Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-16
CORPORATION ASSESSMENTS.

few years, owing to low valuation
placed on same by the fusion admin
istrations No one can blame cor
porations for cndeavoring TO secure
low valuations. That IL their bust
ness. but how about the men elect
ed to office to carry out the VIII OF
the people and the laws of the statey
This brings us up to the revenue
measure which ia causing so much
disturbance In the Affairs OF state
Under It's provisions the corporate
property of the state was Increased
out OF proportion according TO the
views OF the railroad officials. and
this view is concurred In by many
who want 10 be fair. OF course, We
find calamity papers and organs that
cover up their own tracks. bowling
about corporations and urging that
they he assessed out of their boots
The leader OF this class of papers
is the Rocky Mountain News, which
day after day urges the taxing OF fran
cbises and all property upon cash
basis, especially that OF railroads
street car lines and other big con
Germs a little comparison VIII not
be nmIHs The News. which is such
stickler for Increased valuations
is valued by Its owner nj something
near million dollars. 1ne paper
IL probably paying ten per cent on
million dollars. or at least six to
eight per cent. Reducing the val.
uation TO onc-half-to 100000, ac-
coridng To The News own arguments.
its asscsBed valuation should be the
above figure. But giving the paper
every benefit OF the doubt, suppose we
again cut the valuation In two max
ing It $3.50. 900, and let us ask every
fairminded individual II It snould not
be assessed at the latter 1guref The
Newn company IN incorporated un'
der the laws OF the state of Colorado
and In therefore corporation. the
same as n railroad.
Now, what are the true facts con
cerDing Tho News assessment? Al
n session of the state board of equal
ization Friday last It was brought out
that The News assessment was In
the neighborhood OF 32l 900. Holy
smokc' ls II any wonder the rail
roads are kicking7 IL II any wonder
they would not stand the burden
placed upon them by such papers a.
The News, when the papers assess.
msnt ls less than Ave cents on i.s val
uationY There are no doubt thou
sands OF similar Inconsistencies. aud
we believe the facts win bear us out
that those who are bowling the loud
aaf nhnut gnrnnratfpna mr.. nj NIL tt,naa
using both ends of the line TO get In
their own work, The assessment of
The News Is plain how that paper es
capes. But n II was 100000 or
$4,000, II would still be out of pro
portion TO the value according to the
way other property In assessed. We
have another illustration In la Pla.
Ia county. The loudestmouth rag
In the state against corporations IL
The Durango Morning Democrat Its
columns are filled daily against the
cxtortion OF the ID, a II. O., and while
nyins under such colors. schemes to
loot the county, and also refuses 10
pay taxes, even upon low valuation.
there being two years taxes. 1sD7-gS,
standing against the concern Thus
We have fair samples OF papers that
see nothing good In corporations
Again. who believes that the value
OF railroad property in La Plata coun-
~ liz greater than alI other property
combined? We rail and howl about
high freight and passenger rates and
then turn around and say that the u.
r. q. must pay taxes In this coun.
~ alone amounting TO over sTt 900,
Is 1t any wonder the company is kick.
ing and Is lighting the revenue law
and VIII carry such assessments into
the courts N the state board follows
the same lines as laid down by the
thirteen assessors7
Some Will say The Herald is cater
ing TO the railroads. Not In the
least We are only analyzing the
matter in common-sense manner and
placing II before the people In way
they can figure II out for themselves.
The Denver A Rio Grande should pay
every dollar that is proper. II has
escnped too lightly In the past The
state board OF equalization has truck.
led to railroad interests In the past.
and as tax-paying community we
have suffered Corporations have
rights that must be observed. howev,
er. or they are going 10 fight for the
same In the courts--even disregard
Ing such papers as The Rocky
Mountain News and The Durango
Democrat. both being fine specimens
to make odious comanent-The News
stock is paying good dividends on mil
lion-dollar valuation. and in turn is as.
sessed only little over s2i 900 I'm
I'll such Inconsistencies are remedied
there Is going TO be strife and tur
moil. and the railroads are going to
night for their rights.
Think II over. reasonable men and
women. All The Herald desires is
'airness and letting the people know
he true facts. II we could we
would like to have the railroads pay
III the taxes. We would shove our
hare upon them. and there are many