Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-04-19

ton in effect at the time Of shipment,
and deducted from gross earnings be-
fore reported for taxes. This is in
dicafed below as repayment to ship
pers;" and also to see if proper
division of earnings from the operation
Of the roads in Wisconsin have been
reported for taxes This is indicated
below as Ssother earnings not re-
ported"
Results:
$67,923.O7 in Taxes Due the State.
1902 Chicago and Northwestern
Repayment to shippers -. 1854. 076.03
Other earnings not reported 53,61452
Total S137, $50 80
1902 Chicago, Milwaukee and ST.
Paul
Repayment to shippers. -. 251, S85 90
Other earnings not reported. 1886. S75 OF
Total ................... S633S, 700.95
1902 Chicago, st. Paul, Minneapolis
and Omaha
Repayment to shippers. 49,. 167. $50 65
Other earnings not reported 100000
1902 Minneapolis, ST. Paul and Saul
Ste Marie Z
Repayment to shippers. -. 94,763.25
Other earnings not reported SO. 331 .33
Total ................. .Sl4S.094.5 %
Grand total. ......... 81 sos, O76. 10.
AT per cent. there would be due the
state in taxes on this amount SGT $685.
OF. The accountants assure me a
checking oyer or review of the work
given will increase rather than dimin-
ish the amounts as submitted in their
reports to this office.
Admitted by One Railroad.
Since this investigation began, one
OF the roads included in this report
has filed it's annual statement Of gross
earnings for the year 1908 An exam
ination Of the books of the company
Tor that year now in progress shows
that it restored to it's gross earnings
account, before making its sworn state
ment, to the state for 1903, vouchers
for rebates to shippers representing
various classifications of refunds. THIS
railroad company has by it's action re-
garding gross earnings for 1903, there
fore, practically admitted the claim of
the state to have these rebates incor-
porated in the report of gross earnings
upon which taxes should have been
paid
This report embraces no deductions
from gross earnings on account of re-
funds or rebates on mileage books,
special passenger rates, or free pas
sage or mileage books issued, for the
reason that the Chicago, Milwaukee
and st. Paul company has refused ac-
cess to the books containing these rec
ords, and because this branch of the
work has not yet been reached by my
experts in the offices Of other COM
panies.
Shippers Who Get Rebate.
This office is in receipt of informa-
ton giving the names and addresses
of shippers who it is claimed are get
ting rebates regularly. Many of these
names do not appear on the account
ants reports. l believe this informa-
ton reliable and that the scope of the
investigation must be broadened to
cover the entire field, and that it is
the plain duty of this department to
continue this investigation until all the
facts pertaining to the earnings of the
railway companies have been fully Sc
cured.
Enclosed will be found copies of
statements made by accountants to
this department, giving all the facts
as to rebates made to shippers and
other earnings not reported, as Ie-
Quested.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN W. THOMAS,
Railroad Commissioner.
To Push Investigation Further.
The report made by the railroad
commissioner does not include the ex-
animation of the Wisconsin Central's
books, which has not been completed,
and it only goes back two years. It
is startling showing and proves
every assertion which Governor La
Toilette made in regard to the pay
ment Of rebates, and justifes in every
particular the message which he sent