Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-31
n. lner,... in Counties Whsrs florists
Wsrs Not Empioysd-Mecey says
Rew,nue system Of state 10 Endan.
asrsd by Repeal Of Statuts-Makss
Good jmprsssien on Committee.

Of statistics. taken from the records
in the office OF the state auditor. to
show what has been the effect Of the
contracts for disclosing hidden prop
erty subject to taxation; and in short,
the showing was that wherever ferret
contracts have been made the volume
Of taxable property has been increased
while In other places 1t has remained
nearly stationary.
Tho auditors report shows that the
assessments of actual value Of moneys
and credits in Iowa in 1892 was $685.
600, 900, in 1900 Il had gone up to 311b.-
900, 900, and In 1910 It was 100000. 900.
In Des Moines county, where no tax
ferret work was done from 1908 to 1910
the moneys and credits taxed remained
almost exactly stationary, at 100000.
In Scott county. under similar con-
ditions, the increase was less than $4O.-
900 since 1902.
In Lee county with no ferret work
the increase was less than $4,000
since 1908, and the total S2,1s0.s1s.
Clinton county increased in same
time from $3,O04,357 to S3,162,475.
Whore Fsrrets Worked.
Now for some Of the counties where
ferret contracts have been in force In
recent years
In Cedar county IN 1901 the assess
ment showed $2.650,654: and in 1910 1t
was $S,927,6ss, the contracts covering
all years.
In Muscatine county contract was
let in the fall of 1908 when the assess
ment had been $685. 2s; last year 1t
was $3.536,42s.
Henry county experiences a Jump
from $l,322,976 to $3,1s3,ll6 in ten
years.
Page county gained from s1.1os,s11 to
33.42s,510 IN ten years.
Polk county gained from $685. 45S to
S514s,94s in nine years.
Judge Mccoy submitted a statement
from the board OF supervisors Of Mus
catine county showing a gain OF over
$4,000 In taxes on moneys and credits
and $4,000 on corporation shares, and
a. similar statement from Henry coun-
ty approving the work done.
Mccoy Argues Matter.
In conclusion Of his argument to the
ways and means committee Judge Nc
Coy said:
This compilation proves beyond a
reasonable doubt that in the counties
and the work has been carried on
in the assessments of moneys and
credits year by year in such counties.
The gains In some instances are so
great that but for the record they might
readily be doubted. Enough counties
and far enough separated from each
other over the state are given to prove
the rule that II Is business PROPOSE
ton for the county and the people Of
the county to take up the work and to
prosecute the same. The situation in
Clinton, Scott. Des Moines and Lee
counties where the work has not been
done proves beyond reasonable doubt
that the matter Of increasing assess
ments in Iowa will not do itself; and
but for the work OF the tax adjusters
under the law will remain the same,
substantially. year by year.
Revenue System in Danger.
ITO prohibit by law boards Of SUPER
visors and city councils in special
chartered cities from employing tax adj
justers, ana proceedings under the law
with the work OF investigating for and
collecting under the law, taxes on
omitted property is to take the very
life out Of our present revenue system.
The situation is not helped the least by
leaving Section 1874 on the statute
DOOA. II VIII De Oedu IetteI, unieSS IL
Is vitalized by the acts of someone
whose business 1t is to seek out and
find the millions Of moneys and credits
that are omitted from assessment every
year in the state Of Iowa.
Referring to the statement of the
actual value of moneys and credits and
corporat ton stocks running from 1892
to 1910 inclusive. it shows that the
assessment for the year 1910. or rather
the return for assessment, over the re-