Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-29

But the prospect seems dreary and
want the public to see it as it is.
am ashamed of what has taken
place. For the party which boasts of
her stalwart governors, her Grimes, her
Kirkwood her Gear, and her Larrabee,
and of which | am 80 proud, am
ashamed that the chief representative of
my party in the state today should de-
scend to such contemplate conduct. For
my state am ashamed the servants of
the people should forget the people and
their interests, their homes and their
firesides. and for the sake of paltry po-
litica ambition worship at the feet of
mammon and unrighteousness.
The majority unwittingly honor the
worth and character of my opinions and
render me unique compliment which 1
keenlv appreciate.
tSigned) JOHN HEiRRIOTT,
Treasurer State of Iowa.
Des Moines. Iowa. March IS. 1900.
Filed with the secretary of the execu-
tive council for record in minutes.
sHAyy,s SIDE OF 1T.
Extract OF Majority sid. OF Assess
ment Row : Criticlzes Hcrriott's
Plan.
The plan proposed by the treasurer
this year was novel. He proposed TAX
ing a sum of money which at per cent
interest would yield the net earnings of
all the railroades of the state as an ag-
gregate valuation of the roads, which,
divided BY four, should equal the ag-
:yregstte assessment OF all the roads.
but m making his computation he
omitted to deduct the item of taxes
He might as Well have omitted the
Item of wages, for he proposed TO base
mis- computation upon net earnings. De-
Quoting taxes and following his basis
would have reduced the aggregate as
sessment of the roads practically half
a million dollars. OF course the item
of taxes should not be deducted from
the assessed valuation, and it has new
err been suggested that it should be.
But all expenses, including taxes,
should be deducted from gross earn
ings in determining actual net earn
|inys OF railroads, as well as Of other
property.
lNCONGRGITIE,S.
In applying the treasurer's plan
many mconGruities appeared. We call
Iattention IN few. The Leon and
Mount Ayr division Of the c.. Il. & @
railroad running al loss of sssl per
tmile. previously assessed az $1,000,
Would have been reduced To $500 per
mic. while the Wilton branch Of the
Z q. L. i. & r. railroad running a a net
profit Of Ss2+ pr mic. would Dc re-
duced from $500 q $22,,2215 per mile. The
/ Ioes Moines and Minneapolis division
iof the c. Il y. w railroad, running at
at loss Of $751; per mile, would have its
iassessnent increased from $500 70 81.
4 TOO per mills: while the heoiiuk and Des
Mo,les division Of the c., Il. i. q z
! railroad running at q prpfit of Sl,S5,
Per mis-, would nave its assessment re-
dGcei from $4,000 TO 81 300 per mile Tbs
i Davenport branch of the O.. NJ & 81
p railroad. running al Il Slight profit
1 npw assessed al Hs3 200 per mile. would
lbe Increased To s4.224.. while the Cedar
RAPIDS branch OF the Illinois Contra
railroad, also running at Il slight profit
\ would be decreased from $2.ono to s2.t25
The Clinton branch Of the Milwaukee
railroad running At loss. would has
ills assessment decreased from s35oe I,
s4,eao per mile while the Harlan
branch Of the g. II. j. & p. railroad
running at a prefit, would have its as
4 sessnent decreased from $500 TO sS,21'
i pei nlils.
III the opinion Of the majority Of tns
council il is Impossible 10 ADOPT any
y plan ny which an equitable assesslnaa
can be natEiematically obtained Il /
Ie0ula be done, u would rot be neces
sary % have four men On the council
any ore man could sigurc ii as we'll al
flour. The reason that the assessslnen
is left Ia four men, instead Of one. j:
lthat the best Judgment IT a majorit,
shall be secured The actual value o
each line and each branch must be as
lscertained. and g this end every TEA
+ ture must be considered. So says tn,
lstatute.
The majority OF the executive council
I stands ready 10 increase railroad as
4 sessnents IN the aggregate or the as
Sessmert Of any road rs soon as the,
shah he convinced that il IS eauitablt
i and just thatit shan be thus Increased
i Never, but in one Instance since tn
present members have had the honor .
4 serving on the executive council, ha
iany citizen appeared before that bod.
10 register a complaint or TO make ;
request with reference to an assesnaenJ
That one request has been granted
H4d 1hc contention Of the treasure
been hssded in previous years the PEG
fple 9f the state ofIowa would have re
eeiyed no increase Of taxes from rail
road sources, for il has heretofore beel
his sole ceatention that some road
shalild be relieved and the burden
shifted TO others. He has never urge,
4 a perceptible increase of the ageregat
raiirQad assessment until this year. !
vas at his suggestion that a motion
Ii has been unanimously carried for TIL
past two years tflat the aggregate rail
road assessment should remain practl
cally unchanged.
In view of the fact that the executiv
council. as a board of equalization
has permitted d decrease OF over 81,
100000 in the aggregate assessment 0
the property Of the state since til
treasurer's acquiescence in continuin
the aggregate railroad assessment
practically as in former years. tn
council was not disposed TO adopt
mathematical basis of assessment tina
works manifestIy TO the advantage q
one road to the prejudice of man
others.
The treasurer charges that the coun
Icil, as now constituted, is manifestin
favoritism in behalf OF the Northwest
ern railway. Since members Of In