The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-08-23
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2s, 1898.
REDUCTION OF RAILROAD ASSESS
MENTS.


MENTS.
During the general absorption in the
consideration OF the financial condition of
the country the people should not over
look the renewal of the efforts Of the
railroad corporations TO escape from the
just share of the burden of taxation that
has been placed on them by the new tax
law. Of Indiana The testimony and argu-
ments submitted by the representatives
of the several roads have been substan-
tally what they have been before. Ger
tain gentlemen have said that their roads
were assessed proportionately higher
than certain other roads. and the repre-
sentatives of these have Indignantly de-
MED the claim Some representatives
have pointed to certain branches of their
road systems as being assessed. too high.
Nearly all of them have insisted that
railroad property is assessed proportion
atsiy higher than other property. Then
there has been talk about shrinkage Of
values, and depreciation OF stocks. and
all that sort OF thing. which does not
affect actual railroad values any more
than it affects any other values
The Sentinel has always desired to be
fair TO the railroads in this matter and
also fair to other taxpayers. 1t wishes
10 go on record now with the declaration
that it does not believe that any railroad
in this state is assessed too high. There
probably are some that are assessed too
low. and should be raised. There may
he a few branch roads that should
have some reduction made on their as
sessment, but in such case the amount
reduced should be added to the main
lines assessment. We challenge any
railroad system in the state to show
that its aggregate assessment is greater
than the actual market value of the
roads. or greater than their cost value.
or greater than their 6 per cent. earning
value. Further than that, the railroad
year ends on June 80, and following that
date The Sentinel published the official
statements of a number of railroads,
every one Of which showed an increase
of net earnings for the var ending June
so. 1898. We failed to find any Indiana
and If there is any such one we should
be pleased to be directed to ii. And it
should be remembered that many of the
Indiana roads made unusual improve
l.
worlds fair traffic, in their ballasting,
bridges, culverts and tracks. 1t is prob
ably true that freights at present are
not as heavy as usual. but the average
of Indiana passenger traffic is certainly
larger than usual
The Sentinel therefore feels confident
that there will be no reduction in the
aggregate of railroad assessment in this
state. The existing measure Of justice
was reached by a most earnest and Wig
orous struggle against the power Of the
corporations. and 1T would be a painful
commentary on republican government if
we should lose any part of it by the in
efficiency of tax officials now. The gov
ernor. Of course. exercises great influence
on the board. as he has the appointment
Of two members, and he is squarely COM
mitted against a reduction from the as
sessment which he aided in making last
year. In his inaugural address he says:
The tax law adopted by the last leg
iSlature and creating a state board of
tax commissioners clearly intended to
make railroad corporations of the state
pay their just proportion of the taxes.
The persistent efforts of some OF the
represeuJ Ia lives of these corporations not
only % evade and resist the law but TO
defeat persons at the elections because
they had honestly and faithfully en-
deavored TO enforce il, show that every
just and proper means should be used
70 make these corporations perform their
duty to the state.
AS there has been a large increase
in the aggregate of taxables under the
late assessment law. and this increase is
likely to be maintained and probably
augmented, cannot but indulge the hope
that with economy and prudent appro-
priations you may be enabled TO make
both a reasonable reduction in the rate
OF taxation and the state debt
It will be greatly to the interest of all
taxpayers Of the state that this just and
wise policy should be carried out. and as
the railroads have been heard against
It, we think that the masses should be
heard in favor OF it. Let the people
strengthen the hands Of the governor in
this struggle. Let them by letter and
by personal assurance make him know
that they are with him. This is the time
for men to show whether they are truly
for the people or for the corporations.