Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-30
REPUBLICAN, NATIONAL TICKET.
RA!LeoAplsM ANp ASSESSMENTS.

of New York.
RAILROADS.&C. AND ASSESSMENTS.
The course in primary instruction in
railroadism asit exists in Iowa politics
would not be complete without q brief
explanation of the executive council,
its duties and why railway attorneys
are 90 interested in the selection of men
to its membership. The executive colln-
Gil is composed of the governor the au-
ditor, secretary of state and treasurer.
The duties Of each of these officers are
we'll understood and pointed out in the
code; with the exception of the COVER
nor, their ordinary duties being Very
law. which leaves them little discretion.
However, when these gentlemen meet
as an executive council, the situation is
far different They become sort of
quasi court, with very large discretion
airy powers in several of the duties they
have to perform. The examination and
rejection or approval. of articles of in
corporation OF building and loan associ-
atoms ie one Of these duties. and no
doubt a very perplexing duty at times
The particular duties of the executive
council TO which the attention of the
public has been attracted, is the assess
ing Of telegraph and telephone compa-
MES, express companies. sleeping and
dining car companies and railway COM
panies.
While the general manner and meth
cd Of these asse ss,nents5 are pointed out,
still so much is left to discretion. that
1t 10 claimed. and has not vet been sue
cesefuliy denied, that the highest rate
Per cent on the gross earnings per mile
of some of the roads in Iowa as accepts
ed in the assessment e8S15 per cant,
and of the Chicago & Northwestern, -
per cent OF course the theory of all
taxation is that taxes should be levied
as near on an equality as possible. Abb
solute equality is impossible of attain
ing. but why such difference as this
is and must be an interesting question
to the people of the state
For three of these Offices. the mem
bers of which will be members of the
executive council, candidates are TO be
nominated at the state republican con-
vention this week, to-wit, auditor.
treasurer and secretary Of state. The
people should make these nominations
and not the general solicitors for two Or
three of the Iowa railways. Ii is a.
clear as the sun shining in the heavens
that these general solicitors or attor-
neys are working for the pecuniary in
terest of their clients in seeking to get
men of their selection on the executive
council.
Why do not the people combine
against them? Candidates owned and
serve no interests of theirs.
The following table shows that the
rate or percentage of the gross earnings
per mile. was taken for assessment of
some of the roads together with the
average rate for all roads in the state,
which is ninety per cent.
Marshalltown & Dakota. ...;.4.5 3. 8. so. Bis
Crooked Greek. 22ass
Nuscatine ". & S....l.. .21l
Abba q Centery!lle -. lB6
Rock Is.anu ..5.... : ... ~. los
Iltnois Central. 100
Iowa Central ~. ....s....,.. ....%. 81
E Milwaukee $780,. 81
Chicago & Northwestern. 80. ,....s..s.5..5 I.
The Chicago & Northwestern is the
lowest in the hist. Why is it that til,
council should require weak railway
like the Crooked Greek railway, TO pa;
taxes on 1898 for 800 of gross earnings
while it only asks for taxes for $f2 from
the Northwestern? The little road il
assessed three times higher than tn
Northwestern. Measured by the aver
age rate of railroad taxes there ha
been donated to the Chicago & North
western railway company in the las
six years, the following amounts o
money:
1884 ...... ~. ..5...........s 1s.s42.5
1898 ................ ................. s,078.1
1896. SO. =. -. .....;...... y. 3s, 1895
1897. ......5.. ....... s....'..|.. ]. 54,1s7.5
1899. ..... .5........ $1,000. 3, 500
lS9S...... $500. .........- o1.33s.6
Total ...... $3.50. s255,22l, 3
"A quarter OF million dollars will pa
the salaries Of general railway solicit
ors for several years and leave quite
sum for incidental campaign expense
besides. They can not only do the lega
business OF the road, but can attend tn
state conventions and run. or attemn
to run. the politics OF the state.
The following Is a comparison Of as
easements on the basis Of net earning!
The percentage of taxes paid to ne
earnings for 1899 and for the past fiv
years for the seven lines. is as follows
Aver
Name Of Road. 1899 i894-18s
B., c. r. & NJ. ...... 80. 90 8
c.. B. q Q.......... -. Lilo 12
g 9. W.... .......... ......l1.s FL