The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-15
APPEALS TO TAX BOARD
A HANDFUL OF CORPORATIONS
PICKED OUT BY TWO MEN.
Water Works and other Companies
Left Out-GovernOr ON the For
mer's Tax Return.

Notice was filed with the county auditor
yesterday announcing that appeals would
be taken from the recent assessments of
the County Board of Review in the cases
of twenty-one different corporations. The
notice was given by Theodore F. Harrison
and H. A. Davis. who claim the assessments
levied by the county board are too low.
The State Board of Tax Commissioners will
be asked to make the assessments men
toned higher. Following are the concerns
included by Harrison in exercising the right
any citizen has under the tax law, and the
amount assessed by the County Board of
Review:
tional Bank, $4,000; United States Playing
Gard Company, $66. 700; Hecla Consolidated
featuring Company, $4,000; Union Transfer
and Storage Company $1,000; Indiana Bond
Company. 81 500; indianapolis Brewing
$4,000; Holt Ice and Cold Storage Company,
$65, 900: Brooks Oil Company. $4S sos: Arti-
fetal Ice and Cold Storage Company, SCI 900;
Trust Company, $780, O0O Union Trust
Company, 100000: Sun Publishing Company,
$S,745; Kiefer Drug Company, Sill, 100.
1t is noticed that the Indianapolis Water
Company is not included in the list, and
that only one of the city banks-the Capital
National-is mentioned. AT the county aud
itor's office no one seemed to know who H.
A. Davis is. Theodore F. Harrison is we'll
known as a Populist politician. He is en-
gagged in the business OF loaning money. In
his own name he pays taxes on $685. 800 worth
Of property. The assessors book shows
that H. A. Davis pays tax on $155 worth Of
personal property. The directory shows
that Henry A. Davis is manager of the
IT.,I~D
peals will be taken up by the State Tax
Board after the railroads have had their
hearing.
Governor Mount who is member of the
Tax Board, yesterday wondered whether an
appeal would be taken by any citizen
against the assessment of the Water Com
pany. ~
absurd on the face of 1t that the Water
Company should only be assessed 81, 200, 900,
when it asserts that its plant is worth
50, OCO when 1t comes to talking about
sale of its plant to the city,
The Governor expressed the belief that
the time is coming when railroad corpora
tons will not be so heavily taxed, calling
board where a company was paying taxes
amounting to per cent of its gross earn
ings. He regarded this as an unequal bur-
den for the company to bear, when COM
pared with such cases as that of the Water
Company.
None of the railroad companies appeared
before the State Board of Tax Commission
ers yesterday Many railroad attorneys are
taking their annual vacations, and most Of
them have asked for, hearings toward the
end of the sitting. The first fifteen days is
to be given to the railroads, telegraph and
express companies. After that will begin
the hearing of appeals from county boards
Much mystery exists as to who actuated
the taking of the appeals from the assess
ments mi made E, by the County Board of Re Re-
out in the handwriting of Deputy Attorney
General Moores. Yesterday Governor Mount
and Tax Commissioner Buskirk said that
parties taking the appeals. Indeed, the
Governor apparently did not know that APP
by reporter. Mr.. Buskirk only knew there
were to be some appeals. as is usual. Mr..
Moores said last night that two days ago
the board had informed him that certain
parties intended to take appeals and asked
him for advice as to how it was to be done.
When asked which member of the board
made this inquiry, he replied that it was
Colonel Walker, one Of the commissioners,
who had list of the corporations in his
hand with the necessary blanks. These Mr..
Moores filled out. He said that he did not
know who had signed the appeal blanks.
When informed that they were signed by
II. A. Davis and Theodore +. Harrison, Mr..
Moores said that he did not know either of
them
Harrison it is said. was candidate for
the Legislature on the Democratic ticket at
one time. Inquiries as to. his antecedentss
developed nothing more. No one was found
who knew anything about Davis at the Of
flee of the State Board of Tax Commits
sioners. 1t seems that there is no law re-
quiring those taking appeals to give bond
for the costs. The appeals must be defended
by the parties at their own cost, so far as
attorneys fees are concerned, and in the
event the appeals are successful the de-
PENDANTS must pay al! costs. Mr.. Buskirk
said that he supposed citizens were allowed
to take appeals from assessments they con-
sidered too low without giving bond on the
theory that they were acting for the public
good. This may be all very good, but it is
claimed that it would work a hardship on
those compelled to defend appeals taken on
slight pretexts by irresponsible persons.