Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-18
eur LETTER BOX
Reply to Manderson's Brief.

pany as attorney does not require that he
should be guilty of misstatement or misrep-
resentation either to the courts or at the
bar of public opinion. This assurance by
the general that he is disinterested and
truthful will carry weight in the public
mind. in his defense of the position of his
clients who pay him $1,000 or $4,000 per
annum for his valuable services.
The general states that the railroad prop
erty of this state was assessed in 1905 At
81, 1896 and in 1904 the same property was
assessed at s46.177,5eI, and that the increase
OF assessment in the year 1904 over that
of 1903 was IS per cent on the property Of
the Burlington railroad 1t would seem
that the increase on the property of all the
railroads of the state was but go per cent
instead of IS per cent Probably when the
general stated In the connection he did that
the increase of the valuation of the prop
erty of the Burlington was IS per cent he
did not intend to mislead the public, which
might inadvertently think that the prop
erty Of all the railroads of the state was
increased IS per cent and not that OF the
Burlington road only. But IT requires Il
careful reading by the casual reader to
prevent false impression IN his mind.
The general states that the other property
OF the state in 1903 was assessed at '16l,i13,-
1873, and in 1904 at SPAS, col ISL. being, as he
states, an increase of "a per cent In the
valuation of other property. BY our calcu-
lation the increase OF other property was
slightly in excess of 81 per cent in 1904 over
the assessment of 1903. but slight inaccuracy
upon the generals part should not be at
1 tributed to misrepresentation.
Perhaps the fact that the Burlington road
/ has been so active and powerful in state
politics and the selection of state officers
/ heretofore was the reason why its property
| was comparatively under-assessed prior to
/ 1903. and the state board found 1t necessary
/ in 1904 to increase its assessment IS per cent
whereas the assessment of all the railroad
! property of the state was increased only
692 per cent
! The general states that The inhamed
/ condition of the public mind that leads to
the denial to railroad of every right eX-
cept existence and would compel it to OPP
crate and yet have its revenues absorbed
by unfair and unequal tribute in the form
| of excessive taxation, while fixing rates OF
transportation that are practically confsca-
tory. results from the falsehoods and the
exaggerations of demagogues and time
servers who for purely selfish purposes mis-
lead their followers"
The state auditors report shows the
| gross earnings Of the Burlington road for
| the year ending December 81, 1902, were
Sl26 74,S3S.1.
| The general states that In 1903 the Bur
liustou road paid into the treasury ~
the state of Nebraska $4,000. which is
a little more than per cent of its gross
earnings for the year 1902. Its taxes were
a trife more than one-twenty-ifth OF its
gross income. Is it possible that the in
famed condition Of the generals mind
has lead him to denounce unfair, an
unequal tribute and excessive taxation, the
exaction OF only about 4 per cent, or one
twenty fifth of the gross revenue of the
railroad which he represents? The resi-
dents of towns and cities in this state
who have frequently paid from 10 per
cent to 10 per cent of the gross revenues
OF their properties for the different forms
OF public taxation to which they are sub
jected cannot fully sympathize with the
general in his denunciation of the taxa.
ton levied on the Burlington road. Ever
should the generals road pay in full thc
taxes levied in 1905 on it, the amount
as stated by him, would be but a trih,
over 5 per cent of the gross earnings Of
the road. which could not be considered
"confiscatory."
, The total amount OF stock Of the Bur
, lington road outstanding january, 1902
was SllO17,s0O. This stock was bought il
by the Northern Securities company or
a basis Of two dollars for one. which
would make the actual value of the stool
S32l, 49,, eco. The total amount of tn,
, mortgage debt of the Burlington system
at about the same time was sl45 los 900
This would make the total value of tn,
Burlington system sS6G589, 200. The tota
, number of miles operated was 1882, which
would give an average value of $45,S63 ;
per mile 1t is possible that the lines o
the Burlington in Nebraska are not wortl
the average value of the entire system
as considerable portions of the road III
in older and better settled states. bu
some of the other lines are newer an,
more poorly settled states. and the loca
rates in Nebraska are probably highe
than in the older sections of the country
so that the average value per mile i,
!, Nebraska would not be very much les
than the average value of the entire sys
9 TEN.
The general tells the public that one o
his roads in Butler county was assesse,
in 1904 at taxable value, $500 per mile
! real value, $3.50 per mile; the other wa
assessed, taxable value at $500 per mile
real value, S2,50o per mile. The averag
selling value of the entire system by IN
figures given above was s45. s6S q per mile
one-ifth of which would be s917265. an
all property has gone up since 1902 whe
6 the Burlingt ton was sold to Hill.
v The general says that since 1895 the aver
r age value Of farm lands in Butler count
}. has been at least $50 per acre" Is il no
possible the general is mistaken in thi
allegation? He has assured us he coul
not, and would not, wilfuIy misrepresen
e the facts. But it is the opinion Of thi
e humble citizen. who draws no salary fror
) a great railroad corporation. that Their
were very few acres in Butler county tina
could have been sold for $50 in 1855 Tn
great rise in land values had scarcely bt
gun at that time. In the spring OF l9i
r. We are of the opinion that comparativel
little land in Butler county was worth 81
y per acre, and even now, when the rougl
rocky, bluffy, pondy and otherwise IN
!. different land is considered. it may well /
doubted whether the average value {
e all lands in Butler county is $50 per acr,
ie Perhaps, it may be that the statement
made under oath by the county assessor
a Butler county and his deputies, base
upon a careful, actual inspection OF eac
lie parel of land in the county, are entitled I
:, equal consideration as to this matter wit
the allegations OF the paid attorney of IA
~ | road The assessor and his danut{aS g,ga ;