Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-05

mails in Iowa-horses, mules, cattle,
sheep and hogs, has increased
in two years, 100000, while
the aggregate assessed valuation
of all these animals has de-
creased $2,600,00o. If there be any far
mers present, they will be able TO Judge
whether the farm animals in this state,
increased as they have been in number
-25 per cent in two years, have de-
creased in value more than SIP 900, 900.
AS a matter of fact the 100000 farm
animals in Iowa have advanced in value
more than $4o,0o0,O00 but they been as
sessed $s,6Oo,O00 less.
Change I'm Revenue Laws.
In all this discussion, I make no al
lowance for the change in our revenue
laws made by the Twenty-sixth gener-
al assembly, which authorizes the as
sessment of property at one-fourth of
its actual value instead of actual value;
because it is conceded that property
never has been assessed at its full val
ue. and the change in the law was
made in the belief that it would effect
an increase in the assessment of the
state.
Assessments Compared = 1877 1899.
The republican party has been
charged with having had a panic in
1877, and it is quite generally known
that the democratic party had panic
in 1893, but no one, except few poll
ticians. claims there is. any panic
now. Let us therefore compare assess
ments in 1877, 1893 and 1899. The cat
tie of Iowa were assessed in 1877 at
$10.26; in 1898, at 5000; and in 1899, at
$685. per head. The horses of Iowa
were assessed in 1877 at $50 .4s; in 1898,
at $21.67, and in 1899, at 1888 per head.
Mules were assessed in 1877 at 1884;
in 1893, at S23.s5, and in 1899, at $10.19.
Hogs were assessed in 1877 at $2.63; in
1898, at $2.14, and in 1899 at Sill.
Sheep were assessed in 1898 at $1.36,
and in 1899, at $0.s4. The farmers pres
ent will be able to tell whether horses
have deprecated more than SO per cent
and whether mules have depreciated in
value more than 81 per cent, whether
hogs have deprecated more than 40
per cent and whether sheep have de-
preciated more than 40 per cent
since 1893. The assessed val
ue Of these animals has been dimin-
ished in these proportions respectively
since 1893. Perhaps it was superflu-
Gus for me to say that the committee
on resolutions Of the opposition parties
did not come to the capitol to examine
the facts before they prepared their
deliverance.
Facts ConcernInr Asses.m,anss
But believing that the people of the
state, to whom alone political party
is answerable, and on whom all parties
must rely, are anxious to know the
facts concerning all assessments, so far
as they are discoverable, / submit the
following, not claiming that they are
right not claiming that they are
wrong, but claiming only that they ex-
list as I report them. For the last dec
ade the railways of Iowa have been as
sessed at a valuation, assuming true
value to have been four times the as
sessment) on which they have earned,
above operating expenses, as shown by
their sworn reports, 5N per cent. The
net earnings Of the railways Of Iowa
for 1896 would pay s1ls per cent on the
valuation at which the executive couu-
Gil assessed them for the year 1899.
Assessments and Real Values.
Thinking that the public might be
interested to know what proportion as
sessments generally bear to actual val
ues, l have made some independent in
qniries. Learning of an entire flock OF
sheep being sold soon after the first of
January at So . head, 1 wrote and as
certained that they had been valued
by the assessor at $s.75, and assessed
at less than a dollar. I have investi-
gated the sale of five distinct tracts Of
land taken promiscuously and without
advising the parties reporting the sales
OF my purpose in making the inquiries.
These tracts sold in the aggregate for
S46 1000, and ascertained that they
were valued by the assessor at $31, 900,
3b per cent below actual value. They
were, of course, assessed at one-fourth
of that. I investigated four auction
sales, where the aggregate sale of per-
sonal property was $4,000, and learned
that this same property was valued BY
the assessor at $4,000, one-seventh the
actual value, and assessed, of course, at
one-quarter of that. investigated the
sale of seven punches Of fat cattle,
which were sold soon after the first of
January at an aggregate of s13,soO,
and found that these same cattle
were valued by the assessor at $4,000,
So per cent below actual value. Had it
been possible to investigate other class
es of property, manufacturing estab-
lishments, stocks of merchandise, ETC.,
very likely similar results would have
been obtained. These are simple facts,
am not complaining. am simply Civ
ing the public the result of these in
quiries, believing that to know the facts
will remove many erroneous impress
sions created for the sole purpose of
influencing voters and without founda-
ton in fact.
Who Arc Favored by Exemption.
The burdens OF maintaining form
of government, both state and nation
al. are not so severe as they are pic
tured by those whose stock arguments
are appeals to prejudice. They are, it
is true, severe enough, and they should
be reduced to the minimum, and made
to rest as equitably as possible on all,
giving preference always to those who
are least forehanded, and upon whom
the struggles of life necessarily rest
most severely, The statutes of this