The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-21

on franchise valuation OF onij
S1,sss,s70, and In 1911 on a valuation
Of only s+.B10.s20. whereas. the boar'
found their 1919 assessment should b
Sl4,7te,sb7. The l.. a N. n. X. In 100
paid taxes on a franchise valuation o.
only se,b0l,s7 and In 1911 on a yalua
ton OF only sli.sss. 200, whereas. th'
board found their 1912 assessment
should be s4b.+2s,0H.
Flight Must BE to . Finish.
81 want to tell you gentlemen, thai
that assessment 10 fair and Just, snt
n we get Justice In the courts we vii
win. But, no lees Q man than the Hon
william J. erysn, the great champion
Of the people, has stated that courts
do not always do justice TO the peo
pie; and that other great champion o.
the people, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt
said the same thing, and recently
charged that some OF the Judges Ia
put on the bench proved dlshones,
Gentlemen, ! want you 70 90 Into TINS
f,pht, with an ardent heart and with
loyal lawyers, and fight to . hnlsh sno
TO death, " necessary. Now, ! want &c
cay to you ! am no corporation hster
I am q business man. I know we have
TO have corporations, and big ones
but we don't have TO have them TO the
disadvantage Of the people. want
them to have dividends. But ! do not
want them to reap them at the expense
Of the people and the other taxpayers
Let them pay what the other taxpayers
pay. Equality 10 all I want.
without exception all these com
pan.es and the two others now suing
wanted the same assessment for 1872
that they had In 1911. The Board OF
Valuation and Assessment based theiI
1912 assessments on convincing proof
OF values placed before them. and the
assessments are uniformly just and
fair. and OF the more than four hun
dred corporations assessed by he
board this year. only eight have pro
tested In the court, and these are
among those that have always pro.
portionately paid the least.
State Robbed OF Millions.
In the last twelve years. since the
death OF william Goebel. the State.
counties and cities have been robbed
land the word robbed is the only word
that its the easel OF more than ten
million dollars In taxes.
~ am going TO prove Il.
In the years from 1902 to 1911. In.
elusive, a period OF ten years. there
has been an average increase In the
franchise assessments OF the four
largest railroads In the State OF only
~ per cent yearly
Think OF Il! and this almost I'm
believable record OF Rstonlshingly
small increases was made In the ten
best years for earnings that the rail
roads OF this country ever saw.
Inadequate Taxation Of Railroads.
The picture here presented OF the
previous inadequate franchise assess
ments Is astounding. but when one
examines into the situation regarding
the tangible assessments made by rail
road commissions OF the properties OF
four OF the corporations now suing
the State, the word astounding Is In.
adequate and here must be supplanted
by the word 'dumbfounding' to state
more correctly what the tangible as.
sessment picture actually presents
Take the case OF the e. a o. X X
and the records show that the tangible
property OF this company In 1892. 20
years ago. was assessed at SS.0l9,571
the much added mile.
age OF road. double tracking OF a vast
system. acquiring much new real 90
tate, probably more than doubling the
equipment OF engines and cars. anG
increasing by earnings the
value OF its stock $50 per cent. this
tangible property was as
sessed in 1911 at only s6.270.270. OF
2lA per cent less than In 1892. 20
years ago Further comment to show
that our State has been robbed is un
necessary.
The other railroads have been sim
larly inadequately assessed on their
tangible property for many years
Prevent Honest valua.
tions.
In fact. until this year the Board Of
Naluation and Assessment has been
In the interest OF the
wealthy corporations by some hook OF
,rook. either friendship. political favor
rendered or TO be rendered. bribery or
but never before has the
state. counties or cities been given
what they were rightfully entitled TO.
Another OF the many examples Of
iagrant abuse of public trust.
81 wish ! could leave out OF my
,emsrks what I am about TO say, but
hat 10 impossible under present cir. |
Until now, I have said
,ery little about the L. a N. Railroad. /
Some may say that ! have an old ami. |
mostly TO the L. d N. Railroad Com. |
'any, because OF the assassination OF
ny brother. ! say, gentlemen, that 10 /
! mistake. In my state OF health and
Il my age, ! have nothing but love /
or my fellow men, whether they agree I
With me or not. Next TO the last word, |
hat my dear brother spoke were /
hese: They do not understand. O.