East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-03-25

In the fight which Assessor Strain
Is making for 4 higher assessment for
railroad property he has evidently
struck home in Baker county, tudg-
ing from an interview with the as
SCISSOR Of that county, which appeared
in the Baker City Herald few days
ago. In 1t he was vehemently at
tackled Cor ssending a circular letter
to a number of citizens of that coun-
ty. When seen this morning and
asked concerning the letter and the
object of its circulation, Mr.. Strain
said:
"Yes, i have mailed out several
hundred letters to the taxpayers of
Baker county. 1t is my intention to
send this letter to the various rail-
road counties of the state. The peo-
pie of my own county and of the
other counties receiving this letter are
entitled to a candid explanation of
my purpose. We are having little
litigation in this county with the o..
r. e. n. They have given but one
important reason why their assess
ment should be cut. That reason is
that other counties have assessed the
o. h. & N. property at less than /
have done. All property should be
assessed at a uniform rate throughout
the state. This is especially true now
since the passage of the recent law
providing for pro rata diVi-
sion among the counties Of tax on
livestock, according to the time 1t Is
kept in each county.
Therefore, i'm order to accomplish
uniformity of valuations of railroad
property and of all property, one of
two things must happen: | must
either reduce my railroad assessment
to meet outside counties, or they must
raise theirs up to mine.
"The object of my circular letter is
to present my side of the case to the
people of the state. as well as to their
officials.
LET Them Meet Me-"
"If the assessor of Baker county, or
of any other county, thinks my as
sessment of $12.675 per mile is too
high, let him arrange public meet
ing between himself and me. If the
railroad people feel that l am mis-
representing them, let them meet me
before the board of equalization, or
before an audience of Baker county
taxpayers. In this way the people can
hear their own assessor, or the Off
cials of the railroad as well as my
self.
AS to the Herald article, am in
ha nHftnI hn {
spoken without due consideration, for
many of his statements are erroneous.
For instance, he says that the o. h.
& n. is now three years behind in
the payment of their taxes Sn Uma-
tilla county. The facts are that the
company is behind but one year. They
did not pay their 1903 tax, but it was
not collectable until March, 1904. The
1903 tax is now in litigation with the
county successful in the circuit court,
and the case will come up for settle
ment by the supreme court in May,
or about fourteen months after the
taxes were due.
"Then, again, the Herald article as
serts that the w. & G. r railroad ds
litigating its tax. But as a matter of
fact, that road has paid its tax prompt
ly both years in time to get the dis
count. The assessment OF the w. &
C. r. is $5940 per mile against s12,-
675 for the o. r. e. N. But the earn
ing capacity of the w. & C. r. is only
about $500 per mile, whereas that
of the o. r. & N. Is $4,000 per mile
Basis Should BE Earning Capacity.
I'm this connection 1 wish to state
my position in relation to the assess
ment of property, which is that Its
value should be measured by its earn
ing capacity. This policy will gener'
ally impose a light tax on new rail.
road or a new venture of any kind
and a fair equitable tax on well es
tablished nrof1table investments Thi,