Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-08-08
Montana Leads in the Railroad Fight

Montana Leads in the Railroad Fight
Just at time when our people most
need precedent to strengthen their
backbone in dealing with the prob.
lem OF forcing corporations to pay
their legitimate share of the burdens
uf local and State government, the
Board OF Equalization OF the State OF
Montana comes along with an act
which clears and paves the way for a
radical policy Of reform. On the lst
instant, that body by vote Of 3 TO 2
Grating in the State from $4,000, 900,
last years basis, to over $4,000, 900
for the current year.
This was the result of persistent and
determined appeals from citizens, as.
SCISSORS and others, that the railroads
he assessed at fair rates, taken from
their own valuations when made the
basis for rating OF stock and an equ.
able value when compared with other
property. The increase is from about
$4,000 per mile to $4,000.
A short time ago, when the Great
Northern, the Northern Pacific and
the Burlington were entered as oppo-
nents OF the Northern Securities Com.
pany, they were rated at $4,000 per
mile, and the Oregon Short Line Sc.
cured an issue of bonds, lately, on pre-
cisely those figures, notwithstanding
each OF those companies had its rep.
resentative before the Board OF Equal.
ization urging that the roads be cut
to q valuation of $4,000 or $1,000 per
mile, about the rate that our State
and county officers have been browbeat
into allowing here, with a still farther
rake.of for ready cash.
That there is not the slightest injus-
tice done the railroads by this appar-
emily excessive increase, is shown by
the fact that the profits of the COM
panies afford o dividend of seven per
cent. upon the valuation placed upon
their stock for all other purposes ex-
cept taxation. Whatever may have
been the condition of the railroads o
few years ago, they have become minis
of wealth during these golden days of
trust domination. Take for example
the business of the little station in
this city last month, which aggregated
$4,000 for tickets sold and about $685..
600 for total amount of business done,
and one may be able to form some
idea of the immense revenue that rail-
roads earn.
The Board of Equalization Of the
State, leading off in the good work,
stands: Governor Toole and State
Treasurer Barrett (Democrats) and Au-
ditor Calderhead (Populist), who fav.
ored the raise, and Secretary OF State
Hays and Attorney General Jas. Don
ovan, Fusionists, who opposed that
action.
A WOMAN in Missouri lately sent q
$50 bill to Harris, Gates & Co., of New
Yoak, with a request that it be invested
so as to realize $500 within specified
time to enable its owner to pay for a
trip to California. She said in her
letter that she had surreptitiously re.
moved the bill from the family Bible,
between the leaves of which it had
been placed by her husband, who had
proposed to deposit it later in saw.
ings bank. The woman had evidently
read Of the millions that the firm is
credited with having made in the corn
deal. Hers is not the only request Of
the eort that has been received by
Harris, Gates & Co. lately, and they
don't want to establish precedent by
paying $500 for $40.