The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-01-14
II. saa,.cr, ! taana ii. .ssh pr%as.lsally

i sadi.cr, 1 found me sssh rraeslcall,
II Il an outrage upsn si,e stats that this
saxea il viii pay. ana this eitrage haa
been rendered no more hearubie ny the
frequent insolent declarations of railroad
their companies would pay no more lakes
unless they were allowed to virtually fix
their own valuations.
b governor declares that the rail.
roads do not make an honest return of
their earnings and property to the state.
Y that for i've years, practically ever
since the agitation began for statutory
regulation Of railroads, the principal lines
have reported less earnings every year.
He quotes the figures furnished by the.
Chicago Milwaukee and st. Paul TO Illus
trate this. The report for 1893 showed
earnings on the company's lines lin South
Dakota to be s6.4i4.i7 sol. The reports
show gradually decreased earnings each
i iNa ts''' .Ae a'Aou' Sas sl'ss'-
Is ii possible, the governor asks, that
ms great railroad did only q trite more
as 1t did in 1883? Is 1t not more probable
that, discerning u contest with the peo-
PIE, after two great political, parties had
this corporation deliberately prepared to
deceive the people by doctoring its return
ST earnings to sui. the emergency? is 1t
crease It's running expenses, as snoWn in
the table. without materially reducing its
service! Is u not entirely reasonable 10
believe the business Of this company has
rather than diminished?
NAgain, l find that the Chicago and
~ mo ron% rs which operatss oo sA4 miles
penses in 1885, and earned. according to Its
report; sS56 ,611.44. Is, 1t probable that y
cost this company in 1895 over s2,ooo9 900
1t cost the Milwaukee to operate Its 100
miles? This conclusion Is repugnant to
reason when we discover that the earn
" 81. Oo0.0 900 in excess Of those Of the North
western. The truth of the matter seems
70 be that the railroads jugsle figures to
cummings. They falsify reports OF earn:
ings and stun expense accounts to avoid
a REDUCTION of rates and escap taxation.
The Milwaukee railroad reported over a
miillon dollars more personal property
represented by locomotives and cars in
n mo- nj, property was rough to light by
doubtless be in hiding today but for the
evidence brought out on that trial.
49, ~ n that in Iowa he Chicago. Nil.
s Nn"sss a in taxes a; say OF g sisy.ss a pe rf %ils. Ws, IL
anoantins to SOL $3.50, or ofs ssssss per 9 nile.
$500. or 1874 per mile in Iowa, while
in South Dakota 1t pays a total of $685.,
or $S9. 20 per mile. In Iowa the local rates
snease as ARE 1heg but ars little II s m9fs thsR half IS
North Dakota, O state which Is ne more.
productive of local business than South
pa pak s = ne ne railroads were assessed s d this
ure which l urged as u proper assessment
for the leading ines in South Dakota.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and st: Paul
gels 70 per cent. of its income from South
Dakota, willis. only Is per cent. Of Its
mileage Is in this state. 1t declares .divl-
dends Of. s214l per mile on its watered
n million dollars a year by as a surplus.
and then refuses to lower rates or pay
It's fair share of taxes. Can this condition
BILE of accomplishment. AS a first step
the railroad commissioners should be au-
s !. orr and empSwere to go INTO every
these companies as shown by reports
madssto of1cers 5of sneishbortng states, At
ssss.s RI aseertHiI, ed aei On s Mhethsri
generously credited by h faitfoad COM
paniess te8 Ntnaesota. WISCONSIN,
Nebraska and North Dakota, for the ben-
whether they are not reported at all.
which is suspected. AS a second step. tho
state board of assessment and equaliza-
to assess railroads and should become a
board of equalization only. The assess
ment OF railroads and all other such prop
erty should be made by the local assessors.
who are widely scattered about the state.
and who will be less liable to fall under
the control of the corporations than q
state board. which may owe Its nomina-
ton and election to active railroad intlu-
ence. Local assessors should be fur
nished, through the county auditors, with
all necessary information on the subject
or corporate earnings and valuations,
which 1t should be made the duty OF the
railroad commissioners to publish every
year. -
railroad and eynreSS COmnaniaS was Se-
in comparison to what 1t. should have
P tsis class a fair az d inepeass In the s6a aut ,. Of
enue."
The governor also calls attention to the
fact that the great mining companies In
the Black Hills escape taxation. Prop
erty which turns out annually a product
Of over 5000, 600 pays a mere bagatelle.
like farming lands-on the acreage basis.
IT should be assessed on the value of its
product.
other matters of general interest.
Favors State Insurance.
The treatment of the insurance question
by the governor Is somewhat sensational
He calls attention to the good results OF
nawing established g department OF In
presents statistics showing the growing
business of the companies in this state.
9te ADVISES tnRl the state undertake the
business Of ~insuring the property of its
citizens, "a state monopoly, he says, run
Tor the people and wholly. nstheir inter-
estssMfsi e powerful enough to success
Sfuliyacompetsgwlth foreign insurance mo-
snopultes. Sg1he credit Of the state will be
sasconstant guarantee of the solvency OF a
policy. gThe3state can succeed where n
mutual company OF its citizens must fail
mutual company which shall compose
e stale In itsa membership, and
&ssssNNnEg HtistMa state 0wer.1can under II
sSFeHE sdeyisedassySsssm eatherredde the
scs.st tafs ssi1E.Atsnrsma enough
ss~yfsefrunnitE expenses ofsttc afate. ~