The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-25
Mr.. Cartilage Goes Down Under
Mr.. Fftzgerald's Cross Fire.
Makes Damaging Admissions
Concerning Assessments.
MADE LOW RETURNS.
Twenty Thousand Dollars VI orth
OF Material at Six Hundred.
Forgot to Give Proper Account
of Coal.

Today the state board of railroad as
SCISSORS reached what is probably the
climax oe a series of startling admis-
sions which they have secured from
railroad tax commissioners concerning
the assessment methods practised by
the railroad companies.
E. T. Cartilage, tax commissioner of
the Santa F'e, under a hot fire of ques-
tons from Lieutenant Governor Fftz-
gerald, admitted that the railroad ma
terial on hand at Dodge City was re-
turned for assessment by the railroads
a I One-thirty-sixth of its real value.
The property is really worth about S2O.-
OUO- It was returned for assessment at
$500.
Mr. Cartilage admitted that it was
customary for the division superintend-
ents to return the value of their ma
teria1 at its real value to the chief
storekaeper- The storekeeper cut off 50
per cent, and returned the remaining 40
to the tax commissioner. The tax COM
missioner knocked off so per cent of
the remaining 40, and then returned
one-third of the remainder for taxation.
This showed that railroad material in
the state is assessed at between 8 and
per cent of its real value.
How do you account for this?' was
asked of Mr. Cartilage.
We'll. it has been the custom said
Mr. Cartilage L didn't know until this
year that the chief storekeeper had
made any reduction 1t was news to
me 1 supposed everything was sent to
me at the cost price
1T was a mistake then, to return the
property on that basiS2''
Yes. it was a mistake
Only 20 Tons of Coal on Hand.
When it came TO the question of fuel
returns, the board put the Santa Fe
in a most ridiculous light.
You have returned for assessment
said Mr. Fitzgerald to Mr. Cartilage,
'.only twenty tons of coal on hand on
your line from.Dodge City to the west
pound of coal at Garden City or Syra-
cuse. Don't you know that twenty
tons of coal isn't more than enough to
start one engine with Don't you
over that Hne2 And you have return
ed as the value of that coal 20 cents
ton. Now what do you say 10 those
figures -
ply to-" said Mr. Cartridge. I don't
know how much coal there was on
that portion of the line l simply took
the figures given to me. If you want
information about that. you will have
to call the division superintendent in
here. 1 will have him brought before
you il you desire. As to the details of
the figures reported to me, I know
nothing
7..Isnst il your business TO know
about these things, and give the in
formation to the board, instead of
forcing US to pry into them to find out
the real facts
Il think our property is assessed as
high as other personal property in the
state said Mr.. Cartilage. Look at
the returns which are made To you on
the money in the state
II think the Santa Fe is estopped
from talking about the returns on
money" said Mr.. Fitzgerald Your
returns show that the Santa F,e had
no money at ALL
I'VE are in the same boat with ev-
erybody else replied Mr. Cartilage.
All Returns Diseredited.
Mr. FitzgeraId then took UP the
subject of handcars. He showed that
handcars are worth about S25; that the
per cent, then the tax commissioner re-
duce it 50 per cent and returns one
third of the remainder for taxation.
Don't you think?" asked Mr. Fftz- !
gerald. that this puts your handcars
way below other. property
Il think ii may be little low ad-
rnitted Mr.. Cartilage
why do you depreciate your ma
teriaI twice. asked Mr. Jackson
1T was a mistake to do that on new
ma tersaI.'' said Mr.. Cartilage
Similar admissions were secured from
Mr.. Cartilage on rails and ties, and
Mr. Fitzgerald CIOS6d tle IANCStASd-
ton with this large pungent lemon
1T is not our province. Mr.. Cart |
Iidge TO tell you how to do your buSl- I
ness. but this investigation certainly :
shows that your returns. as made to /
his board. are utterly unreliable as a /
basis for this boards action OF course 1
mis- board will refuse your application +
10 have s150.0O0 cut off of your asses /
nent on account of machinery
GO After the Missouri Pacific
This afternoon the board is going 4
,fter s L. HfghIeyman. tax commits |
sioner of the Missouri Pacific in very I
much the same manner that they went I
after Mr.. Cartilage
Mr. Highleyman. however. viii !
probably not be forced to make so |
many damaging admissions. because /
The board isn't loaded for him as it1
was for Mr. Cartilage 1t happened /
hat the board has come into the pos /
session of information which enabled /
hem to pin the Santa Fe man up 4
,gafnst the wall, and dissect him at
eisure-
In addition to putting Mr. Cartilage /
IN the griddIe. the board took the tes-
-fmony of J. L. Hunt, attorney for the (
street stable car line. which is asking
ior a reduction in its assessment and /
If A representative of the Wells-Fargo
.onapary express. which is trying to !
pc being classified as private car
inc company. in spite of the fact that
I owns eighty-four express cars
Welded Life Failure.
emit for divorce has boop Sfartod I