The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-08-20
Give THEIR SIDE
Arguments Made for the Railroads for
Lower Taxes Before
BOARD OF ASSESSORS

DUAMU vi H5JL0OVNG
The Officials Say the Corporations
Are Hard Pushed ard Must Get
Relief or Go Into the Hands Of a
Receiver as Means of Saving
the Property.
According to the officials who ap-
peared before the State Board OF
Assessors in Columbia on Tuesday,
the railroads are fearing crisis.
Especially was this condition in the
South emphasized by Henry Miller,
assistant to the first vice-president
G.: the Southern. That wages are in
creasing and rates are sbeing coll
tinually lowered is the reason given
ly the railway men for the condition
Of the railways.
Basing his argument upon the
state of affairs and upon the
recent action of the State board Of
equalization in lowering the assess
raepts on cotton mills and cottonseed
Gil mills and like property, Mr.. Mil
Ter asked that the railroads be as
sessed on the same basis as the tex
lies, namely, so per cent. Of the ac-
tual valuation as arrived at by the
board.
AS to the Southern railway, Mr..
Miller pointed out that in 1907 the
assessments were placed at 60 per
cent. "No property outside of cot
ton mills and banks are assessed as
highly as railroads." said Mr.. Mil
I Ter.
Mr.. Miller explained how valua-
ton makes the taxable value $l9,-
$4,000. He thought the. $31, 1,0OO,-
600 excessive and explained that the
method of arriving at the value was
| wrong.
Mr.. Miller explained in detail the
| bonding of property and answered
questions put to him by Attorney
General Lyon, who is a member of
the board. The total encumbrance
| Of the Southern is about $20,O ,OO0
per mile, Mr.. Miller said. The Sou
thern, as explained by Mr.. Miller,
was formed out Of the receivership
| CT several lines, hence 1t carries
tcnds that are not to be placed on
any of the seperate property Of the
Southern railway proper. The Sou
| Lhern owns half interest in the Mon
cn system, and whole or part of 9th
eI lines. 1t owns s96,000,0OO in Sc
curities of other lines Figured with
the reduction of this amount on lis
tund the Southern per mile is val"
ued at $4,000.
The Southern, Mr.. Miller, said, has
heen increased so per cent. in taxes
IN this state in the last seven years.
Yet it's earning have increased only
80 per cent. in that period.
Mr.. Lyon-Does not the Southern
earn more in proportion to its mile
age in South Carolina than in any
other State?
Mr.. Miller-No.
Mr.. Lyon--Does not more money
earned in this State on the road go
towards improvements in other
States than such money from other
States comes to this State.
tMr. Miller-No; improvements are
made on seperate bonds, not on earn
ibgs.
I'VE have greater profits In Vir-
ginia, North Carolina and Tenn"s-
see," added Mr.. Miller, land less
| dead mileage there"
Asked about improvements in 9TH
er States, Mr.. Miller stated that ira
ic and tonnage demanded the same.
On questioning as to whether the
Southern is worth more now than
in 1907, Mr.. Miller said that there
was rumor of receivership in that
year but said he would not like to
answer that question as an official
CT the road. Not materially better
now" Mr.. MiIler's final reply to that
question, although the latter ex-
rIained the condition of the road
with regard to high wages and cost
of operation.
I'VE are met on one side with the
absolute demand for increased COM
| rensation,' said Mr.. Miller. He ex-
lained that to the pay roll Of the
road since January l there has been
| added $1,750,000 as increase pay to
trainmen, ensinemen and clerks,
none of whom receive above $40 per
month, the others not being raised.
MIR. Miller told of the conference
| ut Washington between the road and
the employees resulting in this raise
II wages. Then the operators ap
realed and arbitration was neces-
sary.
Everything We buy has increas-
cd in price," said MIR. Miller, amy
where from Is to 100 per cent. Our
cnly hope is increase in rates which
has been withheld. At no time in
the history or railroading have we
laced such a crisis as today. EX-
Lenses must be reduced or rates
/