Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-18
ARGUE OVER ASSESSMENT
Governor Oummins Insists Upon Asking
Pointed Questions.
SOME DISCREPANCY IN FIGURES
Telephone strike Not Yet settled
Insurance Man Disappears and
Fears Expressed hat He May
Have Been Murdered.
SOME DISCREPANCY IN FIGURE
(FrOm a star correspondent.l

hAH ARHNIAAAl- "a ~
Clarke, general solicitor for the Minneap-
oils & st. Louis railroad, made an ex-
tended rgument before the executive
council today on the question Of railroad
assessments and principally on how to ar
rive at the value Of railroad property. He
rejected the net earnings and the gross
earnings basis, for neither would do alone,
but said that the members of the council
must use horse sense In estimating the
value Of the property for taxation. They
should consider the physical condition, the
location, the gross earnings and all other
elements taken together. He commended
that taking earnings as the sole guide and
applying 1t to farm values, he result
would be astonishing. He asserted that
statistics carefully collected show that the
average net earnings Of Iowa farm lands
that are farmed are about IS an acre.
Henry Wallace, who was present, took ex-
ception to this and said he would be glad
IL 1t was true. In the course of the dis
cussion Governor Cummins asked a ques-
tion and presented q problem to the
speakers.
II want to ask the gentlemen who are
talking here" he stated, whether or not
they will agree that we should take q
broad view Of the question Of value rather
than to confne ourselves to the reports
as we ind them; whether or not We should
take into consideration our general
knowledge Of conditions in this section
OF the country In determining values? For
instance, there is some discrepancy in the
reports on gross earnings. Taking the
systems Of which the Iowa roads form q
part, and they run into a half dozen or
more states, as far as Montana and Texas.
Now the reports show that on all these
- ~ y al --.l "
which 25.7 per cent was in Iowa. The
total gross earnings of these systems last
year was $3.50, 1855, 513, and II the proper
ton for lows was given on a mileage
basis, Iowa's share. would be s66, S3s, 1888.
But the share which the companies report
as belonging to lows Is actually but $685.
9S4,115. Should not members Of the coun-
ell consider this discrepancy Of $14,S4 ,64S
and try to arrive at some knowledge OF
why the earnings per mile in Iowa are
reported less than in systems which run
into Oklahoma, Texas. Wyoming and other
states? Should not the council a k note
Of their practical knowledge Of conditions
as they exist and make Investigations out
side of the reports as nader"
Mr.. Clarke insisted that the reports as
made are correct and give to Iowa Its
fair share Of the earnings; that they con-
tain, in fact, all the information which
the railroad companies have on the sub
ject. The state should be credited with
the exact earnings. He contended that
the companies pay ias much taxes in Iowa
as their fair share of business and ought
not to be assessed higher
M. G. Woodruff, for the Great Western,
made an extended argument along the same
line. fa~
The hearing on the general question OF
railroad rates was concluded by speeches
by W. W.. Baldwin for the Burlington and
Henry Wallace speaking for the armers.
Tomorrow the council will take up the
hearing for individual roads separately.
Report from GlenwOod.
The annual report of the Institution for
the Feeble Minded at Glenwood, made to
the State Board OF Control, shows that
during the year there were enrolled a total
Of 1901 persons, Of whom s67 remained
at the end OF the year, an increase OF
thirty-two for the year. The average at
tendance for the year was 1856. The report
shows a satisfactory condition Of affairs.
The work on the code supplement, which
ts required by law to be out September
/ next. is making slow progress owing to
the delay Of the code commission In hav-
ing copy furnished. The work Of ammo
tation Of the new matter Is taking more
time than expected. The work Of print
ing the new edition of the code was laid
aside for the supplement, but may be taken
up again.
May Not Exact Cash Damages.
The members Of the executive council
have had several brief conferences In re-
gard to the terms upon which they will
allow the Burlington Railroad company to
60 through the state ground at Glenwood,
but have not yet rendered a formal de-
cision. It is now believed that they will
merely require Of the Burlington company
a contract to make the deep cut through
the grounds In a certain way and hx up
their right-of-way in a manner as slightly
as possible and to build good bridges and
subways and maintain fences. This will
be in lieu OF any cash consideration for
the land given to the railroad company.
Members Of the council have expressed
themselves as believing that the city of
Glenwood is as valuable to the state in a
general way as the institution near the
city and the state has a right to consider
the interests Of the people OF dlenwood.
Strike Not Yet Settled.
President Yost OF the Iowa Telephone
company has not yet arrived in Des Moines,
though persons interested I'm the strike
say that he Is expected. Others declare
that the whole matter has been left with
General Manager Smith of Davenport, who
refuses to treat in any way with the
strikers. On the other hand the Trades
and Labor assembly people have started q
movement for a general boycott OF the
companies in which the Bell telephone peo-
pie are interested and have issued eircu-
lars which they are sending broadcast over
the state calling for a union OF forces
against the telephone company. 1t is be-
lieved here that II President Yost would
take hold OF the matter personally he
would reach an agreement with the strikers
In a short time.
The work on the Mutual has been re-
sumed.
Il George H. Warren. an insurance maj
we'll known and in good circumstances. has
mysteriously disappeared. leaving his fam
lily distracted. 1t is believed he has beer
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