, 1907-08-15
VALUATIONS.

the OF the railroads, the ay
erage raise being approximately 60 per
cent. This action will meet with the
hearty ctmmendation of the people
OF the state. While there is a great
deal Of truth in the contention made
by the railroad agents that private
property is not listed and taxed equit
ably. yet this is lot sufficient reason
to tax the railroads IS low as the low
est With a so per cent raise 1t Is en-.
tirely probable that the railroads will
be on a par with the average of Wyo
ming taxpayers.
1t now becomes the duty OF the as
sessing officers Of the several counties
to secure n fair assessment of all the
property. II some lands are not upon
the assessment rolls, they should be
looked up and placed there. II it is
known TO the assessing officers tina,
large numbers OF cattle and sheep are
escaping. the matter should be RENE
died. The statement that so per cen
OF the lands of Wyoming are not as,
sessed should be given careful atten,
ton. II it is found to be true, it is
not too late TO INST them this year
The treasurer may still add them to
the rolls mt make collection thereon
for this year.
There is no reason why Wyoming
should not have as good an assess
There is every reason why people
should not be kept away from ouI
state by such %exorbitant rates as 4
per cent. With all our property listed
and fairly valued, this rate can be re.
duced to a fraction of that amount.
The wyoming Tribune interviewed
the members Of the board Of equaliza'
ton with the following result:
Mr.. Gillette, president of the board,
said that it was pretty hard for the
state board to have railroad men point
out the defects in the states system
of taxation and he was confident that
the Interest that will be aroused by the
showings made by the railroad men
wiR have the effect In the next legis.
lature o8 bringing to the attention OF
the lawmakers the pressing need OF
a better tax and assessment law.
But two wrongs do not make a
right, and while they have done the
state a good service In calling our at
tention to the faults Of our taxation
laws. that does not explain away or
cover the fact that for the past sixteen
years the value of railroad property
in the state has only increased about
$4,000 900. when every Ole knows that
dition, have better equipment and
more OF it, better road beds. more
fences along the right OF way and in
the case Of the Union Pacific, double
tracks and a block signal service. The
buildings Of the railroads all along the
lines have been improved and many
new ones built.
1T is no doubt true that there is
lots OF property that escapes taxation,
yet values in the state show a contin.
ual and large increase in all sorts OF
property except the railroads whose
increase is nominal
1T is evident that there must be a
closer assessment and a more system.
ATTIC and business like return of prop,
erty and we might as well begin right
now. The railroads have not been in
creased for sixteen years. BY increas,
ing them now, it will pave the way
for the ~stricter assessment of other
property The roads depend on the
friendship n good will of the people
for heir success and one of the best
ways they can win it is to cheerfully
accept their share of the taxes"
Acknowledgement Mullen said:
Those figures which l read in the
Tribune as submitted to the board by
the railroad men proved what l urged
last winter. that if a tax agent is a
good man for a railroad, he is all the
more necessary for a state or com.
munity that depends upon taxation to
he machinery of government.
Those fellows who went before the
board knew their business. They
know the tax question from beginning
to end in practice and theory and knew
just where to look for the weak points
in u system. That was why they
could 90 through the books of a county
and place before the board instances
to show that In many cases the system
of assessment approaches the absurd
ut will pay the state big returns to
hire a man like that, a mar that win
be responsible for the assessment OF
all state property. The state should
give him power to hire the assessors
and nre them II they don't get the prop.
erty listed.
Here's the state, depending for its
existence and soivency upon the taxes
1t lawfully collects. Yet these railroad
fellows come in here and point GU,
practices that II followed by q mer
chant or q bank OF q railroad in col
| 1Acfing what WAS 6,Ye- would aend R,acr