The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-02-11
Tho Proposeo RaiIroad Tax.

The bill introduced by Mr.. OPPENHEIM
appropriating railroad taxes to the state
government, which will be coupled with
the abandonment of the state tax on other
property, is one that should receive the
cordial support OF the general assembly.
: All experts in the science of taxation are
agreed that there should be an absolute
separation of the sources OF state and
municipal revenues, and this bill offers a
convenient and safe method for accom-
plishing that end There is scarcely room
for doubt that the chief cause OF our pres
ent financial condition is the fact that the
sources of revenue for both are the same.
In many counties the authorities, know
ing that the state levy was fixed at IL
cents for general purposes and IL cents
for schools, have deliberately cut down
their appraisements to escape the state
tax. and at the same time maintained
their county revenues by increasing the
local levy. There has been such rivalry
in this business that no two counties are
now paying taxes in the same proportion
Tor the support OF the state, and in con-
sequence of the reduction the state rev.
enues for ten years past have been from
one-third to one-half less than they should
be. If this measure is adopted this IN
just inequality will be entirely disposed OF.
There is no doubt that if tho railroads
are assessed at the same rate as other
property the taxes paid by them will be
sufficient for the current expenses OF the
state. The average appraisement of prop
erty in Indiana is about one-halt of its
market value, but railroad property is not
assessed en- the average at over one-fourth
of its market value. There isof course no
justice in this 1t is a condition that
ought not to exist, and the present legis-
lature can do no greater service to them
selves and to the people than to make it
impossible that il can exist any longer.
Legislation for this purpose is being pre-
pared, and one of the most important pro-
visions in il is that railroads shall not be
appraised at less than one-half of their
true value as shown by the actual value
of their stock and bonds on the market.
Such provision may sound little strange
under existing laws that require all prop
erty to be assessed at it's true value, but
it is a notorious fact that property
is not assessed at its true value,
and it can be easily demonstrated
that the railroads OF this state are not as
sessed at over one-fourth of the amount
which they are commanding in the market
No injustice TO railroads is contemplated.
There is no desire to be unfair with them
in any respect. All that is asked is that
they shall pay the same taxes on their
property that the people Of the state pay.
We apprehend that no reasonable man
will make any objection to this demand.
Certainly no representative who expects to
be able to give an account of himself to
his constituents can afford to oppose it.
The representatives of railroads cOncede
that their property is appraised too low,
and we think they will offer no material
objection to a fair measure which will
merely put them on footing with other
property owners in the state. II they do
oppose it there is but one thing to do, and
tina. is to make the laws just without re-
gard to their objection. No state can af-
ford to maintain a system of laws that ex-
empts railroads or any other class of prop
ertv owners from their equitable proper
ton OF taxes, and the question now pre-
sented to the general assembly is whether
Indiana shall continue a system which
does that very injustice or shall adopt a
system under which il can be avoided.