Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-10-01

luo WOTlu vi ISpuDllCdn SoSSlAHuCut.
He can brighten its colors with his SUI
perior eloqnence, but let him touch it
| in disparagementi IL he 'dares.
Iowa is Law Abiding.
"There is no state in which the law
is more universally respected in,
which disorder is more rare, or in
which fewer crimes in proportion to
the population are committed than in
the state of Iowa. There is no state
in which the unfortunates have better
homes and hospitals than Iowa and
were it possible within the limits which
restrict me, would gladly lay before
this audience the gratifying results of
the superb work of our board of con-
| troll.
Aims in Education.
There is no state which makes more
! amply provision for the training of
| itc boys and girls than Iowa. We have
1881 common schools. with 29073
teachers and during the last year there
We're enrolled in these schools 560,173
boys and girls. We have a state uni
versity which has attained high rank
| among the institutions of learning and
which every year is adding new lustre
| to its reputation. We have a college
OF agriculture and mechanic arts that
leads the world in it's chosen field and
| We have normal school than which
there is no better in all the land
Stewardship of Money.
Our revenues are honestly collect
ed and honestly expended and while
uniformity of taxation has not been,
and probably never will be attained,
We approach 1t as nearly as any other
state in the union. Some comment
has from time to time appeared re-
specting the relation between the as
sessment of farms and railway proper
ty, and while l shall not enter upon
any argument respecting this difficult
subject. lay before you the facts
from which you can draw your own
conclusions.
Railway Taxation.
! In 1901 the actual value of the rail
way property, as ascertained by the
executive council was $1SS,2S5, O32. It's
assessable value was S47,071,25S.
In 1902 the actual value of the rail-
way property was fixed by the execu,
tive council at $205, 231, 800 and its as
sessable value at $51, 907 $50.
I'm 1908 it fixed the actual value OF
railway property at $226,166,052 and its
assessable value at S56.541, 513.
Comparing 1901 with 1903 the in.
crease in actual value is $37, SS1 900,
and the increase in assessable value is
/ $9,470,255. an increase of 20 ITO per
cent.
4 las you all know, the real property
| of the state, aside from added build
/ ings, is valued biennially. It's value
1 was ascertained on January /, 1901
1 and again on January 1, 1903. The
/ actual value of all the real property
in the state as equalized by the execu-
tive council on January /, 1901, was
/ S1,622,164,330, and it's assessable value
/ $405541 ,0S2. In 1902, as suggested,
/ there was no assessment of real prop
/ erty, and the executive council made
\ no change except to add the value of
4 new buildings. The actual value OF
Y all the real property of the state on
\ January L, 1908. as returned to the
i executive council, was S1,S64,364,56
Il The council accepted the opinions OF
the assessors with respect to the ag
i gregate value of the property, but
y equalized according to it's judgment
i as between counties. This equaliza
ton resulted in a slight increase ow
ing to the impracticability of using
fractions, SO that the actual value oil
all the real property in the state, as
I equalized by the council was $1,S66,
4 3S9,264 and it's assessable value $466,
I 597,316. Compared with 1901. the val
4 ue was increased Is per cent. The
executive council had nothing whatso
; ever to do with this increase excep'
to quote to the assessors the Law
which prescribes their duty and t.
, suggest that unless the law was OBJ
served an equitable equalization wa.
impossible. The average actual value
of farm lands in 1901 was $35.SS pc
acre. and in 1903, S4210 per acre.
trust that the good people of thi
state will not hold the executive coun
: ell responsible, although it would b,
! a burden easily and gladly borne, TO
: the wonderful and unexampled in
: crease that occurred between Januar,
/, 1901, and January 1, 1903 The eS
ecutive council during these tw
! years increased the actual value o
3 the railway property $37,SS1, 900, an
Z it believes that the railways ar
! now bearing, under this assessment
4 their just share of taxation. The stat
3 ment SO often made, that the execr
y tive council increased the assessmen
= of farm lands II per cent and railwa
c property 9 per cent, is false, and whe
/ made with knowledge, is malicious
J. 1t gives me pleasure to say that thos
I who have spoken for the Democrat
g party have not attempted to thus mis-
d lead the people.
Faithful Public Servants.
S while even this meager review c
/ the affairs of the state may hay
S wearied you, | could not forbear tn
a mention of conditions which, as the
d tappear to me, must commend republ
Q can administration in the state {
i, Iowa. OF my own part in these a
l. fairs for the last two years, other
J. must speak What have done, hav
it done openly, and what / have said
Q have said publicly; and it is for you
S enter whatever judgment upon m
e acts and utterances they merit.
d can, however, declare, without impr,
n priety, and l do SO with the utmos
,. pleasure and the sincerest conyictio