The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-10
PHILLIPS ACCEPTS.
The Democratic Candidate for Governor Writes
Letter of Acceptance to Motif
cation Committee
Devoes Much OF His Letter Discussion
and Strongly Defends Democratic Position

ments have been made in Iowa, for in
all cases the railroad properties, and
not the farms and town lots have been
benefited by this republican argument.
10 secure the listing of personal proper
ty Tor taxation you must first Undue the
taxpayer with the idea that taxes shall
be expended in wise and economical
manner and that the assessments of
railroads and other corporations will
not be made by public officials who are
subservient to to the interests of corpor
ations. Public officials are elected as
the representatives of the people. The
corporations hire their representatives
and such persons, lobb visits and agents.
appear before the legislature, the ex-
ecutive council and other officials of the
state, for the purpose of securing ad.
vantage over the people and the tax.
payers and when they do so, it becomes
necessary for the public officials to
stand out manfully for the right, for if
they do not, no one else will. No efforts
are made by any one, except corpora
tons to control legislation or the acts of
our officials.
Il Abolish Corporation Agents.
Corporation agents" should be
abolished in Iowa and any one who pre-.
tends, to act as such and unduly in.
fiuence legislation, legislative members,
or other officials should be made Grim.
inal. Political pulls should not be al
lowed. Officials of the state should be
permitted to perform their duties free
from any outside influence. When this
is done, it will be possible tor the peo-
pie to secure the assessment of corpora.
lions and corporate property upon the
same basis as other property is taxed
and corporations will have no reason to
complain thereof. Fair assessments and
valuations cannot be had from public
ofhclals whose nominations and elections
come from corporate influence, mani.
tested in conventions where the sole
contest is between rival corporations.
The environment and mental training
OF candidates nominated under such
conditions produce corporation-control
led officers. who cannot do full Justice
to the people. The designing officials
and ambitious politician is more respon.
sible for the low assessment of railroad
corporations than are the railroads
themselves. If all railroads in Iowa
had been assessed upon the same basis
among themselves, different contest
would have been waged in the last re-
publican convention in this state. As.
sess all property equal and there will be
no cause for complaint. There should
be no grounds for saying that the value
OF railroad property in Iowa cannot be
ascertained as easily as that Of town and
farm property. The spectacle of the
members of the executive council of
Iowa considering for weeks the railroad
assessments and, the calling of meetings
in other places than the capitol build
ing is still fresh in the minds of the peo-
pie. What promise is now made that
the conflict over the assessments of Ger
tain railroads will not be repeated?
List all Property.
1T the fact that all personal property
is not listed is an excuse for suffering
railroads and other property to escape
taxation, then means should be devised
for discovering all the personal proper
ty of the state. To do this stringent
laws, severe In their nature, will have
to be passed. If evidence could not be
given in the courts in suits regarding
personal property which has not Leen
listed for taxation except suits regard.
ing taxation, where the owner thereof
is party to the suit, more personal
property might be listed and assessed.
Thus protection Of law to property not
listed would be withdrawn and the
owner would not dare secrete his prop.
erty. Again, if the assessments of the
individual tax payer should be cepted
as the conclusive amount of his wealth
and the securing Of credit or purchase
of property On the claim of any greater
amount OF property than that listed fo1
taxation be brought within the crimina
laws of the state, another incentive
would exist for the listing of personal
property. The voluntary statement Of
any citizen to any commercial agency
bank or other person, for the purpose
of securing commercial or business rat
ing, in excess IF his property listec
should be prohibited, and no CONNER
cial or other reporting agency should b.
allowed to give any taxpayer create
financial standing than that shown b,
tine assessors books. The conceamen
OF any taxable property should b.
considered and made criminal offence
However, the listing or non-listing q
personal property should not afford