Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-09-06

not true of the railroads. If you ex-
ceed your powers by the fraction of
an inch the railroads will at once ap-
peal to the courts and have 1t correct
ed. Tile Supreme court will undo any
illegal act that you may do, but 1t
will not do any legal act which you
should have done. do not know what
you will do, but / do know that there
will come a time when the people will
find a way of making the great steam
railroads and other corporations pay
their just share of the burden of tax.
alton.
'The big corporations get all the
benefits of the present methods of as
sessments. How? BY influencing
Auditors, by influencing Legislators,
by influencing courts and by influenc.
ing elections. Let us take off the
mask and be frank with each other
l say that no Auditor or other official
who has a railroad pass In his pocket
or accepts other favors from these
corporations is a fit man to say how
much Of the tax burden they shall
pay. Some men may be above these
influences, but I doubt it. Why, gen.
tlemen, this business of extending ia,
vors to public officials has even gone
so far as to extend to your august
body. Two of you accepted an invl-
tation of certain railroad official to
take long trip in a private car to
California. / hope it did not influence
you"
The Mayor closed his speech with
these words and took his seat. For a
few moments there was an absolute
quiet, every one present expecting that
som one on the Board would challenge
the Mayor for an explanation. After
a reasonable wait Judge Collins of
the b. Il o. said he would like to
prepare an answer to the Material
things presented by the gentleman on
the other side" After little discussion
the Board iiXd the time as Sept. IA
Mayor Johnson said he would be on
hand.
Judge Hunter said he would deter
mine later and let the board know
if the Hooking Valley wished to make
any reply. If so he would come in
Sept. ii. II won't answer Mayor
Iohnson's statement that every public
body from the United States Senate
down is corrupt" he said, "and there
fore i will make no attempt to show
that the members of this board are
not corrupt. ! do know that the Hook
ing Valley did not corrupt the auditors
who assessed its property, nor did 1t at
tempt to corrupt them. If Mr.. John
son is not satisfied with the present
law of assessing railroad property, let
him go before the next legislature and
have 1t changed"
1T Is not with the law, but with the
execution of it that l find fault" re-
torted the Mayor.
''1'hen get a policeman to make the
board execute 1t right"
Il know better way of doing il
than with policeman" was the reply
Il know what you mean," laughed
Judge Hunter.
Ramsey OF the Wabash walked NJ
10 the mayor, and. shaking his pencil
ut him, began to PROFOUND questions
as to why railroad property was as
sessed higher in Indiana than In Ohio
81 don't KNOW" answered the mayor
prof. Bemis knows, though"
Then l call on Prof. Bemis to ex
plain"
Prof. Bcmis looked Mt Ramsey con
temptuously for n moment and ther
turned his back.
Ramsey became bit abusive and The
Mayor sought to cut him short ant
asked him to explain why his road wa,
assessed for $4,000 per mile less lr
Ohio than in Indiana.
"You may do your talking outside
gentlemen" cried Attorney Genelal
Sheets.
81 beg your pardon. I will" said tn,
Mayor, "but I'll come back Sept. a.