Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-09-06
The Republican Officials
We're Indifferent.
Some Cheap Sarcasm Drew the
Mayors Fire.

Columbus, Sept. 5.-lTom L. Johnson
appeared before the State Board of
Railway Equalization yesterday to
present the data collected for him by
Prof. Edward Bemis, the expert, tend
ing to show that the Ohio railroads
are greatly undervalued, in fact are
ton proportionate to the farm lands
and other real estate.
The Board is composed exclusively
of Republican State ofiicials-Auditor
OF State Guilbert, Treasurer Cameron,
Railroad Commissioner Morris, and
Attorney General Sheets.
The Ohio State Journal, the Repub-
lican organ here. yesterday printed
what seemed 10 be an inspired article
to the effect that Johnson would be
listened to for appearances sake, but
nothing that he might say could in
fuence the Board to add anything to
the valuation of railroad property.
The matter came up today on de-
sire of the Ohio State League of Mu
inequalities to be heard and Johnson
appeared in his capacity as Mayor of
Cleveland, by reason of which Office
he Is interested in the burden of tax
alton being equally distributed in
stead of the real estate owners bear
ing practically all the burden and the
rich corporations all but escaping tax.
alton entirely.
In the preliminalies of the meeting
Mayor Johnson arose and said he had
been selected by the Municipal League
of Ohio AZ one Of those to present the
matter.
| AS he was sitting down State Treas
urer Cameron asked: "What might be
the gentieman's name, pleaseY'
Johnson smiled, and replied, II am
Mr.. Johnson Of Cleveland. What
might be your name pleaseT
Mayor Sam Jones arrived Mt the
meeting at IL a. IN. He seemed as
much of stranger in this assemblage
of corporation people as Johnson. lie
was recognized only by Johnson.
Colonel Kilboulpe came in later.
There was a big array of high feed
railroad lawyers present.
Professor Bemis consumed the entire
morning session In report of tho IN
vestigation of the railroad tax ques-
tlon made at the request OF Mayor
Johnson. Tie showed that the rail,
roads OF Ohio are appraised only Mt
81 per cent. OF their salable value,
while real estate is appraised at GO
per cent 1t would only be fair, There,
fore, to multiply the total railroad val
uation Of the state of $t17, 900 900, by
three.
II was shown that the rails alone are
worth more than the entire tax ap.
praisement of the roads and the coup.
lers on the freight cars cost more than
the entire ear Is returned for.
1t was shown by comparison that
Ohio roads are appraised per mile of
main line only about one-thlrd of what
they are appraised for In both Indiana
and Michigan. while In those states
the roads have much less proportion
of sldings and terminals.
a table presented by Mr.. Bemis
shows that the counties of the state
are losing S4,062 ,255 annually that they
should receive from the railroads. Ac-
cording to these figures Lucas county
is losing In taxes each year S140,5 ,56G by
reason Of an undervaluatlon of the
railroads.
Among the spectators were Colonel
James Kilbourne and State Chairman
Daugherty.
Now suppose this Board" said
Mayor Johnson in the course of his
address, "refuses to equalize these
appraisements by assessing all the
roads at 60 per cent Of their true value
In money, what remedy have the peo
p'eP None. II YOU do not do your
duty there is no higher body to which
the people can appeal. But that is