Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-13

COURTS MAY HAVE TO DECIDE
American and United States compa-
nies Demand Reduced Assessment
or They Will Appeal to the Courts
Hearing on the Railroads Is Com
pleted.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

Special 10 l1IQeS- -RcpuDllCdus
Des Moines. July 13.-The state exec
utive council disposed Of the matter of
railroad companies in shorter time this
year than for long time. Today they
took up other matters, and especially
express property. interurbans, and
freight lines. They came plump
against new proposition in regard 20
the assessment of express property.
Two big companies, the American and
United States, filed with the council
letters which indicate that unless the
assessment is reduced there will be a
test of the matter in the courts and
the Iowa assessment or Iowa law will
be knocked out. In both cases the
companies cite decision by the Unit
ed States supreme court rendered last
year, in which 1t was held definitely
that state cannot tax interstate bus
mess and that including property val
ues in other states in making pro
rata valuation on mileage in any one
ues In another state. Now the express
companies claim that when the Iowa
assessors make a prorata valuation,
including property in other states, and
especially real estate not used In the
business, in estimating the per mile
values. it is contrary to this decision
OF the United States courts. While
the companies do not directly say so
there is intimation in the letters fled
today that there will be lawsuit on
hand il the assessment is not reduced.
49,
Last year the assassu snt per mile on
these companies was increased from
$40 to $40 for taxation purposes, or
from $3.50 to $3.50 per mile. The AM
erican files now have computation
showing total valuation of the en-
tire company property to be $27,540.O00,
and after deductions there remains IN
the express business proper property
valued at $7,106.96S. A proportional
valuation would give 1866 as actual
value per mile in Iowa. But excluding
ocean mileage it is figured out at $53.
Al per mile. The company claims this
would be on property in Iowa valued
at actually less than $4,000. The
United States Express Company made
a computation showing actual value
of property per mile including ocean
mileage to be 1912 and excluding this,
s93.61. But the company would prefer
computing ten miles of ocean mileage
equal to one of land mileage and this
would give $55 mile as actual value.
These computations show something
of what the companies viii claim #
they go into court to have determined
the question Of the justice of the Iowa
assessments.
There are four express companies
doing business in Iowa which are as
sessed at $45 a mile on their mileage.
These are the American, the United
States, the Adams and the Wells-Far-
go. The Great Northern is assesse
at $40 mile and the Pacific at $50
mile.
w w. Baldwin, who was in the city
last evening, reported himself as highly
pleased with what was done at the st.
Louis convention. He denied, how
ever. that the press reports of what
in the Iowa delegation were
correct and states that Mr.. Wright was
not treated roughly. What Mr.. Wright
had DONE" said Mr. Baldwin, was to
ask the chairman OF the Iowa delega-
tion 10 make the announcement that
the delegation was divided. This he
refused to do and so MIR. Wright pro-
ceeded to make the fact known. He
did not say the things which were at
tributed to him but did denounce the
methods of the Hearst men in pushing
his candidacy. There was no i'll feel
ing aroused against Wright
Interest In the case of Collector Sam
mis- of the northern Iowa district has
been revived by publication of a let
ter to him from Commissioner Yerkes
of the general revenue office in which
he commends Mr.. Sammis for the man
ner In which the Office is conducted
and states that it is graded as No. l. |
The assertion has frequently been
made that the accusations of Former
Deputy Howe against Sammis are
merely hanging fire and that after cleo
ton they will be taken up again and
that Sammis will be relieved of his
Office.
The change of politics of the Chicago
Chronicle, or rather acknowledgements !
of the fact that the Chronicle is not q
newspaper, caused a little |
ripple on the surface of the political
sea here Judge Wade stated the dem
tr> ho },at ~ aini nj
that the Chronicle has come out at last |
and acknowledged itself to be republi-
can. 1t leaves Hearst's paper. how
ever. as the only one In Chicago that |
can be depended on to support the
ticket. Republicans are
not rejoicing greatly over the an
Some Investigation has been made