The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-11-05
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obedience to this sacred principle
But railroad managers disregard it
They stand on their vested rights and
assumed immunity. 1t is true that the
Ties and the rails and the land upon
wnlch these rest belong to the cor
poratlons. They own absolutely the
tramc facilities of your state. But the
rlgnt TO regulate this great monopoly
belongs to you. While you have given
TINS nrst away, you have reserved the
right OF taxation and control. This
monopoly is worth more than all vour
| school fund. 1t is source of wealth
almost inexhaustible. 1t affords an
everlasting stream Of gold. large
portion OF which belongs to Won nv
right OF franchise privileges granted
and which can be turned either into
public treasures or private pochets
Judge Turner preserved your schoo,
iands. Your equity in this traffic
monopoly Is worth vastly more than
| tnese and he now proposes to turn
the revenue arising from this into
your public treasures where It be-
longs. Heretofore railroads have
uooged your assessors on one hand
ana oVercharged you on the other. II
you would realize the extent to which
you have been buncoed by this double
game l refer you to Railway Statis-
ties for the year 1902, pages 90 to Sc
Inclusive. If your roads had to doa,
with the laws of the eastern and mid
Ole states they would find their traffic.
Nd f1,o;~.
led or trebled.
MY republican friend, they have
taken your pocketbook and your party.
Wnen they get your ballot they will
have your honor.
advantages Of Railroad Commission.
The testimony in favor of a state
BOARD composed of appointive men,
pers IS overwhelming Economists
and tax commissions all agree that
great corporations like railroads can
be justly controlled only by state au-
thOrity. Listen to the conclusions of
the Wisconsin tax commission. Here
is what they say: THE property OF
railroad companies should be valued
by state board of appointive officers
or requisite knowledge and approved
integrity with power to secure the
evidence necessary to a correct jude-
ment of the value of each railroad
operated within the state" Here is
the testimony of John r. Commons.
secretary taxation department national
CIVIC federation. In speaking Of the
INDIANA commission he says: In the
nrst year of its organization the In
diana board raised the assessed val
uat1on OF railroads within the state
from $69,O0O,OOO to $3.50 000 900. In
1898, the legislature extended the orig
mai jurisdiction of the state board to
express companies and telephone and
telegraph companies. and in 1901 to
last freight and sleeping car COM
panies."
Below follows the assessed value ner
mile of some of these vreperties i'm
Indiana:
Adams Express company IS 1880
American Express company. 45OOo
Western Union Telegraph
(per mile of wire) . 57Oo
Chicago and Erie r. R.. 2525O 90
n. Y. c. and st. l.. r. R.. "a 5O0 no
r. w. &" and st. L.. AZ ,0OO. 90
r., ri. w. and Chicago ..... 64,50O.O0
Here is the testimony from Illinois.
Inc average valuation per mile for
assessment purposes in the state of
illinois upon railroads is $41.125. The
average net earnings of these roads
is but $500 per mile against $4,000 for
the .. r. & n. and the Great North
efn and $4,000 for the Northern Pa
chic Using this net earning capacity
as basis of valuation an assessment
of $4,000 per mile here upon Your.
principal roads is no more unreason-
able than $4,000 in Illinois,
Railroad taxation reaches it's clinax
IN the state of Connecticut and Mas
sachusetts. where the average tax per-
mile is $1,000 and s14O1 respectively.
In the face of all these facts it costs
more to travel or transport goods here
than it does in other sections of the
United States. Whether or not Wash
ingtOn shall follow the examine Of
those states seems to an outsider the
real issue of this campaign. If YOU
desire to affirm this proposition cast
your ballots for candidates who will
create railroad commission. with
power to demand the books of cor
pOratlOns, to summon witnesses, pros
ecute and otherwise compel them to
reveal the true value and earnings of
their business. And when this is all
done you need a governor who will
appoint men of ability and character
to serve as members of that commits
sion.
The democratic party of Washington,
stands for equality. The republican
majority desires to do the same thing.
But the railroads have captured the
republican monkey If you would al
low them TO rake the chestnuts out of
the IRE with your ballots, give your
vote TO their monkey next Tuesday
But II you would maintain the dignity
and honor of your state cast your bal
lots for men and measures of un-
doubted merit