Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-11
So, ana, Sol Al

The first figures are from the returns
to the state auditors aokng for infoma-
tion In regard to the actual selling price
of farm land i'll the various counties
March l. this year as compared with the
assessment on the lands SO sold. as
shown by the books in the office of the
county recorder and county auditor.
The first column is the average price
per acre. of all the farm lands sold and
recorded March 1, 1901, the second rep
resents the taxable value under the as-
sessment on which taxes are now being
paid. and the third s the assessment
per acre made by the assessors this
year, one fourth of which would be the
taxable value per acre.
In only two OF the counties on which
there was a reduction made was there
sales recorded March l, 1901, averaging
lower than the assessment Of this year.
There is wide discrepancy between
the sales prices given and the taxable
values. In nearly every case are the
average gales more than four times the
assessed value This difference largely
represents the natural increase in val
iles in the past two years Of initiation
and rising in prices. Taxes are still be-
Ing paid on an assessment now nearly
two years old. The assessments have
been kept substantially as they we're be-
fore values Increased as they have.
The executive council had before 1t the
returns from nearly every county of the
state showing the price at which lands
were sold March 1. of this year. and
comparison with the assessment on
which taxes are now being paid. Thess
returns showed that taxes are being
paid on the lands which We're actually
sold March I on an assessment of about
| 20 or 81 per cent of their selling price
| on that date. The law contemplates that
the taxable value shall be one fourth
| the actual value. In the face OF this
showing, for the first time in many
years or ever, the council made a re-
duction in the total assessment of real
estate
The matter came up In the council on
motion of Governor Shaw and an elab-
crate argument based on the figures re-
ceived by the state auditor. This mo-
tion was that reduction be made to
make the taxable value of all Iowa
property SOS, coo. The governors mo-
! ton and brief in the case are as fol-
lows:
Il move that the aggregate assessed
valuation reported by the several coun-
| ties be reduced SO as to fix the adjusted
| assessment of the state at an amount
not to exceed s555 900, 600. This reduction
can be so distributed as will euualize as
far as may be the assessment of farm
lands and live stock among the several
counties.
II further move that the executive
| council recommend to the pSneruI as
| sembly such a modification of the stat
utes of the state as will allow the board
OF review to adjust the assessment of all
property at the same time, and that 1t
suggest the following ways in which
this may be done IL the legislature shall
deem 1t wise: Either the railroads might
be assessed primarily by the railroad
commissioners (who. in view of their
outies, should be the better prepared to
Judge of the relative value OF the several
roads), and then the executive council
adjust all assessments at the July meet
ing. or the time OF assessing the rail-