The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-08-11
ALL TAXPAYERS ARE AFFECTED.

49, bVSNs -0s
The assessment of railroad property
in Montana by the state board OF
equaliza alton is of interest to every
taxpayer. a fair and equal %apportion-
ment of the tax burden being neces.
sary to secur justice to all property
owners in the state. The railroad as.
sessment last year was at the rate of
S17,250 per mile for the main lines,
but at q hearing before the interstate
commerce commission, to determine
the fairness of freight rates, Great
Northern and Northern Pacific off.
ecials declared their railroads were
worth over $50, 900 a mile. This dis.
crepancy between the actual cash val.
ue and the assessment of the railroads
provokes these remarks from the Hell
ena Independent:
Justice, sentiment, patriotism. even
law, argues now for the proper tax
assessment Of railroads. 1t isn't q
question of loyalty, or politics, or
selfish interests. 1t is q question of
fulfilling official oaths, of doing duty,
Of being honest, so far as the Montana
state board Of equalization is cor.
cerned.
The law says that they shall tax the
railroads at their full cash value.
The railroads swear that their full
cash value is s62, $50 a mile.
The board of equalization has, to the
best of it's ability applied this law to
everybody except the railroads.
We don't want to give the railroads
''the worst of it," What we insist
upon is that the railroads be required
to pay just as we pay.
Every real property In every city
and town, every ranch and garden,
of Montana, is taxed for all it is
worth. And that is right. That is
what the law requires.
Why then, are the railroads left ex-
empt? Why are they favored oyer
all the wage.earning, tax.paying
producers?
The question Is now up to the mem
bers of the Montana state board of
equalization.
The railroads are the most prosper
GUS, the richest, the best protected
.snd the most safeguarded of any in
dustrial enterprise within the limits of
Montana.
The law says they shall pay the full
limit of taxes on a basis Of their &C.
tual cash value.
II the state GARD does not assess
them, then we want to know the reas.
on why.
Every small merchant, householder,
fockmaster, rancher, gardener, home
builder in Montana is assessed for all
he is worth as the law requires.
Why not the railroads?
Nobody would believe for an instan,
that the Montana state board of equal
ization could be subsidized to break
the law which its members are sworr
to maintain.
Then why not assess the railroads.
Why not obey the law? Why no
prove legal. good and faithful stew
ardship? There is Governor Norris
a fine and able man who knows tn
law. There is Albert J. Galen, ou
young and able attorney general
OF course he knows the law. AM
Secretary of State Yoder, and Treas
urer Eesselstyn and Auditor Cunning
ham: they all know the law which the,
swore to maintain.
The law says explicitly that al
property shall be taxed at its full cas-
value.
All Of "us little fellows" are 8
taxed and we are o complaining
The railroads are not SO taxed. Why
We would like to know that the il
cumbent board OF equalization has tn
sense of duty, the s~quareness, til
common decency to do what it
sworn 4 do-assess the railroads
Montana at their full value as swor
to and subscribed by themselves.
This editorial is written to Cove
nor Norris: TO Attorney General G.
len: 10 Secretary of State Yoder;
State Treasurer Esselstyn and to Sta
Auditor H. r. Cunningham.
W. want to hope and believe tn
they will do their worn duty.
Will they?