Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-09-27

more than double $225,OOO reply that
the executive council has found it be
worth more than five times $2250O0.
l mention these things to show the
spirit which animates my opponent in
reviewing what L have done or helped
to do with respect to the taxtion of rail-
way property. The truth is easily made
known. 1t is a matter of public record,
and cannot be the subject of dispute.
Iowa Railway Assessments.
When 4 became governor, the actual
value of all the railways in the state, as
year 1901. was $lSS, 2S5, OS2.OO. The taxable
value which under the law is one-fourth
the actual value, was $47071, 25S At the
present time, the actual value of all the
railways in the state, as fixed by the
executive council in 1906, is $249,34 796. 90,
and the taxable value S62, 337 ,l99 During
my administrations therefore. the actual
value OF the railway property has been
increased SOL, O6S, 764, and the taxable value
$l5 265, SA: This means that the various
taxing districts of the state are now
than they were in 1901, and as the aver
age rate Of taxation is substantially
per cent, it further means that the rail-
way companies are paying substantially
$4,000 more in taxes than they would
have paid had the valuation remained as
1t was in 1901. 1t will be interesting L
am sure, to note the increase upon the
railways as they existed in 1901 for there
mas been some mileage added to the rail
way property of the state in these years.
The new mileage since 1901 is of the
actual value, according to the assess
ment, OF SS,3ll,S2 with a taxable value
OF $2,077, $500. We therefore have in
creased the taxable value of the mileage
as it existed in 1901, S13, 1877 $500. 1t will
be remembered that the power of the ex--
ecutlNe council is exhausted when the
value of the railway property has been
hXed 1t has nothing whatsoever to do
with the levying of taxes upon the valua-
tion. 1t Is obvious, therefore, that if
the council has performed its duty with
respect to the valuation. even If it is TO
be flouted and sneered at, it at least de-
serves the truth, and / wonder why MIR.
Porter, with the records open before him,
dld not avail himself of the information.
Value of the Railroads..
take the liberty of asking him a ques-
ton. Do you think, Mr.. Porter, that the
railway property OF this state is worth
more than $249,34S, 1850, and if more how
much more? l must PROFOUND one fur
ther Query. The average actual value of
the farms in the state for the purposes
Of taxation is $047 per acre. Do you
think they are worth more and If So
how much more?
When | became governor the average
actual value of farms in this state for
the purposes of taxation was SS5 IS per
acre. That value is now $4O,47 per acre
an increase Of IFS per cent The in
| crease in the assessment of railway prop
| erty has been 32.4 per cent
This generous rival, who finds nothing
whatsoever to commend in anything /
| ever did or said suggests that my zeal
| for an increase in the assessment of rail
way property began only when ] became
| "A candidate for another nomination. TO
ascertain the truth you have hut to
again consult the records of your state.
The Changes Made. q
The first assessment of railway prop
| erty made by the executive council after
became member resulted in taxable
| value of $51, 3O7, 9JO-an increase of more
| than 100000 above the assessment for
| the previous year. The assessment of
| the second year of my administration
| was S56,04l, BIB, an increase of more than
| 100000 over the preceding year. The
| assessment of my third year in office was
| Soi,0Sol O, an increase of S1,OO0,OO0 over the
| preceding year. The assessment of the
| fourth year was SIS, 190,1S9, an increase of
| more than half million over the pre-
ceding year The assessment of my NTH
| year was S6233T 1893, an increase of more
than 100000 over the preceding year.
submit this record for the calm con-
SHERATON of the people of the state to
| show that progress began early and has
continued with fair persistency and eff
| ticiency.
/ hope | may be permitted, without the
| charge of egotism to call attention TO one
further fact; In 1901 the taxable value of
| all the public properties given to the ex-
GcutlVe council to assess was $4S,S3 ISL
| In 1906 the taxable value as fixed by the
| executive council was $65, $40 S25-an in
| crease of H7,072,044.
Expenditures.
Much comment is made in the opening
address OF the democratic candidate for
| governor respecting the growth and in
| creaslng expenses of the state, and with
| the fairness which characterzes every
sentence of the address, the responsibility
| for all expenditures of the state Of Iowa
is placed upon me, In all the eloquent
sentences, In all the critical conclusions
| there is no suggestion that any other
person is unfaithful or insincere / mar
vel at the audacity and effrontery OF a
man who has hitherto been so fair and
| so loyal to the truth.
Mr.. Porter knows and every intelli-
gent man knows that with the exception
of 5000 or $4,000 every year. a sum placed
at the disposal of the governor for proner
purposes, | have not had nor has any
predecessor in office had anything what
soever to do with the expenditures of the
state of Iowa. He knows. and vet he lis