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

1907 increase penulng IN the United
States Court, the Board for some In.
conceivable reason fixed the franchise
assessment OF this company at t2,5ss..
eet less than the 1902 assessment. In
1904, with the validity Of the 1902 In.
creased assessment still pending In
the court, the Board fixed the fran.
ohise assessment OF this company a,
ea,it0, 269 less than the 1909 assess
ment In March, 1905. the suit OF the
L. a ~ Company against Auditor
Coulter was decided In favor Of the
State, the court holding the 1902 fran
chise assessment OF {l0.774.sss to he
valid; but. Notwithstanding the fact
OF this court proof OF value Of the
franchise OF the l.. a ~ Railroad, In
1902, the assessment against this com.
pany did, at no time. reach the equal
OF the 1902 assessment OF sl0.77t,s9g
until 1911. and this. In spite OF the fact
that Milton H. Smith, president OF the
L. a ". r. r.. testified in the Unitei
States Court at Frankfort. In 1906 that
the tangible property value alone OF
the L. 4 N Railroad in Kentucky In
1905 was 100000
Gentlemen. I am quoting from pub.
lie records.
"Thls ia more proof OF how our State
has been robbed Accurate information
enables me to say for Hon. c. G. Me.
Chord and Auditor Henry NJ. Bosworth.
two gentlemen VINO served on State
Taxing boards in years past. that they
were at the mercy OF majority ad.
verse to their views and inclined
against the interests OF the people
What the Increased Valuation Means
"What does the hundred million dol.
lar increase made by the present
Board OF Valuation and Assessment on
corporation franchises mean TO the
people OF different sections OF the
State and To the whole STATED
The one hundred million dollar In.
crease means half az much as tbs
amount OF the total value OF all the
property equahzed for taxation in the
county Of Jefferson. which includes
the city OF Louisville
Comparing the increase with the
counties that contain the three largest
second class cities OF the State the Ia
crease equals the amount OF the total
value Of all property equaliEed for tar
alton in the counties OF Campbell. Fay
cite, Kenton and Franklin. which IN
clude the cities OF Newport. Lexing
ton, Coyington and Frankfort.
h. - h.tr.
bred million dollars with the Western
section OF the State. II equals tho
amount OF the total value OF all prop
erty equaliEed for taxation in the en-
tire First Congressional District EN-
bracing thirteen counties. and. in ad
dition thereto. OF all the counties OF
the Second District. with the eXcep
tion OF Henderson and Davies.
Comparing the increase OF one hun
dred million dollars with the Central
portion OF the state. II equals tn
amount OF the total value OF all prop
erty equalized for taxation In the
Eighth Congressional District. embrac
ing ten counties. and In addition there
10 the county OF Fayette. which In
cludes the city OF Lexington.
Comparing the one hundred million
dollar increase with the Eastern sec
ton OF the State II equals the amour
OF the total value OF all property
equallzed for taxation In all the coun
ties embraced In the old Ninth and
Tenth Congressional Districts. with
the exception Of the county OF Fleming
or. in all twenty-slx counties.
Crisis In kentueky's Affairs
This Il a crisis In the affairs Of
Kentucky II Is fight brought by
eight taN-dodging corporations direct
~ against the more than 100000
souls who live In the 9s counties ~
this State. traversed by their lines
This Is a fight OF wrong agains'
right; inequality against equality; uu
fairness against fairness. and injustice
against Justice
Those last words of my brother
lie brave and fearless and loyal TO the
great common people have never
ceased burning In my brain. and in
my heart. and when In August last
Vas beseieed TO agree to a reduction
II many millions on the new 1912 as
easements. I gave the exact feelin-
hat possessed me then and II Is tn
,ame today I would rather lose nv
lie than be parry to a shameful
OF what know rightfully
belongs To the State and the people
Il am opposed to making a political
asset OF the matter OF employment OF
additional counsel to pay debts or pur
base favor What ! have done ~
assist the board. any other private cit
zen could have done. II some OF thos
Who were NO quick and prompt whe'
here was a job in sight, to interced
or certain attorneys. had in year
,ast turned their attention 10 reliey
ng the sufferings OF the State ani
'eople from unequal taxation, tn
would at this hour be rightfully en-
tiled to some consideration in the -
ection OF special counsel
Corporations Again Show Hand.
Il charge. and am willing and read
o prove II necessary. that emiss-r'er