Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-10-19
Period
RepubIicanism VS.. Democracy.
> Decrease.


It will be seen from the records that it
was under Governor Larrabee that the
railroad assessments received their first
big raise, and that with increase of ia
per cent in mileage they got an increase
Of 3S.2 per cent in assessments.
Then came Governor Boies. who in four
years, with an increase of % per cent in
mileage, raised assessments only 81 per
cent,
During the next two administrations
railroad building was at a standstll and
values decreased, and the assessments
Iremained practically unchanged. the re-
adjustment making show of very slight
Production.
/ Then came an era of much railroad
Building, and in the four years under
EGovernor Shaw SIS miles were added to
] the railroad property assessed. With
f10.l per cent increase in mileage the In
crease In assessments was per cent
Larrabec and Cummins.
Under the present republican adminis-
Rkration, Governor Cummins and his re-
Publican associates on the executive coun-
Fell, upon q mileage which has increased
fhrt So per cent, have increased the as
Aeusments by 1924 per cent.
The increase Of assessed values under
Larrabee was $n, 955, 10, and under Cum
mins SIS. 265,9s7, which increase is more
Than as much as the total assessment
twenty-five years ago.
It was democratic governor Of Iowa
Ewho checked the tendency to Increase
railroad assessments, which tendency had
been so marked during the Larrabee ad-
ADMINISTRATION, and it remained for Gov
ernor Cummins to have the patriotism
sd fhn 90
iicies Of Larrabee and to compel the
Railroads to pay their fair share of the
taxes.
It was q democratic governor who the
drst time he got a chance at the rail-
road assessment reduced 1t $25 mile on
In average, who the next year raised 1t,
md again the third year he reduced 1t
Ind the fourth year he made still another
Reduction in the average assessment per
mile Under the republican adninistra-
ZION while Cummins has been governor
ehe average per mile has been increased
livery year, with total increase of 1884
per mile for his term.
Increase In Railway Taxes.
The increase in taxes actually paid by
he railroads in the state OF Iowa is
kuually marked. While the state eNecu-
I've council, an official assessing board
Consisting of the governor, auditor. treas
rer and secretary Of state. makes the
assessment of value on railroad and cor
oration property, the actual taxing IS
one by the local boards, the same as III
he case Of other property. But by rea-
on Of the increase Of valuation OF ran,
bad property by the executive coulc''
he railroads will pay, on the last assess
hent made, at least $2,244,129 In taxes
Scra than % per cent of which Is IN
buntv town, bridge, road. school and
kher local taxes.
Finder the last assessment Of the Bo:es
ADMINISTRATION the railroads paid In taxes
Iowa an aggregate of sl,35562o an
nally Under the last assessment be-
re Governor Cummins took hold they
lid S,623,496 A.,
under the five assessments by the
uncil over which Governor Cummlhs
resides. they have paid or will pay as
BLOWS: 1902, s1,S74.41s; 1903, s2,lA.s6S
81, 32,oe9 81; 1906. s2,o94.S46 1906. s2244lSS'
In other words, as the result OF the
Termination Of Governor Cummlns anu
= associates to make all kinds OF prop
ty bear their fair share OF the tax
krden, SO far as it was possible to so
ptermine. the Iowa railroads are no"
wing over 100000 annually more IN
xes in Iowa than they were when he
me into office, and three-quarters OF
llion more annually than they were as
only democratic governor we have
"a in Iowa left them.
State Tax Levles.
The democratic campaigners would have
voters believe that the tendency I'M
republican rule in Iowa In the past
years has been to enormously in