The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-18
NO REST FOR THEM
Board of Railway Assessors
Still After Railroads.
Ask Tax Commissioner More
Embarrassing Questions.
THE d" SANTA FEE DAY"
Mr. Cartilage Will MonOpolize
Attention Tomorrow.
Mr. Bonar of Kansas City Has a
Few Bad Moments.


The cruel system OF putting railroad
tax commissioners under oath and
forcing them to tell the real value OF
the property which they represent was
continued today by the state board of
railroad assessors, and CONSERVATION
and confusion continues to prevail in
railroad circles.
| Friday is Santa Fe day." and this
promises to be opportunity for some
big doings. E. T. Cartilage. tax COM
missioner. is the star witness, and the
railroad assessors expect TO absorb a
good deal of useful information in the
course of the interview.
In order to rush the work, the
board of railroad assessors has decid-
ed to hold a night session this evening.
These night sessions will continue I'M
til the work of the board is completed
This is probably the first time in the
history OF the state that a board of
railroad assessors has made a prac-
tice of holding night sessions.
Most of the time this morning was
devoted to the examination of w. NJ
Bonar, auditor of the Kansas City
Leavenworth electric line, otherwise
known as the Kansas City Western
peka by w. G. Richardson, one of the
managers of the company. Under the
old system of operation by the board
of railroad assessors. these two gen.
tIemen would have been invited into
the assessors room, and asked if they
cared to make any statement. The
representatives of the railroad would
then have told why their assessment
his story, some member of the board
would say call in the next and
SOME other railroad representative
would appear and make a similar talk.
How the Witness Is Handled
But the present board of railroad as
SCISSORS has most brutal way of spoil
ing all this carefully prepared presen-
tation. Here is the way the Kansas
City-Leayenworth electric line represen-
tativeS were initiated:
Lieutenant Governor W. J. Fitzgerald
Which one of you gentlemen is tax
commissioner
Mr.. Bonar: Neither one of US.
have charge of the books"
Fitzgerald: Which one do you de-
sire to have make a statement to this
board? Mr.. Bonar? All right. Hold up
your right hand, Mr.. Bonar. Do you
solemnly swear to tell the truth. the
whole truth and nothing but the truth
concerning all matters concerning which
you may be called upon to testify be-
fore this state board of railroad asses
SOrS ?''
Bonar: Il do"
Fitzgerald: All right. Now Mr.. Bonar.
please give your name to the stenog-
rapher, and the name of your road?''
And with that each one of the five
members Of the board of railroad asses
sors took turns putting questions to Mr..
Bonar. He was not asked to make a
statement The board went after the
information it thought it needed, and
pumped it out without mercy.
Mr.. Fitzgerald pumped away at the
condition of the property, the
reconstruction of lines, and the pur
chase of new rolling stock. while At
torney General jackson contributed
heavy stream of information concern
ing the capital stock, bonded debt. in
tereSt payments, reorganization, and
general financial condition. When
Mr. Bonar was exhausted. Mr.. Rich
ardson was put on the stand, and put
a similar treatment. That
ended it. The board adjourned for
and if the Kansas City West
ern representatives had come pre-
pared to make speeches before the
board, they were disappointed.
Consider Financial Condition.
1t is evident from the way the
board is going to work that it pro-
poses to base the assessment of rail-
road property not only on the visible
property of the railroad companies,
but on the general financial condition
and earning power. This is, to a GER
tain extent. the taxation of the COM
pany's value "going concern"
which comes close to being a taxation
of franchise value.
What are you trying to get at, the
real value of our property" asked one
of the witnesses examined by the
board.
Yes. sir" was the reply.
And are you going to assess US on
the full value? p asked the railroad
man in horror.
mo. but we expect to arrive at the
full value Of the railroad property. and
value as prevails for other property in
the same county"
Kansas City Belt Valuation
Wyandotte county. and z. T. Cart
lidge. tax commissioner of the Santa
Fe, were both before the board of as
SCISSORS this morning for the purpose of
thrashing cut the differences over the
Kansas City Belt valuation. The Santa
Fe has been asking for a reduction in
the assessed value of $4,000 fixed last
year. and Mr.. Hoffman objected to any
reduction. He thought that $4,000 was
not too low. but insisted that 1t should
not be reduced.
Private Car Lines April rs.
1t was announced today by the board
that the assessment of the private car
line companies will be taken up on
April % This will be one of the most
parts of the work of assess
ment, under the method of procedure
which the board is adopting this year.
according 10 general belief. been getting
n NeT frrf ant