The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-11
BIG INCREASE
FOR RAILWAYS
Tax Values Raised
About 30 Per Cent.
AssESsMENTssIt, OOo,OOoHIGHER
Taken to Mean General Raise In
Valuation Of Property.
Equalization Board Apparently Accept
ed ~ Correct Figures Filed by
Attorneys In Federal Court
Against Laws

The assessments of the properties of
railway. telegraph and telephone lines
in Alabama have been Increased about
s16,000.000 over last year. That was
the statement given out yesterday af-
ternoon by State Auditor Brandon. a
member of the Board of Equalization
which fixed the assessments several
days ago. and in whose office the fig
ures are being tabulated.
This is an increase in the tax valu-
atoms OF the roads of approximately
30 per cent over the values upon
which the various railroads paid taxes
last year. Some of them, of course are
raised more than the 80 per cent, while
others get off more easily, but the
average is in that nelghborhood.
The raising to this extent OF the
tax assessments of the railroad Dy me
Board of Equalization seems to presase
general increase in the tax values
OF the State. The various roads sub
united figures to the board, 1t will be
recalled, as to the proportion of &C
tuai values that other classes OF prop
erty is assessed at in Alabama, and
1t is believed that the raising of the
railroads. taxes in the face of those
hgures can have but one meaning
proposed general increase in tax values
on all property
The raising of the tax values on most
classes of property, of course, rests
upon the State Tax Commission, rather
than with the State Board of Equal
ization, but there are evidences that
a ri oer 10,
ward common goal. Those who are
In touch with the situation seem to
think that the head of the adminis-
trs ton, Governor Conner. is in reality
the dominant figures in the work Of
both boards.
The assessment or the railroads at
such large increase is taken to ynean,
although no definite announcement las
been made. that Governor Conner and
other members of the Board of Iaual-
ization have accepted as correct, for
purposes of taxation, the figures sub
mitted in the Federal Court upon the
valuation of the lines, in the series of
suits brought by the leading railroads
to restrain the enforcement of the Jaws
enacted by the recent session of the
Legislature to reduce the passenger
and freight rates.
The railroads maintained in their
that they were entirely unable to pay
their operating expenses and dividends
upon the value of their lines as set
forth in detail. The attorneys repre-
senting the State urged that the val
ues fixed upon which the roads were
entitled to earn dividends were ex-
cessire, but the Equalization Board
now seems to have accepted those fig
ures as correct.
The action will nnattar Of
course, greatly increase the taxes of
the railroads, but 1t will smooth the
path of the railroad attorneys in the
pending litigation. in at least one di-
rection.
The detailed acountings of the as
sessments for the current year as made
recently by the State Board of Euuau-
cation have not been completed but
General Brandon said yesterday that
the figures would be announced in a
few days.
The individual assessments of rail-
ways. telegraphs and long distance
telephones. General Brandon said had
already been mailed to the tax asses
sors of the counties. in order that they
may at once complete their assess
ments.
The publication of the complete sta
tistics of the Board of Equalization
has been awaited with interest The
last meeting of the Board. which then
completed it's work, was held several
days ago and Judge J. T. Cook, CHIEF
clerk to the Auditors office, whose
secretary to the Board at once began
the compilation of the figures adopted
by the Board.
1t was first announced that the
statement of the proceedings Of the
Board would be made public last Nom
day. but 1t has been impossible for tho
mass of information gathered by the
Board to be gotten ready and not I'M
til today or possibly Monday will the
detailed facts be given to the press