The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-03
NEWS CASE UP AGAIN
FRANK MORAY TRYING TO HAVE AS
SESSMENT RAISED.
Testimony of Major and
peaIs in Other Tax Cases.

The greater portion Of yesterday morn
ing s session of the State Board of Tax
Commissioners was occupied by the hear
ing of Frank McCray's appeal from the ac-
ton Of the Marion County Board of Review,
fixing the assessment of the Indianapolis
News at $4,000. Although the appeal did
not differ in any essential particular from
the two previous annual appeals taken by
Mr.. McCray, considerable interest was
taken in the hearing.
Mr.. McCray acted as his own counsel.
The News was represented by ex-State Sen
ator Ferdinand Winter. Mr.. Winter con-
tended in behalf of the newspaper that the
decision of the judges of the Superior Court
that good will is not taxable prevents the
State Tax Board assessing the News on
anything except its tangible value. Mr..
McCray urged that ii is not good will that
enters into the value Of the News, but
that its property is a unit, and he asked
that the value of the paper be regarded as
a unit.
w. ]. Richards was placed on the witness
stand and Intercepted about the value of
the plant. He said that when the News
was sold at receivership sale he secured
S40O. 600 as his part of the proceeds. OF this
amount one-third was in cash and two
thirds in the shape of a mortgage on the
plant. Mr.. McCray thereupon asserted with
triumph that the paper must be worm more
than So, 900. else Major Richards would not
have taken a mortgage on 1t for more
than $500, 900.
was interrogated infinitely with regard to
the nature of an Associated Press fran
chise. He explained that the Associated
Press is nothing more than a union OF
newspapers for the purpose Of collecting
and distributing news with the least pos
sible expense. Mr.. Williams said that an
ACCnciatpn proCC fra nRhiCn ~ ave 1lSGd for
profit. but always carried on. the expense
side of the ledger. Mr.. McCray endeavored
to show that such a franchise is a monopo-
ly, shutting out all papers within sixty
miles of indianapolis unless they are in
the Associated Press.
The News case was submitted to the tax
board without argument on either side.
Written citations OF legal authorities were
submitted for the guidance of the board in
making its decision in the matter. Attor-
ney General Taylor sat with the board dur
ing the hearing and took part in interrogat-
ing witnesses.
TWO OTHER APPEALS.
The appeal of Michael Grimmer, auditor
of Lake county. from the action of the
Lake County Board of Review in the mat
ter of the assessment Of the Standard Oil
Company's property at Whiting was fin
ished yesterday morning and taken under
Amusement by the board. The company in
its tax return claimed a deduction of sew
eral hundred thousand dollars on account
of dismantled and destroyed buildings and
charged itself with $4,000 on account Of
new buildings. Mr.. Grimmer contended
that il should have been assessed on 500. 900
of improvements and on 5000 o of personal
property.
Yesterday afternoon the board listened
to the protest of the Indiana Bermudez
Asphalt Company against the assessment
fixed by the Marion County Board Of Re
view. John r. Wilson, the company's at
torney. claimed that the Bermudez COM
many had been assessed this wear on bonds
that belong TO the Barber Asphalt Com
pany, which absorbed the former company.
Mr.. Wilson made the further claim that
a part OF the total assessment of SO. 500
was based on capital stock, whereas IL
ought to be only on the tangible property.
County Auditor Harry b. Smith and Coun-
~ Assessor Marion Eaton. representing the
Marion County Board of Review, contended
that the board had placed the bonds on the
duplicate in the name OF the Bermudez
was done last year.