Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-01

MISSOURI AND NEBRASKA.
The supreme court OF Missouri has
issued a writ OF mandamus. ordering
the State Board of Equalization to re-
convene and make a new assessment of
the railroad, telegraph and express COM
panies and other corporations whose
properties are subject to assessment
and taxation by the state board on the
basis Of their actual value, which means
the market value of their stocks and
bonds. This action Of the supreme court
Of Missouri stands out in marked con-
trast with the recent refusal Of the SUI
preme court of Nebraska to grant re-
lief to the taxpayers Of this state
from fragrant discrimination In favor
of railroad corporations. In Missouri
the sessions of the State Board of
Equalization are held in public, and not
In star chamber, as in Nebraska. The
Missouri board designates days for hear
ings and publicly invites county and
city officials and all citizens interested
In assessment of railroads, public
bridges and telegraph property to pre-
sent their statements, testimony and
arguments, while the Nebraska board
allows its time to be monopolized be-
hind closed doors by railroad tax
agents, attorneys and pass distrib-
uters.
The assessments by the Missouri
board are made on careful estimates
Of the valuation Of the tangible property,
classified into roadbed, superstructure,
rolling stock, depot buildings and other
improvements on the railroad right-of-
way, whereas the Nebraska board has
dumped together all railroad property
regardless Of betterments OF increased
value and increased volume Of traffic
and earnings.
The striking contrast between Ne
braska and Missouri railroad assess
ments is presented by a comparison Of
assessments in the two states the last
two years. The railroad mileage in
Nebraska for 1901 was 1852 miles, as
sessed for $26,442, 254, or $4,679 per
mile, while the total railroad assess
ment for 1902 is $26.5s9,592, with a
mileage of 5,704 miles, or an increase of
so miles, which at $4,661.57 per mile
shows an actual decrease Of STAB per
mile or $97, 91S less in 1902 than in the
year preceding.
The total mileage of railroads in Mis-
souri, for 1901 was 1897 miles, assessed
for $112,673,9S6, or $14,6O5 per mile.
The total mileage of the Missouri rail
roads for 1902 is 1852 miles, or an In
crease of 125 miles, which, figured at
$14,605 per mile would have added to
the total value for 1902 $1,S25, 625,
making an aggregate Of STA, 499, 611.
But the Missouri board raised the as
sessment Of 1902 from $112,673 1886 to
$120, ST0,66S, or an increase of $S,107..
6S2, making the average per mile $16,.
COS. According to the auditor of Mis-.
souri, all property in that state is as.
sessed at one-third of its actual value,
while the ratio in Nebraska is about
one-sixth. Assessed by the Missouri
standard. Nebraska railroads would
average $8,002.50 per mile, instead OF
$4,661, and the total assessment of Ne
braska railroads would be $45, 724,429
instead of $26, $50, 592.
And yet the Missouri supreme court
declares that the Missouri board has
been derelict in its duty In assessing
the property Of the railroad, telephone
and telegraph companies away below
their true valuation as measured by the
price of their stocks and bonds. In &
nutshell the Missouri assessment o.
railroads at double the value placed
upon them in Nebraska is pronounced
intolerably unjust and the people O.
Missouri are given relief by their su
preme court.