The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-18
EXCEPTIONS 70 VALUATION
Of Railway Pr operty for
Taxation.
ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL

ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL
For the Railways Before Corporation
Commiss1on-Dfscrfmination Against
Ratlroada In Placing Valuations and
outside influence Used-Prokabilisy
Of Commission neducing Slightly on
some Branch Lines-Telegraph Conn.
panies' Cases to be Heard Today.
Especial to The Messenger.)
Raleigh, N. c., July 13.-The rooms
of n corporation commission were
today well filled with railway of
icials and attorneys, The hear
ing OF exceptions to the recent increase
of tax valuation of property Of trans
portation companies from $50, 200, 1000 to
$44,OOO,0O0 was the matter in hand. The
Southern railway was represented by
A. B. Andrews, ]. NJ. Cup, w. A Hen
derson and Charles Price: the Atlantic
Coast Line by Warren G. Elliott, J. r.
Kenly and r. o. Burton; the Seaboard
n AAAiC NY II =. "dllS, W.. ?. LAY
and John D.. Shaw; the Norfolk and
Western by w. A. Guthrie; h Aber-
deem and West INK by H. A. Page.
Nearly nine-tenths of the increase falls
upon the Southern and the Atlantic
Coast Line. The telegraph companies
Were also representative Postal by
Superintendent Hates, the Western Un-
ion by r. c.. Strong.
A. B. Andrews opened proceedings
with a statement hat the assessment
per mile is greater in North Carolina
han in South Carolina or Virginia.
President Elliott, in his usual clear
and pointed way, spoke against the in
equality in taxation here as between
railway property and other property.
John D. Shaw presented a strong ar
ray of figures to support Mr.. Elliott's
line of argument.
A. H. Thorn, of the Atlantic and Dan
vile railway, spoke against an increase
in assessment of that property.
During these proceedings John w.
Hinsdale was present taking notes.
Attorney Henderson, Of the Southern,
when called on to speak, asked that
Colonel Hinsdale speak first and asked
for whom the latter appeared. The col
onel said for the governor. Mr.. Elliott
asked if this was correct. Hinsdale said
yes. Mr.. Elliott asked the commission
to take fifteen minute recess in Or
der to give time for a consultation.
He n some other railway officials
went out, it is presumed, to see the
governor. Colonel Hinsdale also went
to see the governor and when he re-
turned stated to the commission that
he had found there was a misunder-
standing M that he did not represent
the governor as counsel in the matter
Of railway assessment.
Colonel Henderson then made an ar
gument in which he said that while
the aggregate tax assessment of other
property has not increased in ropor
ton to it's real value, the assessment
Of railway property has enormously
increased; that influence had been
brought from the outside to have this
increase of railway valuation; that it
was along the same line as in Della
ware where four years ago an effort
was made to make the railways pay
all the taxes and relieve all other prop
erty from taxation.
At the end Of his remarks a recess
was taken Of two hours.
At the afternoon session Mr.. Burton
spoke on behalf of the Atlantic Coast
Line and Charles Price and F. H. Bus
| bee for the Southern. Mr.. BuSbee dwelt
upon the assessment of the Atlantic
and Yadkin railway formerly the Cape
Fear and Yadkin Valley, saying it was
assessed at what it sold for. Charles
Price asserted that while railway prop
erty was assessed at 100 per cent. of
its true value, other property was as
| sessed at only so per cent.
superintendent Hates and F. H. Bus
| bee appeared on behalf of the Postal
Telegraph Company, urging that its
assessment be reduced from $50, 900 to
| s35, 900.
Colonel Hinsdale spoke in this case,
| saying he represented h governor in
/ lHc CCIcSIdpu matter, anu ludI the dS-
sessment Of $50. 900 ought to stand and
would be satisfactory to the state. He
also stated hat he appeared for the
state in the Western Union Telegraph
! case, which will be heard tomorrow, as
well also the case of the Atlantic and
North Carolina railway, for which ].
c. L. Harris will appear and urge that
the assessment be not increased.
There are good grounds for the be-
lief that the commission will reduce
its assessment of both divisions of the
Atlantic and Yadkin railway-that is
on the parts owned respectively by the
Atlantic o Line and the Southern
There may be some reduction of the
Postal Telegraph assessment. Possibly
there may be some slight reductions a:
TO certain branch lines.
There was considerable interest herr
today as to the North Carolina railway
when 1t was learned that the governor
had selected J.. S. Armstrong, Of vii.