The advocate., 1892-05-25

On OhbuEuHys may At, 10 0AeCC uel6"
gates to the state and congressional
conventions. We find a report OF
the convention in the Kensington
Mirror, which is not quite clear in
some particulars relating to the reso-
lutions. The report says:
McNalI, a delegate from Banner, introduced a
set OF resolutions which OCcasloned united Op-
position Of the Nelson delegates. The part to
which they objected was the clause referring
to the HOvey-Stover steal in the interests Of the
railroads, and the resolution was defeated.
After giving further proceedings
of the convention, the report con-
tinues:
The committee on resolutions endorsed the
present national administration, and eulOgized
W. H. Nelson. and passed the following clause
cOndemnatOTy to the course pursued by HOvey
and Slower, and
Whereas, The official records Of this state dis
close the fact that the assessed valuation of all
railroads in the state in the year 1890 amounted
to S57 1885, 2S26 81; and it further appears that in
the year 1891 the state board Of railroad assess
OrS reduced said valuation at the request of the
railroads so that the total assessed valuation for
the year 1891 amounted to the sum Of $50, $685.
1854, thereby making a net reduction of ST.
600, 1923, notwithstanding the fact that in the
year 1891 there was 18l miles OF railroad built In
the state, which at fair valuation would amount
to 81 100000, and
Whereas, A certain amount Of money must be
raised by taxation each year, and reduction OF
an amount In the sum of S. 100000 In the assess.
ment of railroads means that the tax payers
must raise S25O,0OO more In taxes for the year
1891 than they did for the year Of 1890; and
Whereas, By said action of the board Of rail-
road assessors, Smith county alone has It's as
Sessed valuation reduced $Sl,7O3 o. and the
counties In this congressional district in the ag-
gregate sum OfSl 294, ,36933; and
Whereas, Two Of our state officers to whom
heretofore we have pointed with pride, the Hon.
Charles M. HOvey, auditor Of state, and s. G.
Slower, the state treasurer, voted to reduce the
same; therefore belt
Resolved That the act of State Treasurer
Slower and Auditor Hoyey, as members Of the
state board Of railroad assessors, In reducing
the railroad valuation of the state over $S OOO OOO
thereby eliminating from the taxable property
OF Smith county valuation Of nearly $50, 600,
was not only betrayal of the interests of the
people whom they were elected to serve, but In
dicates either their ignorance or dlshOnestry
and that the party cannot afford to place Itself
upon the defensive by TenOmlnating them; and
we hereby instruct our delegates to the state
convention to use all honorable means to prevent
their denomination.
While the fight was comfortably warm in the
convention. no hard feelings were engenGered.-
KenstngtOD Mirror, May 10, 1892.
The point to which we would direct
attention is, that the rank and file of
the Republican party who are attend
ing the county conventions regard
the action of the board of railroad
assessors in reducing the assessment
over 100000 as unjustifsble, and
there is no doubt that this action of
the board will be used by our oppo-
nents against their two members Of
the board; and in view of this fact we
repeat our question of two weeks
ago: If they Cannot afford to place
themselves on the defensive by re-
nominating" the men who are re-
sponsible for that act, how can we
afford il?