Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-14
Work on Tax and Assessment
Problem Shows Necessity
For Important Changes
STRIKE WAS uNlmpoRTANT
Recent Trouble at Independence State
Hospital Involved Half of Male At
ndants-Pain Statement of situa-
tion in Regard to Wases-Postmas-
tership at Winterset Still Vacant
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines. July 14.-Several things
are now already very plain in regard
to the great tax and assessment ques-
ton In the state of Iowa this year,
among them the following:
The state tax levy will be reduced
from that Of last year despite the wa1
tax refund.
The real estate and personal property
assessments will be equalized on basis
probably showing an increase OF IA or
Is per cent
The railroad assessment will be In
creased probably half as much.
The state educational institutions will
get upwards of $4,000 more per year
than they had anticipated.
The state executive council has gone
deep enough into the matter to indicate
already that there need be no distinct
lowering of assessments, but on the
contrary the appreciation in value of
all classes OF property demands an In
creased assessment. It Is true that
representatives Of counties are before
the state officers making showing In
favor of reduction Of assessments, and
after listening to the talk Of these men
one could not be blamed for moving
right out OF state so badly handi-
capped with waste land and so COW
cred with distractions to good farming.
1t is simply appalling to think what a
very poor state Iowa is and the only
wonder is that farm lands sell at all.
But the executive council is somewhat
familiar with the special pleadings that
are put up by those who are being as
sessed and as the assessors have re-
ported an increase in land values this
is certain to remain. There will be
some equalization but no great reduc-
,tion. The fact that land values We're
put up, by assessors, over 100000, 600
actual %alue and town lots over $685.
100000 and personal property in like
manner, Will make 1t impossible for the
council to avoid again putting up rail-
road assessments to some extent. With
land assessments raised about IA per
cent railroad assessments may be ex-
pected to go up at least half as much.
which would mean an increase OF sS,-
100000 in taxable value as against a
raise Of $4,500.000 last year. In fact
such raise would not be more than
the increase in value by reason of
added property. So 1t is regarded as
certain there will be this increase or
more in railroad assessments.
The returns Of the county auditors
on assessments OF property in 1902, af-
ter all corrections were made and
equalizations done with. showed that
taxes We're levied on total Of prop
erty-taxable value-as follows: Real
ty. $41o.lS7,7s3: personally. s109,16S.
67s: railroads, s51,570.242; express.
s3s5.Ss5; telegraphs and telephones,
s1.545,sO3; total. s572,S40.391. On this
valuation for assessment purposes the
state obtained on a 3.5 mill state levy
the sum OF $2.007,326 The state legis-
lature had directed that the levy be
fixed to secure $2.300.000. but the coun-
Gil considered the war tax refund and
tried to get about $2,Go0.0OO. The
returns from assessments show an in
crease in real estate of $200,000,000l
real value or $50,0o0,000 taxable value,
and on town lots $36.000,00O increase
or $9.000,000 taxable value. It is
computed that with this increase
in the two items mentioned and an in
crease in personal property and rail-
roads and telegraphs and the addition
of some new items the total taxable
value of the state will be put up to
s65C. .o00.0 600.
The legislature directed that for this
year the council should fix levy that
will yield s2,00o.o0O to the revenues
re fha will he No
refund to consider this time. The levy
may therefore be about 80 mills instead
of 3.5 mills. There is, however, we'll
filled treasury and the council may con-
slider this and levy only 81 mills, so
that a little less than the $2,000,000 Will
be realized, inasmuch as it set the pre-
cedent last year of taking into con-
sideration the condition OF the state
treasury.
If the levy should be 3.2 mills and
the valuation as indicated above the
permanent levies OF the three state ed
ucational institutions would yield to
those institutions approximately s40.-
600 a year more than was anticipated
by the legislature when the levics were
fixed.
Tomorrow the railroad companies
will be heard on the question OF their
assessments. Last year thsir chief
argument was to the effect that as
land values were very low. the sssess-
:nen.s being not over II psi aeut Of
actual values. the railroads should mo-
be assessed az actual vas'les. CT taxed
at 25 per cent as required by law. Their
arguments prevailed and taa Increase
made was only nominal. Tais ysar the
lawyers who made the arguments o.
last year will not appear but other
representatives. pf the railroads are mere
and viii make new arguments along
different lines. Nearly all the rail-
roads will be represented
The recent strike" at the state hos
pital in Independence where eighteen
of the male attendants made demand
for increase of wages and threatened
to walk out. and they and one other
were ali discharged, was q matter of
little consequence. Those affected were
only about half the male attendants
at the hnsnital. There are. III fact