Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-07-10
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines, July 10.--tIn one brief
and expressive paragraph. honestly
stated and read from manuscript. so
there could not be any mistake about
the phraseology, as quoted above, the
representatives of the railroad inter-
ests in Iowa swept into the waste bas-
ket the tons Of political literature with
which the state of Iowa has been food
ed the past month.
Carroll Wright, who has appeared
oftener before the state executive coun-
ell than any other railroad represen-
tative whose familiarity with the facts
in regard to taxation In Iowa cannot
be questioned by anyone. deliberately
branded as false the whole of the CAM
paign which Ed. Hunter and his min>
ions have been putting UP against the
state executive council and the state
administration of Iowa. And James c.
Davis, of the Northwestern and A. G.
Call, OF the Great Northern, nodded as
sent Mr.. Wright's statement was in
tended to be for all the railroad rep
resentatives, and twas so UNDER
stood.
But as if some explanation was ne
cessary for some things which have
happened in Iowa recently, and GER
tainlv throwing food of light upon
the men who essay to represent Iowa
railroads politically, he read on:
Speaking for the Rock Island, have
to say that our assessment has been
so far increased without the addition
of any mileage since 1901 that we are
now paying $4,000 year more in
taxes than we were at that time. This
is absolute proof Of the pudding and
one that comes to us with such force
that we cannot we'll fail to realize it.
The taxes paid by the railroads in
Iowa in 1901 were. In round numbers,
$1,5O0,000. The taxes paid last year
upon the same railroads with practi-
cally the same mileage, were s2.0SS,000.
Tt will be observed that within the five
years the tax upon the railroads in
Iowa has been increased over a half
million dollars; that is, an increase OF
over 25 per cent. 1t cannot be claimed
that any other property in Iowa has
had it's taxes proportlonately increased
during the same period"
This was the elimination and the
practical summary of the entire argu-
ments of the railroad interests before
the state executive council yesterday.
Mr. Wright's speech was brief and to
the point He did not attempt to dis
cuss the method Of making assess
ments. He went directly to the point
of the matter. He declared that as
sesslnents are now fair and equitable,
and therefore should remain as at
present. 1t is true he disclosed, SO
persons present felt, one good reason
why the railroads have been able to
raise such large fund to mislead the
voters of the state as to taxation and
assessment. He exposed the sore toes
Of the railroad magnates. He was al
most brutally frank in this regard.
During the day several others spoke.
Mr.. Davis made pleasing argument
on the taxation question on behalf of
the Northwestern. 1t is we'll known
here that at no time has Mr.. Davis
had any sympathy with the vicious
and debasing attack made upon Gov
ernor Cummins and the state officials
in behalf of the Perkins candidacy. He
has repeatedly said that the assessment
argument was specious and dishonest.
He therefore found himself in position
Mr.. Crandon the we'll known tax COM
missioner Of the Northwestern, UNDER
took to make an argument for lower
railroad assessments by quoting from
somebody somewhere evidence to show
that Iowa farm lands are in fact as
sessed at about 64 per cent of their
value and that eleven classes of prop
erty other than railroad property is
assessed at about SO per cent of its
value. The members Of the state ex-
ecutive council cut him short by de-
claring that they did not believe the
figures were correct for they are con-
trary to other ard better evidence the
council has had from year to year.
Mr.. Dudley, of the Milwaukee, also
spoke, but confined himself largely to
discussion of the net earnings basis
for assessment and to showing that it
is not always fair to consider net earn
ings In making an estimate of actual
value Of any property.
Near the close of the speech Mr..
Crandon the political aspect OF the
railroad assessment for Iowa came up.
He read from manuscript a statement
to the effect that he had been told re-
peatsdly since coming here that the