The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-05
ANOTHER OBJECT LESSON.

ANU NJI'O In A>I>e-NSN'->'
Chairman John W. Peter, a tool Of
the railroad lobby. played the car at
the county assessors convention at
Spokane yesterday when he ruled that
motion to reconsider the vote of the
day before OH railroad assessments was
lost, although the vote stood 10 ayes
to IA noes. On Wednesday the conven-
ton voted to increase the valuation Of
railway trackage on first-class roads
II little over 500 mile. The votes
stood II to y, ten members being alb
sent or not voting. During the next
twenty four hours the ma ority of the
assessors began to hear from their con-
stituents by wire in favor Of a greater
increase in railroad assessments, and
when the convention met yesterday it
was found that the railroads had lost
their grip. In this emergency the
hartman was induced to make an ar
bitrary ruling declaring the motion to
reconsider the vote of the day before
lost. A few of the majority had the
courage to enter "a vigorous protest
ruling WAS allowed to stand. Assessor
| Bergman of this county was one of the
minority who voted to block further
increase in railroad assessments.
Whether or not his action Will be APP
| proved by the farmers and other tax
| payers of this county, who are taxed
on 90 pei cent of the true and full
| value of their property, remains to be
seen.
Spokane and back on free pass will
| not be regarded by the taxpayers as a
valid reason for his voting to exempt
| the railroads from paying their fail
share of taxes.
Some of the assessors have declared
their intention to act Independently
of the rule adopted by the convention
| and that they will assess railroads
on the same basis as other property.
The assessor of Kittitas county says
| he will make the rate in his county
$4,000 q mile for tirSt-claSS railroads
| and the assessor of Columbia county
says that in his opinion the rate should
not be lower than $4,000 Il mile.
1t is plain that the convention at
Spokane has been manipulated by the
railroad lobby and it seems that the
state board of equalization, whose
members attended the convention, are
| under the same baleful influence.
County commissioners throughout the
Estate are in most instances also hyp-
other favors by the railroads SO that
when acting as boards of equalization
| they do not alter the assessments Oh
railroad property made by assessors
lenjoying the free pass privilege.
! The action of the Spokane conVen-
ton will serve as another object les
son to the independent voters of the
state, demonstrating the imperative
| need of q complete revolution in the
| management of county and state at
| fairs The question before the voters
| is whether this state shall be governed
by the people or by the corporations
Since the admission of the state to the
Union the railroad lobby has been the
chief offender against honest and decent
government. 1t has corrupted public
officials. from county assessors anc
county commissioners to state officials
and members of the legislature. 1t has
dictated the selection of candidates fOl
the national house or representa- tives
and sold seats in the United State:
senate to the highest bidder. 1t ha:
held up needed Legislation by holding
its bludgeon over the heads of mem
bers of the states laWmaking body. l
has tratticked in appropria tons from
the state treasury in return for vote
against Il railway commission or an,
other proposed plan of regulating rate
and fares.
The people Will decide this yea
whether or not the king of Temple Fla
shall longer rule this state and max
its legislature a kissing and 2 byworC
The county assessors convention ha
only added t,1al 10 the flame Of pODul3
indignation that will sweep the stat
like a prairie fire next November.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS