The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17
AN HONEST REVENUE LAW.
SOME PLAIN FACTS FOR The PEOPLE.
What the Act Passed by the Last Legislature
IL and what 1t Is Designed to Accom-
plish-why the Corporations and
MilIionairss Are Fighting IT.
[senator 4. E. Howard In south Bend Time,. |

VI Jul SOuhtl. 10 liS SocChCCO VI hAuSiASaAA-
ism. We have no king here. but we are
loyal; we respect the laws which we have
framed for our own government. This is
the rule, the golden rule of the American
people; but, alas, there are some marked
exceptions
When the legislature of this state passed
the election law of 1889 the scheme met
with a storm of ridicule and criti-
cism. Gradually, however, the minds Of
''the plain people" as Mr.. Lincoln so
happily had it, discovered the honest
purpose and the immense advantage Of
the new system. and the hearts and con-
science OF all good men, irrespective OF
party, were won to the law. Now there is
not lett an honest voter in Indiana Who IS
not heartily in favor OF this great ballot
reform. the last opposition being that OF a
demented justice of the peace down in
Wabash who is said to have scrambled
over the ropes guarding an election pre-
cipct with the purpose to be arrested,
take his case to the supreme court, and
thus overthrow the election law.
At present, the di-respectors of law,
having been routed in their attack upon
ballot reform, have turned their batteries
against the new revenue system. They
will meet with the same repuise from the
honest citizens OF the state. Reform IN
our revenue has become an absolute ne
cessity. 1t was the most important duty
before the legislature of 1891, and the
legislature did not shrink from the task.
The revenue system OF Indiana has been
placed upon an honest, equitable and sale
basis
The opponents OF the law were not at
first satisfied to criticise, they went 50 far
as to falsify. They made bold to say that
the new law favored tho railroads, that
railroad taxes were diminished one-half.
The railroads themselves were not OF that
opinion. There is not a provision OF the
law that favors the railroads or dilinishes
their taxes.
1t may be worth while to refer to the
sections OF the law relating to railroads:
Sec. 76 provides that all railroad prop
erty shall be listed with reference to its
amount, kind and value on the LIST day Of
April in each year.
Secs. Il to IS provide the manner Of
scheduling and returning for taxation
every variety and kind of railroad prop
erty.
Sec. 81 provides particularly for the
assessment OF lands and personal property
of railroads by the township assessors.
and declares that: "Such property shall
be treated in all respects, in regard to
assessment and equalization. the same as
other similar property belonging to indi'
viduals"
Sec. 81 provides that the auditor OF state
shall annually lay before the state board
OF tax commissioners all schedules and re-
turns of railroad property.
Sec. l20 provides. in specification
fourth. as duty OF the state tax commits
sioners. especially to see that all the rail-
roads and other corporations of the state
ara assessed and taxed as provided by
law"
Sec 100 provides that the tax commits
sioners shall not be bound by any re-
ports or estimates of value of railroad
property, real estate or other property as
returned to the county auditors or to the
auditor OF state, but shall appraise and as-
sess all property at its true cash value"
Sec. 1877 provides that said board shall
also assess the railroad property denOml-
mated III this act as railroad track and
rolling stock, at its true cash value; and
said board is hereby gwen the power and
authority by committee or otherwise TO
examine persons or papers.
county auditor shall enter the railroad
property of all kinds as listed Tor taxation
upon the proper tax duplicate
And the county treasurer shall collect the
taxes charged against said raj road prop
erty and pay over and account there
fore In the same manner as other taxes are
collected and accounted for"
With these provisions OF the law and
the severe penalties imposed for their
violation, will any candid au say that
railroad companies have received any IA
vors in the new law? The fact is that the
utmost pains is taken TO see that railroad
property of all kinds is assessed ut its
true cash value" and that the companies
| pay into the treasures OF cities, counties
| and the state every cent OF tax Tor which
they are liable. II assessors, auditors and
tax commissioners do their duty. rs we
have every right to believe they will, the
people will no longer be deprived OF a Just
income from railroad taxation. And
| should those officers fail in their duty tie
same tax law provides the severest penal
ties for their punishment.
The railroads will be fully taxed under
the new law; no fear of that. If any one
| is disposed to criticise the new tax law,
let him do il honestly. Let him tell the
truth, even for the sake of his own con-
| science, and also out OF wholesome respect
for the people, who sometimes become
angry when they find they have been de-
ceived by untruthful criticism.
Another criticism OF the law. one that
has been countenanced by distinguished
citizen of the state, in late interview at
Indianapolis. is, to say the least, mis-
representation, unintentional, no doubt,
but nevertheless misrepresentation. 1t
is that the sixteen-cent school levy will
bring in far more money than is needed
| for school purposes. The distinguished
| finapcier knows that the sixteen-cent levy
| is no part of the new revenue law. The
new law is framed to secure an honest
and equitable valuation and assessment of
| the property of the state. 1t is in its ma
ture a law permanent in character. where
as levies are liable to be changed from
year to year, according to the needs OF
| different funds.
The sixteen-cent school levy has been
| on the statute book at least since 1865.
The tax law of 1881 (Sec. $3.50, r. S.) pro-
vides that in the valuation of property
'the assessor shall be governed by what
| is the fair cash value-the market or
usual selling price-and if there be no
market value, then the actual value"
The tax law of 1891 provides that the val
uation shall be ''the true cash value, =
substantially the same thing. The chief
difference between the two laws is. that