The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-10-22

OLYMPIA. oct 23.-That j. ID. Far
reII and the railroad bosses generally
made no mistake when they renomin-
ated Secretary of State Sam H.
Nichols and gave State Auditor John
ID. Atkinson the nomination for attor-
ney general. although he had not been
admitted to the bar. is amply demon
strated by the most casual reference
to the minutes of the last state board
of equalization which have just been
issued in printed form.
In the equalization of the assess
ments of the state the railroad inter-
ests were given very tender consider
alton by the board of which the two
candidates named are members. The
figures published in the minutes Of
the proceedings of the board show
that the valuations placed by county
boards of equalization on cattle We're
increased from $5,761. eos to $685.
OS5, an increase of approximately
per cent, that the values returned on
hogs We're increased from $2S6967 to
$29S,341. an increase of approximately
per cent, that the valuations re-
turned on wagons and carriages were
increased from $1.513.954 to $I.614.60O
an increase of approximately per
cent, and that the valuations on
watches and clocks were Increased
from $2163S4 to $301960, an increase
of 16 per cent.
In the very face of these significant
increases in the valuations of these
classes of farm and personal property,
and as if to. demonstrate beyond ques-
ton the source of the inspiration of
their action. the board lowered the
valuations returned on railroad tracks
and right of way from S2l,916,647 to
$20,0S7,S1S. a decrease OF approximate
ly s per cent.
Apologists in the present campaign
for the present method of valuing rail-
road property for the purpose of as
Sessment and taxation point with much
pride To the claim that railroads in
this state are now assessed at $1,000
per mile on their tracks and right Of
way. Reference to the official minutes
of the equalization board absolutely
overthrow and refutes this claim The
figures given by the board stand for
themselves. They show that there are
i'll the state 1892 miles Of main track
and 744 miles Of side track in the state
returned for purposes of assessment,
a total mileage of 4136. These rail-
road tracks were returned by the coun-
ty boards of equalization at a total
value. for tracks and right of way of
S21,9l6.641 or approximately $4,000 per
mile. Out of their tender regard for
the interests of the railroads the men,
bers of the board reduced these valua-
tions to $20,0S7,SlS or Approximately
1880 per mile, a reduction by the
state board on all the railroad tracks
of the state averaging approximately
$3.50 per mile.
In their arguments before the state
board the representatives of the rail.
road companies advanced the claim
mat although the assessment on theil
tracks and right-of-w way was low i
was greatly increased by their assess
ment on railroad personal property
For instance Mr. G. S. Fernald wht
appeared before the board in behalf O
the Northern Pacific said:
The addition to the property of tn
railroads which has been assessed an,
TO which | have referred. the Norther,
Pacific has. and the other roads ais
TO greater or less extent. a vas
amount of property which is assesse,
ana pays taxes which is not include,
III the figures l have given. This prom
erty. While not assessed as right of
way and track is in large measur
used IN connection with the operation
OF the road. as shops. shop grounds
docks. Warehouses and other propert
without which a railroad cannot b
operated. and the assessment OF tn;