The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-19
PLEAS OF The RAILROADS
REPRESENTATIONS BEFORE THE
STATE TAX COMMISSIONERS.
Most of the Corporations Want the
1901 Assessments to Stand-Execu-
tive Session To-Day.

"Let well enough alone" was the plea of
the corporation attorneys before the State
Board of Tax Commissioners yesterday.
Several of the big railroad systems doing
business in Indiana were represented be-
fore the board by attorneys or by their tax
agents and the representatives declared
with unanimity that the railroads should
not be assessed at more than the 1901 valu-
alton provides
the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg
were represented by C. G.. Law and S. o.
Pickens. The latter declared it was the
duty OF the board to equalize well as to
assess. Real estate has gone up in value
within the past few years, he said, and it
would not be just 10 the railroad he repre-
sents to increase its assessment without
doing the same to general real estate prop
erty Since real estate cannot be assessed
by the board until next year. Mr.. Pickens
asked that the assessment Of his railroad
be let alone until the time comes TO adj
vance assessments of real estate. The
Pennsylvania lines were assessed heavily
in the hard times of a few years ago, he
said, and it would be no more than fair
to equalize and let the assessment
stand as it is for the present The time to
Increase. he maintained. is when an in
crease can be made on all property.
For the Vandalia, John G.. Williams and
volney T. Malott appeared. Their prin-
cipal argument TO the board was that the
assessment on the Eel River road should be
reduced. Until recently the Eel River line
was owned by the Wabash but il was sold
TO the Pennsylvania. Mr.. Malott contend
Cd that the Eel River was a much more
valuable property to the Wabash than it is
TO the Pennsylvania 1t acted feeder
TO the Wabash, he said. In view OF that
fact, Mr.. Malot asked the board to make
a reduction on the assessment OF the nine
ty-four miles of the Eel River line. AS to
the Vandalia, both Mr.. Williams and Mr..
Malott argued that IL has always been as
sessed too high. The Terre Haute & Lo-
transport division of the line was assessed
100000 more than II sold for at competi-
tive sale in 1888. They did not make an
argument that the assessment on the Van
dalia should be reduced, but they informed
the board that the present assessment
should in justice be maintained.
In the afternoon representatives Of the
Big Four system talked TO the board The
Big Four has always been assessed too
high in Indiana, Joseph Moses said TO the
board, and ii would be no more than fair
IL the present assessment be continued.
John T. Dye presented figures showing that
the present assessment is too high If any
thing.
The rest of the boards time was taken up
In listening TO statements from l.. j. Kirk
patrick concerning the Kokomo Railway
and Light Company, in which George j.
Marott, OF this city, is heavily interested
The electric railway and the light plant are
operated together, Mr.. kirkpatrick said
and he believed that the former assessment
was made on the earnings of the light
plant rather than on the earnings of the
street railway The latter had not made
money. he said. and IL took the earnings OF
the light plant 10 keep both going. The
present assessment is excessive he argued
To-day the board will go into executive
session to grapple with the facts and fig
ures already presented by attorneys The
board will endeavor TO determine what
should be the proper assessment upon prom.
critics already represented before ii.