Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-01
RAIL LINES OF IOWA FIND THAT
ASSESSMENTS HAVE IN RE-
ALlTY BEEN INCREASED.
ROCK ISLAND SYSTEM
GIVEN GREATEST INCREASE
Roads Report Earnings to State Exc.
cutive council-some Show Increase,
While Others Had Falling OF in
Business - Northwestern and Mil
waukee Lines Delinquent.
Special to Times-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Des Moines, May 1.-Two months
hence the representatives of railroads
in Iowa will be summoned before the
executive council to be assessed for
taxation. All their annual reports for
1908 are past due, but some are dc!!n-
quent, including the Northwestern end
Milwaukee lines. The railroad repre-
sentatives will have no difficulty in
showing that the campaign to make
them pay a larger proportion of the
taxes has been eminently successful.
The reports show that twelve of the
lines thus far reported paid in taxes in
1908 total of S72,9S5 more than they
did the year before, and this is not
half of the total. The Rock Island was
hardest hit, having paid s25,461 more
than in the year before.
officials will not aid in the campaign
which may be made for having the
Iowa 2-cent fare law declared invalid
because of the loss of revenue In fact
if the courts are to be appealed to a
different set of figures Will have to be
furnished to show that reduced fares
is equal to confiscation.
The Burlington system, in it's report
on Iowa business alone, not including
interstate business shows that the re-
ceipts from passenger fares for 1908
increased by s99,597 over the previous
year and the freight receipts decreased
sSoS,926.
The Rock Island system reports IN
increase of s1OS,901 in passenger re-
ceipts and s204,754 decrease in freight
1t is remembered that the cent fare
was in force in Iowa for just half of
the year 1907. The reports now are the
first after the full effect of the law is
known.
The Illinois Central makes different
showing, that of a decrease of $1T,225
in passenger and s15,59S in freight
earnings. The Great Western shows a
decrease of 1851 in passenger earn
ings and an increase of s2,O23 in freight
These two roads alone show decrease
IN passenger receipts.
The Wabash reports s12474 increase
in passenger and s7s,55s decrease in
freight receipts. The Omaha line re-
ports s11,295 increase In passenger re-
ceipts and an increase of $17,1 in
freight The Minneapolis and ST. Louis
reports s13,0S6 increase in passenger
and s10S,S7S increase in freight re-
ceipts.
The reports of the railroad compan-
les undertake to make a division as be-
tween strictly Iowa business and that
which is interstate. The reports of
some of the leading lines and some of
the smaller ones show as follows on
the Iowa business done including taxes
paid last year.
10Y, decrease, s741,720; operating ex-
penses s7,6Ss,26s, increase Splits;
taxes paid s2s7 .S12.
Rock Island-Receipts s13,1O4, 2o2,
decrease s626,124. expenses ss,s9s,345,
decrease s949,345; taxes s469,910.
Great Western Receipts s5.133.532,
decrease s195,235, expenses s4,6500sS,
increase s159,239; taxes s162,969.
Minneapolis & st. Louis-Receipts
$1,O64,S53, decrease s162,939, expenses
$76S,699, increase $29,96O; taxes, $751;
707.
Illinois Central-Receipts s4,ss2,-
3S3, decrease s457,200, expenses So
790,317 decrease s502,s44; taxes $780,
SOL.
c., ST. P. NJ. & o.-Receipts $751;
239, decrease $92, 465, expenses 2,O31,
decrease $5S,444; taxes s43,653.
Great OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES s47s,94o,
increase $32,443; expenses s933,332,
decrease $59,430; taxes s15,0s0.
Wabash-Receipts $1,062,5S0, de-
crease $59,s24; expenses sSs2,375, de-
crease $45,952; taxes $4S,700.
Des Moines Union-Receipts $780,
S02, decrease $2,375; expenses $780,
43s, decrease sas7; taxes s33,4eS.
Iowa Central-Receipts s2,061 ,166,
do,reass $167,664; expenses $1,651, 914,
increase s132,605; taxes $71,s02.
| A little computation on the above ter
systems will show that the net de-
crease of profit for the year was ST.
| 204 900. Nine of the roads show a de-
crease in receipts and six a decrease
in expenses. The gross receipts in
elude not only the passenger and
freight earnings, but al others, inelud-
ing rentals, mail, express, etc., but this
is solely on business originating and
ending in Iowa, SO far as the COM
panies can make this division.
For number of years the state Of
feials have been engaged in pushing
up the total of assessments of the rail-
roads, which accounts for the in
creased taxes paid; but it seems prob
able that this year there will be very
little increase in the assessment.
An injustice has been done the mem.
.bers of the committee on retrenchmen
and reform of the legislature by wid'
publication of a statement that thu
committee was unaware when it faith
ered the bill to require duplication o
vouchers that the code already pro
vided for vouchers for everything be
fore the state auditor has the right t,