Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-09-06
JOHNSON
Made an Argu-
nent
To the Board of Rail-
road EquaIizers.
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 nndervalued, in fact are
paying on millions less than a valua
ton proportionate to the farm lands
and other real estate.
The Board is composed exclusively
of Republican State otiiclals-Audtor
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 he
listened to for appearances sake, but
nothing that he might say could in
fiuence 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-
nicipalities 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 preliminaries 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.
urcr Cameron asked; "What might be
the gentleman's name. pleaseT
johnson smiled, and replied, II am
Mr.. Johnson OF Cleveland. What
might bc your name plcascY'
Mayor Sam Jones arrived at the
meeting at ii u. IN. He seemed as
much of u stranger In this assemblage
of corporation people as Johnson. He
was recognized only by Johnson.
Colonel Iiilbourne came in later
There was big array of high feed
railroad lawyers present,
Professor Bemls consumed the entire
morning session In n report of the IN
vcstigation of the railroad tax ques'
ton made mt the request of Mayor
johnson. He showed that the rail-
roads OF Ohio are appraised only at
81 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,o00,000, by
three,
II was shown that the rails alone are
! worth more than the entire tax ap.
praisement OF the roads. aud the coup
lers on the freight cars cost more than
the entire car is returned for.
II was shown by comparison that
Ohio roads are appraised per mile OF
main line only about one-third of what
they nre appraised for In both Indians
and Michigan, while In those state:
the roads have a much less proportion
of sldings and terminals
"A tabie presented by Mr. Bemls
shows that the counties of the state
are losing $4,o62, ,255 annually that they
should receive from the railroads. Ac
cordlng 10 these figures Lucas county
is losing in taxes each year S14O,566 by
reason of an undervaluatlon of th,
railroads.
| Among the spectators were Colone
| James Kilbourne and state Chairman
Daugherty.
Nov suppose this Board" sait
Mayor Johnson. In the course OF hi,
address, "refuses to equalze these
) appraisements by assessing all Tho
roads at 60 pcr cent of their true value
In money, what remedy have the peo
pie? None. II YOU do not do youl
duty there is no higher body to which
the people can appeal. But that IL
N. III. 7. .l