The independent., 1907-02-28
RAILROADS WILL PAY TAXES.
The Highest Court in the Land Has
Said That They Must DO So.


taxes which the supreme court of the
United States has said it must pay to
the state of Nebraska, the counties,
school districts and precincts i'm Me-
braska. He takes a parting shot at
the state board of equalization by in
timating that railroad property is as
sessed higher than other property in
the state, although the suit just de-
cided by the supreme court of the
United States was based on this plea
IT am frank to say that the proba-
bilities are we will pay the unpaid por-
ton of the taxes for the years 1904,
1905 and 1906, which have been with
held by reason of this litigation said
Charles r. ManderSon, general So
licitor of the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railroad, in response to inquiry
as to what the Burlington road would
do in regard to the decision OF the
United States supreme court, which
DEGREES that the Burlington and Union
Pacific together shall pay into the
treasures of the various counties of
Nebraska the taxes they owe, namely,
1881, ,558.44, with interest at 10 per cent.
I'VE have not yet seen the decision,
and until we have an opportunity to
closely examine it, it is impossible to
decide as to what further steps will be
taken by the railroad company. The
amount involved is very large and the
10 per cent interest which the amount
carries means large sum daily, and
if the railroad company should be
finally required to pay this sum it is
important for its welfare that it
should save this large interest, which
amounts to several hundred dollars
daily. We have taken steps TO speed
lily obtain the full text Of the decision
II do not care at this time to make
any comment concerning the decision
have been taught to believe that
when the supreme court of the United
States made a decision lawyer was
bound to believe that it was a correct
conclusion as to the law, and while so
feeling and abstaining from adverse
comment, | cannot resist the tempta-
tion to say that If other property, real
and personal, in the state of Nebraska
was held at the same ratio of valua-
tion as is placed upon railroad prop
erty, the rate Of taxation in this state
could be greatly reduced. ] do not
mean by that to say that the one-ffth
valuation, which is the ratio recog-
nized by the law, obtains as to other
but j do mean to say that in
forming the basis Of the conclusion
property is taken at its full
valuation per mile, and sometimes far
more than at its full valuation per
mile, and one-fifth of that full, or
Overyai iuation, forms the basis of the
but it is notorious that as
TO real estate, merchandise, stocks in
trade, live stock and personal prop
arty of whatsoever description owned
by private individuals. the values fixed
are frequently absurd and sometimes
but a small fraction Of the actual
value, and one-fifth Of that absurd low
valuation is taken as the assessment.
I'm other words, the railroads of |
his state, being unable, or unwilling, |
Is you please. to hide away their prop |
srty ownership as private individuals |
10, pay, and have always paid, far be-
yOnd their fair proportion of the taxa
ion of this state. If to citizens gen.
orally the same rule of valuation could /
obtain as obtains to railroad compan-
es the tax fixed would be on a very I
liffcrent basis both as to corporations
ind individuals. In other words, we
,an hide nothing and can conceal moth
ng and that what we have is open and
Exhibited to the world, the reports re-
luired to be made by us under the
ederal and state law making full
moving of property ownership.
IF this rule of full and honest show
ng could be applied to private corpor-
Itions and individuals the tax assess
nent of this state would be enor-
nously increased and the burden of
government support would not fall. as
does now, upon thosc who are SO un-
ortunate as 10 own railroad stock
Notwithstanding the clytmor of the
'ress, there suits were instituted TO
to obtain fair adjustment 7
md consideration Of the tax ASSESS
nent I'm the state of Nebraska. and the
fort to bring about such fair assess
nent and honest returns will be con-
inued. No one connected with this
abroad corporation. from It's prcsi-
ent down TO its least official, has a.-y
esirc to evade or avoid the payment
Z taxes honestly due. but We feel that
hcae corporations that have been and
re constantly doing so much 90 ad-
anra tho material iuferQata NJ fhia