Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-05
.GUNM|NS AND The
TAX SITUATION
Attempt to Show Governor
Cummins Has Been Cause of
Higher Taxes Falls Flat
THE FIGURES ARE GIVEN
Increase in the Railway Taxes Has
More Than Offset tho Increase in the
Value of Farm Lands-Governor
cummins and Council Unable to
Control Appropriation.
Special to Tines Republican

Dies Moines, May 5.--The attempt to
make 1t appear that Governor Cum
MINIS has been expensive to the farm
ers in the matter of taxation has fallen
absolutely nat by an Investigation of
the figures which for several counties
IN which an examination has been
MADE and quite likely in every county
or the state show that the increa sed
amount of taxes which the counties
of the state have gotten out of the
railroads thru the increased assess
ment made by the executive counei!
more than offsets the increase which
these counties have had to pay to the
state by way of Increased state ex-
pense. The counties of the state have
therefore been the gamer thru the ad-
ADMINISTRATION of Governor Cummins
and the tax payers should give credit
for It where credit belongs.
For instance in Delaware county
the total taxes paid in Delaware coun-
ty during the four years 1S9S-19O1 to
the state was $5S,969.02, and the total
paid to the state during the four years
1902 1905 during Cummins' term, was
$72.660.54, an increase of s13,691.53.
During the four years of Shaws term
the total assessment of the railroads,
express companies, telegraph compan-
les in Delaware county was $1,939, $50
and during Cummins four years the
total assessment in that same county
was $2,403.0 DAB, or an increase Of $463,-
1853 and the taxes that the railroad.
express and telegraph companies have
paid to Delaware county as Il result of
this increased assessment was about
$1S,526.20 on levy of forty mills which
is the average for the state. In other
words during Cummins' administration
or the first four years of his adminis-
tration Delaware county has had to
pay to the state $13,691.53 more than
during the four years of Shaw but
have gotten direct gain by getting
from the railroads and public service
corporations $1S526.52 more than dur
ing Shaw. Furthermore be 1t remem-
bered that of the increase paid to the
state from Delaware county $1a34.45
was the educational school millage
faxes Furthermore. of the whole In
crease Governor Cummins was not re-
snonsible as he can spend only what
the state legislature appropriates, but
in any event Delaware county is the
gamer.
The same is true of Wright county
Wright county under Shaw PAID 10 the
state s46,776.29, and under Cuninins
s65.9OS.52, an increase OF $l9,lSa.z3'
But under Cunlmins four years there
was added to the railroad ana tele-
graph assessment in that county Soll'-
756. on which these corporations PAID
an increase of $24,470.22. Wright
county was thus the gamer by some-
thing like $4,000. In any number OF
other counties of the state this same
condition is found to be true. These
figures are easily accessible The hg-
ures are to be had from the reports OF
the state auditor and from reports or
The executive council on the assess
,nent of the railroads.
Misrepresentation.
The figures that are being put out
nv the railroad managers of Perkins
campaign in the hope Of defeating Gov
ernor Cummins denomination are
based absolutely upon misrepresenta-
lions and an effort to deceive the
farmers. Those taxpayers who do not
Of their own motion inquire into the
cause of the increase in their taxes,
and on the face Of the increase on
their tax receipts lay all the blame to
Governor Cunlmins and the state adj
ministration without reservation, will
be easily persuaded to vote for George
D Perkins. But the intelligent tax
payer who makes inquiry will soon
discover that he has been the benefici-
ary thru the administration of Cover
nor Cummins.
For instance, the statement has been
made that the assessment of farm
lands has been increased more than
enough to Offset the increase IN the
assessment Of the railroads, and hence
the farmer still has to pay more under
Cummins. In 1903 Governor Cum
minis for the first time was on the ex-
ecutive council when an equalization
of the farm assessments of the state
was made and there was an increase of
the assessment OF farms that year by
the township assessors of $2,O24,7O3
over the time before which was under
Shaw, but In 1905 the executive coun-
I:1 l.. o-,,oJ;v{po tha farm q assessment