The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1912-11-27

VIII zee that proven. -.
TN 1908 with the validity OF the
1902 increase pending In the United
States Court. the Board for some in
conceivable reason fixed the franchise
assessment of this company at $685.
994 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
chise assessment of this company at
s2,14O,259 less than the 1902 assess
ment. In March, 1905, the suit OF the
l.. q N. Company against Auditor
Coulter was decided in favor of the
State. the court holding the 1902 fran.
chise assessment OF s10.774,s99 to be
valid; but, Notwithstanding the fact
of this court proof of value Of the
/ franchise of the l.. & N. Railroad, in
1902, the assessment against this com
pany did, at no time, reach the equal
of the 1902 assessment Of s10,774.S S99
until 1911. and this, in spite of the fact
that Milton II. Smith, president of the
L. & N. r. R., testified in the United
States Court at Frankfort, in 1906 that
the tangible property value alone of
the L. & NJ Railroad in Kentucky in
1906 was s7O.OOO,OO0.
Gentlemen. am quoting from pub
lie records.
"This is more proof of how our State
has been robbed. Accurate information
enables me to say for Hon. G. G. Nc
Chord and Auditor Henry NJ Bosworth,
two gentlemen who served on State
Taxing Boards in years past, that they
we're at the mercy of a 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 State?
The one hundred million dollar In
crease means half as much as the
amount of the total value Of all the
property equalized for taxation in the
county Of Jefferson, which includes
the city or LOUISVILLE.
Comparing the increase with the
counties that contain the three largest
second class cities of the State the in
crease equals the amount Of the total
value of all property eQualixed for tax
alton in the counties of Campbell. Fay
ette, Kenton and Franklin, which In
clude the cities of Newport, Lexing-
ton, Covington and Frankfort.
Comparing the increase Of one hun
dred million dollars with the Western
section Of the State, 1t equals the
amount of the total value of all prop
erty eQualized 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- |
ton of Henderson and Davies.
Comparing the increase Of one hun |
dred million dollars with the Central |
portion of the State. It equals the
amount Of the total value Of all prop |
erty equalized for taxation In the |
Eighth Congressional District. embrac- 4!
ing ten counties, and In addition there |
to 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 1t equals the amount
of the total value of all property |
eQualiged for taxation In all the coun-
ties embraced In the old Ninth and
Tenth Congressional Districts. with
the exception Of tho county Of Fleming.
or. in all twenty-six counties.
Crisis In kentwe.sy's Affairs.
This Ia a crisis In the affairs OF
Kentucky. II is q fight brought by
eight tax-dodging corporations direct
ly against the more than 2,000, 900
souls who live in the 80 counties OF
this State traversed by their lines.
This is night Of wrong against
right; inequality against equality; un-
fairness against fairness. and injustice
against justice.
Those last words Of my brother
BE brave and fearless and loyal to the
great common people have never
CCooO0 Al ny anu Ah |
my heart, and whom In August last
was beseiged to agree TO reduction
of many millions on the new 1919 as
sessments. gave the exact feeling
that possessed me then and II is the
same today would rather lose my
life than be a party to a shameful
compromise of what know rightfully
belongs TO the State and the people.
II am opposed to making political
asset Of the matter of employment OF
additional counsel to pay debts or pur-
chase a favor What have done to
assist the board, any other private citi-
zen could have done II some Of those
who were so quick and prompt when
there was a job in sight. to intercede
for certain attorneys. had in years
past turned their attention TO reliev-
ing the sufferings Of the State and
people from unequal taxation, they
would at this hour be rightfully en-
titled TO some consideration In the So
lection OF special counsel