Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1893-09-22
TAXES OF THE STATE.
Beard of Equalization Hears Represen-
tatives of Railroads,
Want Feeders Assessed at Lower Rate
Than Trunk Lines

roads received a hearing before the state
board OF equalization, in session at Olym-
pia. Tuesday. Under the revenue law,
as Secretly changed, there is some Ques-
tioq us to whether the state board can
/ do more than apportion the amount due
fro "a each county for its share OF the bur
den of the state tax. They will undoubt-
edlt send an abstract OF their cqua1l-
ton to the county boards, and what
/ action the county auditors will take there
on will depend upon the construction OF
the law by the various county authori-
| ties.
The receivers OF the Northern Pacific
were represented before the board by G,
S. Fernald, attorney and tax commits
{ ioner for said receivers, who claimed,
while some counties of the state had
acted fairly that the assessment OF rail
road track in certain other counties OF
this state, was made in such utter disre-
gar4 OF the constitutional principle, re-
qui'ing equality and uniformity in as
]
that it was as to those counties an at
tempted assessment only; that the cuI-
mination OF the attempt was when Whit
man county erected a monument bear
ing the inscription: Can railroads as
sessed $4,000 per mile" and virtually
SAID, eve want no more railroads built,
! that the branch lines or feeders OF trunk
lines OF railroad whose earning capacity
and period was limited to short portion
of the year, should be classified and
equalized at lower rates of assessment
than the main trunk lines OF through
railroad; that owing to the depression in
tim s during the past few months,
great number OF well managed railroads
h.s,!!- s-ssc2no obliged to submit to the ap-
poIntment Of receivers to such an extent
tina. tifes now operated by receivers eX-
terd9Pifofil ocean TO ocean, among them
the Northern Pacific, operatinga mileage
OF over 1000 miles.
That the Northern Pacific, during the
/ last fiscal year. was unable to earn
enough to meet its operating expenses,
fixed charges and taxes; and the falling
off in the earnings since the first day Oi
July was in much greater proportion
and the prospects for the future We're
such that in all probability, unless the
/ business conditions Of the country greatly
improved, in spite OF all economy 4 still
greater deficit would exist at the close OF
the current fiscal year; that in "hard
times" railroads were the first to feel the
effects of the depression; that the agre-
gate real estate assessment in the state
showed an average decrease OF about
80 cents per acre from last years ASSESS
ment and he submitted
that the assessed valuation OF railroads
ought to be correspondingly reduced.
Mr.. Fernald read statements from the
state boards Of equalization OF Montana
and North Dakota showing assessments
OF railroads in those states varying from
$2, 800 to $4,000 per mile, and also a
statement from the Railway Register and
London Railway Times, showing that
high rates OF assessment, which would
be a discrimination against railroads,
would have a tendency to keep out cap
country.
Mr.. Fernald also appeared for the
Washington & Columbia River railroad,
at the quest OF President Tyler, who
| Ia, -,
ment requesting an adjustment Of values
between the counties which should be
equal and uniform, and that Mr.. Tyler
submitted that the road represented by
him should be assessed in a lower class
than the railroads of the first class, or
main trunk line OF through railroads.
A. 5. Watt, tax agent OF the Union
Pacific railroad, addressed the board in
behalf OF the lines OF his company, en-
/ dorsing much that the Northern Pacific
representative had said, and going some
what into details with regard to the con-
struction and condition Of certain oi
their branch lines and urging fair and
reasonable valuation as to all their lines.
Colonel S. W. Scott then briefly stated
the position OF the Oregon Improvement
company in regard to the assessment OF
that company's lines, urging a fair, rca-
sonabie and uniform assessment on pro-
perty OF the same class.
j. W. George, tax agent for the Great
Northern railway, Seattle q Montana
railway, and Fairhaven &southern rail-
way, addressed the board regarding the
interests OF those companies, following
in about the same arguments as those
preceding him, and presenting further q
statement OF his views as to rolling stock