Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-10-01


the speeches of the democratic candi-
date for governor respecting my sim
certify in speaking and dealing with
the railway companies of the state. /
have tried to do nay duty toward them
without fear or favor. | confess that
1t astonishes me somewhat to observe
that a gentleman so high minded, and
ordinarily so fair, as Mr.. Porter, should
fall into the errors committed by the
railway companies themselves in their
preliminary campaign against me. he
devotes much space to the assessment
for taxation of the railways; and while
he does not so intend. there is not, L
thinks a single truthful conclusion to
he drawn from either his statistics or
his statements. He first intimates
that, somewhere or somehow, l have
claimed all the credit for the increase
in the assessment of railway property
during the last five years. If he can
discover letter or a line emanating
from me that even suggests so UNI
worthy a sentiment. | will freely ac-
knowledge myself to be as unfit for the
office of governor as he believes me
to be; but l challenge the production
of anything that the hottest political
rancor can perVert into such sug-
gestion. One who can press so tainted
an insinuation into his service has
little regard for the truth and less for
the Intelligence of the people.
Again. in order to disparage me. he
instances the assessment of the Des
Moines Union Railway Company, say
ing:
"Will anyone for moment contend
that the Des Moines Union Halfway
with an assessed valuation oil ABOUT
s225. 900 last year for eighteen miles OF
track. and for which the governor, IL
NOT now. was formerly director ana
general counsel. is not worm az leas.
double that amount?
Let us see how the Des MONIES Un-
ion Railway Company mas lareu at
the hands of the executive counch our
ing the last five years. FIRST III mas
four miles of main track, ana unoer
the law it is main track only that can
be assessed In 1901, the assessment
of the Des Moines Union Railway
Company was $1s5.c00. '" 1906 1t was
$500. 900. The assessed value is one
fourth of the amount which is determ-
med upon as its actual value: there
fore the actual value of the four miles
az Des Moines Union railway track
WITH the accompanying sidetracks, is
ii oOO 400 He asks If the properly
he not worth more than double s2zo,-
900. reply that the executive couheli
has found ii TO be worth more than
five times $225,0oO.
~, thinOC SHOW lHs
shirt which animates my opponent IN
reviewing what have done or helpsa
to do with respect to the taxation %. Oh
railway property. The truth IS easily
made known 1t is matter or pupi'c
record. and cannot be the SUBJECT Oh
dispute. -,
When I became governor. the actual
value of all the railways in the stare
as fixed by the executive council IN
the wear 1901, was s1SS,2S5,O w. Ere
taxahIe, value which under the law is
o,e-fourth the actual value, was s4b-
OIL .e5S AT the present time, tile ac-
tual value of all the railways III liis
state as fixed by the executive couiieii'
in 1906, is 9.34S, 796.oO, and the TAXI
HE value s62,337, 1919. During my aa-
ministrations, therefore, the actual
value of the railway property mas peeh
Increased s61,O63,764, and the taSaple
valra s15.265.941. This means that the
various taxing districts of the state are
now Lowing their taxes on Slo,zo2,94i
more than they were In l9ol, anu %
the average rate OF taXatloli 10 SUI
stantially per cent, 1T furlhef iiieo"'
that the railway companies are pay
ing substantially 100000 more III VAN
90 than they would have pald hau la-
valuation remained as it was In l9ol
n will be interesting, l am sure, 10
note the increase upon the railways as
tbev existed in 1901. for there mas peeh
some mileage added to the railway
nronerty of the state in these years
The new mileage since 1901 is OF the
actual value, according to the assess
ment. of $S,311,S $4,000, with taAaple
value of s2,077,956.00. We there1ofs
have increased the taxable value OF 1hs
mileage as it existed in 1901, S13, 1856
oes nm II will be remembered that the
nowor of the executive council is eX-
hausted when the value of the railway
nroperty has been fixed. II mas iio.h-
ing whatsoever to do with the leVylis
of taxes upon the valuation. IL is oo-
vious. therefore, that If the council mas
perfor,ned it's duty with respect TO the
valuation, even If it is to be Houteu
and sneered at, it at least deserves tiie
truth. and 1 wonder why MIR. Porter.
with the records open before him, dld
NOT avail himself of the information.
I take the liberty of asking him
question. Do you think, Mr.. Porter,
that the railway property of this state
is worth more than $249,S4S, $4,000, and
if more. how much more? l must pro-
mound one further query. The average
actual value of the farms in the state
for the purposes of taxation is $40
AZ per acre. Do you think they are
worth more. and if so, how much
more?
When 1 became governor, the aver
are actual value of farms in this state
for the purposes of taxation was $S5.SS
per acre. That value is now $40.4 per
acre-an increase of 1913 per cent. Inc
increase in the assessment of railway
property has been 32.4 per cent.
This generous rival, who finds Moth
inc whatsoever to commend, in any
thing I ever did or said, suggests that
nv zeal for all increase in the assess
ment of railway property began only
when I became candidate for another
nomination. To ascertain the truth,
YOU have but to again consult the rec
ords Of your state.
The first assessment of railway pro-
pertv made by the executive council
after / became member resulted in a
taxable value of s51,3o7 $50 an in
crease of more than 100000 above