The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-04-05
RAILROAD ASSESSMENTS IN THE STATE.
Missouri's Record Compared With That of Illinois,
Iowa and Kansas
BY OUR SECRETARY OF STATE, SAM B. COOK
Interesting Facts for Taxpayers Showing Which Party
Discrimnates in Matter.

Secretary of State Sam B. Cook
makes a comparison of railroad assess
mentS in Missouri with the assess
ment of this class of property by the
republican states of Illinois, Iowa and
Kansas the subject of the second
chapter of his political handbook.
The figures which are taken from
the official records make specially in
teresting reading for taxpayers.
The charge is made in each cam
p aign, says Mr. Cook, by hired repub-
lican stump speakers that the state
board Of equalizatian which is COM
posed Of the governor, secretary of
state, auditor, treasurer and attorney
general, in discharge of their sworn
duty discriminate in favor of corpora
tionS in fixing assessments.
This is a serious accusation, and If
true should drive from public life
every man who is thus faithless to
public trust
Let us look at the records and see if
the charge is true. The democratic
party challenges comparison Of rec
ords on this important subject as well
as in all other matters pertaining to
the conduct Of state affairs.
What are the factsS
THE REPUBLICAN RECORD.
The record show that during the
six years the republicans were in
power In Missouri, the railroads were
permitted to escape taxation alto
gether
Taxes we're high in those days
The people were sorely embarrassed
to meet the demands of the state, but
these great corporations were permit
ted to go scot-free.
Not a republican newspaper nor
republican orator has ever had the
fairness to mention this chapter ir
the history of their party nor the
courage to attempt an explanation o.
such gross official favoritism.
THE DEMOCRATIC RECORD.
Now let us look at the democratic
, record.
The assessment Of railroad propert.
in Missouri has steadily increased un
der democratic control until it reached
last year tottl Of s82, 765, l25. 20
This is exclusive Of street railway
and railroud bridges, which swell th
, total to SllO, ATS 81!
From nothing under republican rul
! to over $50, 600, 900 under democrati
management is the record the repub
lican party managers must face.
The railroads Of Missouri, including
all branch lines, nov bear an ayerag
assessment Of 8ll 43O per mile. Cel
tainly If Missouri's democratic ofiicia
!, have been faithless in assessing raj
: roads, our intelligent and solicitor
! republican friends can point to som
: republican state which would serve
! an object lesson in well doing.
IN COMPARED WITH REPUBLICAN STATE
n Missouri is bounded on the eas
}, north and west by republican state
d Many of our railway systems trayer
is all four Of these great states. Mi
ID Souri certainly has none the best
d either in railroad development.
id comparison of the four states, ther
n fore, gives the relative merits of the
Irrespective assessments.
le The official figures for 1900 NAL
st the following showing;
or Illinois, per mile IS ~.
70 Kansas, per mile 6,S
u Iowa, per mile 49,
ol Missouri per mile ,.,.. ia
So if democratic Missouri has be-
% faithless in the assessment Of ra
~ roads, what is to be said Of republics
- Illinois, where the valuation per mi
~ ~ is SO, 7O4 less, or Of republican IIanss
~ where the valuation per mile
e s4, $50 less, or Of stalwart iepublici
er Iowa, where the valuation per mile
= s6, 440 less?
:. coMPARsoN OF MAIN LINES.
But this is not all. While :
average assessed value per mile,
Guiding IN branch lihesr ia Atia'o'