {
y the state has been to increase TIL
~ assessed valuation Of the taxabl
:. property of the state: and
Whereas, The estimate furnished [
the governor, Mt his request, by til
,e board of railroad commissioners, thu
d any standard (or broad gauge raj
!. road. for assessment purposes,
worth $1,000 per mile, may properl
= be accepted by this council (althoug
or the rate Of valuation adopted by tt
10 council, for such roads for sever
;, years past has been So O00:) and