Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-22
Suit of State Wide Importance
Begun by Cedar Rapids
Against Railways
MEANS INCREASE OF REVENUE
Action Begun to Force the Railways
to Pay Their Just Proportion of the
City's Taxes-clained Roads Have
Been Escaping Their Rishtful As
sessment.
Special to Times Republican

n
( tuted against the Northwestarn MIL
z waukee, Rock Island and Illinois Cen
, itral Railway com panies by the city OF
) Cedar Rapids thru its attorney. John
\. Hughes. II the suits are successful
the city will collect about $1,000. which
il Is alleged the railways should pay
over and above the amount of tax
which they are now paying
j Under the law of Iowa the valua-
ton per mile. or all railway property
i. the state is fixed by the executive
council reported by them to the audi
tor of each county. who in turn reports
10 the board of supervisors. which
body is by law required to report to
each town and city the number OF
miles OF railway within town ard
J city ana the amount of the valuation
as fixed by the executive council 1t is
/ interesting to note that In the fixing
OF the valuation per mile the executiv.-
council takes into consideration tn.
stations, roundhouses and all other
property owned by the railways, ana
the Northwestern, for instance. pays
on Just the same valuation for each
mile OF track between the Mtssfssippi
and Missouri rivers.
The city of Cedar Rapids alleges that
the board Of supervisors has neglected
g comfy WITH the law In that 1t has
never reported TO the city officials of
Cedar Rapids the nunlbe. of miles each
railway company owns Within the Inn
lis OF this city. together With the gross
Valuation, as determines by the state
executive council II Is alleged fur
ther that the county officials of Linn
county have, in the past. assessed each
Of the railway companies owning
trackase. etc Fl this city on the same
basis that county taxes are paid. {
VIZ on ohe-foui-th OF tfe actual valu-
tt.e'il Willie the Individual owners in
mis- city have been paving city taxes
81 the fun valuation Of their proper
ties
In brief. II IS claimed that thru the
alleged interference af the county /
board and county officials In a matter
with which Il has nothing 10 do excep; /
IS directed by LAM the city Of Cedar
Rapids has been losing ttst IS per cent
OF the amount which the railways
should pay IN taxes on their property.
within this city.
The railroads thru their attorneys
have all appealed from the daeIsion ~
the council.
on the first MONDAY os uar,b - a,a,,
year the executive council sh9ll aesers
I'll The property Of a,fb ,atl,,,,
in the state. inclnelinq er,.t
age aud eyer,.binr 9o,,.,, ~, -.
used by the section nan
Section 1895 proydss tbat saf, ,,
si4v shall be valued at ne act,,al ,ssI,,a
ana the assessments shall ha
On the taxable yalna nf tho a,,i,,. -
way within inc state ayce,,. 49,.
sis, provided ana shall, ,,,,,,,sa
light ofWay roas bns hr;a, ~,
,erts rolling stoc,- qa,,o+ -
ehons b,,ild;,o 80, -. j
md al o,he,. nrona,.t, ,.s,1 ~,
,ersonal. eya,,lsivalv ,,sas j., ~ e,a.a
ION of said railway In assasss,,.ls 80, ,
ailway and rs eo1,inmants go, -, !
II shall ta,,a intn eorsfsar,,+ia., ~, /
,ross earnings per nils fo,. ~ -
ndine lam nraeaii,. 49, q
ma All other nlatfa,s naoass.,.,. O
bIa s,i1 eoupcil :, ,,al,o t
ai,itatl., assess,,a,. ~ -, - 1,
,rope,.tv IF > no,t ~ 49,. ,;, 49,, :" -
gl,bent This st,fa ,ban !, aati,'.s..,. = f
he yaluA of 10 rolli,.v -. ia 'l.is II
hlta orona,.i,. ,ba,, si,,il -. L
LIBERATION tba ,,,.,,,o,.,ia, -, - ~ I
usjnass IF thar rortion 80 ,ha.,,. ~. 0
,ins uiti,i, no s,,.. - Il
,ess of tba rairu.a,, n,i+bo,,+ t,,ta 4
sartinn 1a2- s,ys s
5tb dav OF ,farcl, ~ aa1i, -. -. s
ounc,l sball trans,,it - ~ 80 ','e ii
,lj,,r ~ aa.t, ao,,,t, II
-hicb any rsil,ra, r,o,. 80
,ant sha,.i,,y 80 ,.ns,,, - ~. : A..s'
.acl1 Within tbe county nd
assaa value NO.. ,cila ~ 49, S
Mad by & ratable dtstrih,,tion 49, ,,i ~
T the assesssd valuation 80 ~ ,,.,l1,s
roperty. - - d
Section 1asc SAYS. al 10 d., III
,eetinr Of ,ha hoard of s,,,,e,.,,,sa,s b
ala affar sa54 statar,,s,, r.,.af,.,s ~. h
10 county anditor Il shan eo,s. ~ e
,r,e II he e,3t.,,..,, a., ~ n,i,',,ta 49, n
nd make AVA .ntar ,hera,n ~ o,.aar III
a,inp ,ha Iengtb of ma na3n t,ae.,. ST
"A tbe as..sayi ,.,f,,a ~ aat notl.,,N,. IA
no ia 81 citr ton.n toIvn..r;,, -. 81
sser taxing district ia j,s .onnt, 49,, a