Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-09-06
JOHNSON
Made an Argu.
Inent
To the Board of Rail-
road Equalizers.
The Republican Officials
We're Indifferent.
Some Cheap Sarcasm Drew the
Mayors Fire.

Columbus, Sept. 5.--Tom 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
tlon proportlonate TO the farm lands
and other real estate.
The Board Is composed exclusively
of Republican State otiicials--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 to be an inspired article
TO the effect that Johnson would be
listened to for appearances sake, but
nothing that he might say could in
iiuence the Board to add anything to
the valuation of railroad property.
The matter came up today on a 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 preliminaIies of the meeting
Mayor Johnson arose and said he had
been selected by the Municipal League
Of Ohio AS one of those to present the
matter.
AS he was sitting down State Treas
urer Cameron asked: "What might be
the gentlemnn's name, pleaseT
Johnson smiled, and replied, II am
| MIR. johnson of Cleveland, What
might be your name plcaseT
Mayor Sam Jones arrived at the
meeting at II a. m. He seemed as
much of stranger in this assemblago
of corporation people as Johnson. He
was recognized only by Johnson.
Colonel Kilbourne came in later
There was big array of high feed
railroad lawyers present.
Professor Bemls consumed the entire
morning session In report OF the IN
vestiGatiou of the railroad tax ques'
tion made Mt the request Of Mayor
Johnson. he showed that the rail-
roads OF Ohio are appraised only at
II per cent. of their salable value,
while real estate Is appraised at &C
per cent. II would only he fair, there,
fore, TO multiply the total railroad val.
uation of the state Of $l17,00O,O00 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 ears cost more than
the entire ear Is returned for.
1t was shown by comparison thai
Ohio roads are appraised per mile OF
main line only about one-third OF wha
they nre appraised for In both Indian;
and Michigan. while In those state,
the roads have n much less proportion
Of sldings and terminals
A table presented by Mr.. Bemii
shows that the counties of the stat,
are losing Sf,062 ,255 annually that the,
should receive from the railroads Ac
cordlng to these figures Lucas count,
Is losing In taxes each year S14O, 500 h,
reason OF an undervaluatlon OF til,
railroads.
Among the spectators We're CoIone
| James Kilbourne and State Chairman
Daugherty.
Now suppose this Board" SAT-
Mayor Johnson. In the course Of hi
I address, refuses to equallze thes
s appraisements by assessing all tn
: roads at 60 per cent of their true valu
In money, what remedy have the peo
pie? None. If YOU do not do you
duty there Is no higher body to whlcl
the people can appeal But that 4