Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-11

nation has yet attained. England
alone, maintains this system.
,Fhe real question, not SO in my
election but in the whole of the coming
is, will you install in power
a party that proposes this radical re-
volution in our economic institutions. |
don't believe it is suited to the United
States, and | don's believe you think
it should be adopted, and want you
to see the difference between it and
the change that ought to be made to
make the schedules right"
The speaker then took occasion to
cite as supporters of the theory he ex-
PLOTS, two men high in the councils
Of the republican party, Senator Will
liam B. Allison and Secretary William
H. Taft, and read from their speeches
to confirm his statement. Proceeding
he said:
A Trifle Foggy.
81 mention these things simply to
dispel some of the fog that has arisen
in this state with regard to this mat
ter and with regard to my views on the
tariff. There are some republicans
who believe that the duties should not
be disturbed there is second class
who believe that some of the schedules
should be changed. not now, but when
the time IS propitious; there is a third
class who believe that those schedules
should be reduced as soon as possible
without injuring business conditions.
We are all good republicans and we
all stand together on the doctrine of
protection.
"Mr. Porter apparently believes that
| have not been faithful to the inter
ests of the people of Iowa in my work
as a member of the executive council.
If might reveal personal condolences,
think could show you that his views
of this subject Is but a recent one. AS
governor of the state have nothing
to do with the railways directly except
to fix the values of their properties for
the purpose of. taxation. have moth
ing to do with the levying Of the taxes
but as member of the executive coun-
Gil am responsible for the valuation
of the railway properties in the state
and if / have not done. my duty in this
matter, it is right that you should know
it.
Five years ago when I became gov
ernor of the state all of the railroad
properties in Iowa was of the value of
S1S8, ,032 as fixed by the executive
council in the year before my install
lation as governor. The taxable value
or one-fourth Of the actual value was
$47,O71,258 On that valuation the
taxes were levied in 1901. In 1906 the
actual value of the railroad properties
in the state was s249,348, 796. do not
claim the credit for that increase
alone. I have been one of council
composed Of four people. believe
each one has tried to do his part and
as result there has been an increase
in railroad valuation in Iowa amount.
ing TO $61, 063,764. have been in.
strumental, at least, in raising the val
ue of the properties more than SOL,
| 100000 and the taxable value $15,265,
941. The average tax paid by railroads
is about 4 per cent and therefore the
railways are paying more than 100000
a year in taxes, more than If the valua
| ton had remained as 1t was in 1901 ;
and it had not been increased for ter
! years before that time save as added
mileage increased 1t. / don't wonder
that the railways think they had rather
try an experiment with some one else
as the assessor of their property"
Here the governor cited figures
showing that the taxable value Of the
railways in WapeNo county has beer
increased from $e1s,363 In 1901 Il
! s901, 4Sl il the present year, an In
! crease Of nearly 100000. The milage
4 he said, had been increased from To-
4 to 115 miles and as the average assess
ment per mile is about $4,000 he de
clared that he has helped to give t.
4 the people of this county about 1925
i 600 as basis for taxation. He state'
4 that he produced these facts not a
j evidence that the people should vot'
4 for him but as an answer to Mr.. Poi
4 ter in his errors in computation"
I 81 am entitled to fair play" said tn
4 governor, "and intend to have ii"
), Increase of Expenditures.
The remainder of the governor
speech was brief discussion Of tn
statement by Mr. Porter that the valu
of farm properties has increased dul
ing the last five years along with valu
of railroad properties. The speake
cited figures showing that the increas
as to farm properties has been 10.
PEI CSlI do COupdIeu Will OFT pe
cent, the increase in the valuation c
railroad properties.
Answering the charge made by hi
: opponent that the expenses of the stat
3 for the last five years have shown
! heavy increase he speaker gave a
!. accounting of the appropriations mad
! by the legislature although he state
Q that as governor he is not responsible
= for these appropriations. However, b
7. declared that he did not want to shiel
: himself behind that fact as he knew {
4 no appropriation made In the last fiy
: years by the general assembly thu
. should not have been made. He CAV
/ as the reasons for the increase in til
r expenses of maintaining the instit'
y tons now under the board of contro