The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-15
VALUE.
PLANT SYSTEMS \
TAXATION ARBITHATORs SEEK TO
DISCOVER WHAT TT MAY ma.

Controller General MriRhfs Esti-
mate of the Value of the Lines of
the system in Georgia L. Disputed.
Attorneys for the Company seek
10 show ~ u Excessivc-Argumen
VIII lie Continued ON Thursday,
sept. -, when Attorney General
Terrell WIN FILE "a supplementary
brief.
The argument IN the hearing before the
arbltrators OF tho valuation Tor taxation
Of the Plant System lines IN Georgia
WIS not concluded yesterday After q
session that lasted from 10 in the morn
ing until o'clock. when recess was taken.
and from $50 unsil s. ~ was determined
to adjourn until Thur-iay. Sept 2.
II was Tor tho benefit Of Attorney Cen
erh l. ~. Terrell Of the state. that the
adjournment 60 that time Wns declared.
as that official asked permission to ME "a
supplemental brief romc OF the ques-
lions raised requiring more light. The
al bltrators desired ad'h ,ional Information
upon certain matters bearing upon a."
Z
doriake to provide 81 for them.
The hearing was held in the law Office
81 Messrs. Barrow and Barrow IN the
Citizens Bank building Present as in
torested parties were Controller Genera,
W a. Wright and Attorney General l.
". Terrell for ,hc state. and Hon. Fiem-
ing c. duBgnon and Mr.. ". l.. Clay
for the Plant System. These gentlemen
were 20 conduc, their respective sides Of
the case before Hon. Pope Barrow, arbi-
traitor named by the Piant system. Hon.
Pope Brown. arbitrator. chosen by the
state. and judge Roger Gamble the ref
cree selected by the arbitra,ors TO set
tle differences that might arise between
them
In the forenoon much evidence by both
the state and the railroad was laid be
fore the arbitrator. This was almost
entirely documcn,ary.t there being only one
witness. Tax Agent Joseph Of the Plant
System. The Plan, system was ondeav-
oring 10 show that the valuation placed
upon " by tho Controller General was ex-
cessive and that II should be reduced to
the figures at which che properly was re-
turned for taxation The contention Of the
/ representative % che state was the re-
verse. as they claim that the valuation f.
that which should be placed upon the
lines
When deciding what railroads should
pay tho state for taxes on roadway within
as borders. the Controller General is al
lowed by the law 20 assess them upon
che most reliable and trustworthy informa-
/ fa4nF hn ~ % "a n ON "a Ia o
General is not always railroad expert.
thoroughly familiar with the values Of
railroad property. the law recognizes that
valuations might Doe nNed that would be
excessive. As "a remedy in such cases and
for their correction. IL as "A provision Of
the law that an arbitrator may be ap-
pointed by the protesting railroad and an
other by the state. those two 20 choose
a referee and the three 20 settle finally and
conclusvoly as 10 how much the road
should be assessed
Argument in tho case began in the ar
ternoon. Mr. Clay making Representations
FOR the company. that took up three hours
Among other points he made was one Of
double taxation. as both the roadway and
| the trsstlc% ana bridges Of the Plant Sys-
tenn ARE assessed. Numerous authorities
were cited hy Mr. CLAY In support Of his
claim. and rulings Of the Interstate Com
Poor Manual were introduced Mr.. Ter
rel finished M Tor the state. requiring
but half an hour. though asking 10 be al
lowed 10 file his supplementary brief.
4 difference OF 1.liS was found 20 eN-
ist in the returns made by the railroad
uuou its properties IN Georgia and the as
sesments made by the controller general.
who did not believe the Plant system had
shown itself duly conscious OF It's own
value This difference. should !, stand.
would mean that the railroad would have
TO pay nearly 5000 more 20 the state than
les estimates would call for.
Tho mileage Of the Savannah. Florida
ana Western Railway was returned at a
valuation OF sS.01l q mile. amounting 10 a
total o. g. g75.773 This valuation was in
creased by the state 20 $1,000 per mile
raising the total valuat on 10 SIS $40 The
return ~ the Brunswick and Western was
increased from e 500 per mile TO S.0oo per
mile. or about $4,000 The eleven miles
OF the Charleston and Savannah Railway
IN G. orgia were returned at s9.ioo0. or
S70l0 per mile which was increased by
the state 10 Si00oo per mile. or from S79.
100 TO $1,000 The thirty-seven miles Of
Line In Georgia between Waycross and
jacksonville, which were returned At 81,
so per mile. we're also increased 10 SO
90 per mile, or from a total OF s259,5i2 70
$3.50