Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-02-27
Why RA,LaoAos FIGHT.


Of the county, and the county commits
sioners should equaiiEe its assessment
at once. Such unwarranted assess
ments ~ the one made on the South
ern can result In nothing less than
depriviug the county of the money
which the road would willingly pay II
II was assessed At anywhere near a
reasonable figure. II Ia just such
assessments ~ the one in question
that caused the nght against
the revenue law and necessi.
lated the calling Of an extras session
Of the legislature. It has also been
one OF the causes Of the house placing
a nat tax on mines ut their full cash
value, which later will result in the
closing down OF many properties and
leave Dolores and other mining coun-
ties In bankrupt condition.
The above Ia from the last issue Of
the Rico News, . rampant Democratic
fusion organ. consequently no one csa
accuse II OF being handled by alleged
Republican corporation managers. In
connection with the above Item in
AHO1Utf VoIt VI ttib pcPNt IN |" fNhSs'F
article showing the taxes imposed
upon the Rio Grandc Southern. along
with q review OF its earning capacity,
II 10 not necessary for US to review
the article, for II speaks for itself and
has not been denied by any one. In
the light Of theSe facts The Herald
asks in all candor--is II any wonder
the railroads are nshtIng the valun.
tions placed upon their property ?
Some keep saying; give 1t 10
them" Soak the darned corpora.
tions." etc. But there IL no use going
on In . blind manner. Tho quicker
the people understand the situation
the bcttsr. There are those among us
who seek TO misIead In order to curry
favor with voters. but reaction IL
bound to follow sooner or later. For
other corporations aasesscd for every
dollar that is right, but when we look
around and note the tax dodEing Of
such papers a. the Denver Ncws and
their policy OF hcapinr II on the rail.
roads. II makes one real weary. The
Denver Ncws thinks Il In popular TO
jump on corporations. and II caters to
this element A majority OF the pce.
pie have II In for corporations and the
News recognizes this and pursues the
policy Il DOES.
The News argues that railroads
should be aascssed upon the market
value OF stock and bonds. II this II
good logic. why should not the Den
yer News, q corporation under the
laws Of the state. be assessed on the
same principle The News pays 4
per cent on q million dollars. and yet
We md under sworn amdavit that tho
Denver E=ws returns . vaiution of
less than $4,000 on presses, linotype
machines, franchises. etc. Not only
does the Nevs violate the revenue law
In this regard. but In real valuation Of
tangible property. II owns presses
worth e7B.ooo. $4,000 in linotype ma.
chimes. TO say nothing Of the other
paraphcrnalia and Associated Press
franchise Nothwithstanding the
above the News swcArs to n valuation
OF less than S6s. 900. eIb. 900 OF this be
ing on franchise. leaving $4,000 worth
Of presses and an equal amount Of
tangible property IN linotype machines
and other accessories 10 20 In for
about o<o.0 900. and ~ before stated In
the light of these facts. tho News
keeps up its daily howl about railroads
escaping taxation.
Again. ~ heretofore stated In these
columns. who believes the railroad
valuation In La Plata county IL great.
or than all other property combined' 7
Let any one take time to 20 over the
tax records and SOC how other proper
ty II valued. Let them take the Stein
assessment. and there are many Just
like him. and then wonder why II ia
the railroads are kicking and are con
testing the matter In the courts. The
common law holds that equal taxation
must prevail. Under the returns In
La Plata county We believe kruschkc,
The Famous and other Durango inst.
tutions. along with many farmers.
can secure relief from the courts. The
railroads are going to nEht the pay.
ment, and Il II for this reason The
uCrD}o euu0ovUTh 70 tnruW y UtIe
light on the subject II the present
assessment holds the ID. 4 r. q. will
pay moro than ten per cent on It's
Grosa income and about z5 per cent
on net income. while the Rio 0randc
Southern viii PAY about 26 per cent
on Eross income. The Rio Gnnde
Southern will not be able to meet nxed
expenses in prosperous years.
Tho Herald IL not taking up the
hght OF the railroads. We have never
In person or by letter discussed the
matter with . single railroad oficial.
and have no favors TO ask. but It pays
to be honest, and not seek to mislcsd.
The Herald owes II to Thousands OF
city and rural readers to give the
facts and let the blame be placed
where II belongs.
And In the face Of this y fusion leg,
islature IL idling away time At an ex.
pense OF nearly $500 u day trying to
cripple other state Industries. having
something like sixty useless employees