Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-11-21
I(Continued from FIRST page.)

"In 1903 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
$2,140,259 less than the 1902 assess
ment. In March, 1905, the suit of the
L. & N. Company against Auditor
Coulter was decided in favor of the
State the court holding the 1902 fran
chise assessment of $10,774,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
pahy did, at no time. reach the equal
of the 1902 assessment Of $10,774,899
until 1911. and this. in spite of the fact
that Milton H. Smith, president Of the
II. G N. R. r., testified in the United
States Court at Frankfort, In 1905 that
the tangible property value alone Of
the L. & N. Railroad in Kentucky In
1905 was $7O,0O0,OOO.
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. c. G. Nc
Chord and Auditor Henry M. Bosworth,
two gentlemen who 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 State?
The one hundred million dollar In
crease means half as much as tho
amount of the total value Of all the
property equalized 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 In
crease equals the amount Of the total
value OF all property equallzed for tax
alton In the counties Of Campbell. Fay
cite, Kenton and Franklin, which In
clude the cities of Newport, Lexing
ton, Covington and Frankfort.
"Comparing the increase of one hun
bred million dollars with the Western
section of the State, 1t equals the
amy6ilnt Of the total value of all prop
erty equalized for taxation in the en-
J 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
bred million dollars with the Contra
: 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
) 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 amour
4 of the total value Of all propert!
) equalized for taxation In all the coun
3 ties embraced In the old Ninth ant
g Tenth Congressional Districts, will
9 the exception of the county Of Fleming
e or, in all twenty-six counties.
: Crisis In kentueky's Affairs.
r This is a crisis in the affairs o
!. Kentucky. 1t is fight brought b.
+ eight tax-dodglng corporations direct
/ ly against the more than 2,O00,00
souls who live in the sS counties o
this State, traversed by their lines.
This is fight Of wrong agalns
right; inequality against equality; un
fairness against fairness, and injustic
against justice.
"Those last words OF my brother
BE brave and fearless and loyal to tn
great common people. have neve
ceased burning In my brain. and Il
my heart, and when In August last
was beseiged to agree to reductloi
OF many millions ON the new 1912 al
sessments, gave the exact feelin
that possessed me then and II is tn
same today-T would rather lose m
life than be party to a shamefu
compromise of what know rightflll
belongs to the State and the people.
81 am opposed to making politics
asset Of the matter OF employment Q
3 additional counsel to pay debts or pul
; chase a favor. What l have done /
assist the board. any other private cit
zen could have done. II some OF thos
who were so quick and prompt whe
there was a Job in sight. to interced
for certain attorneys. had in year
past turned their attention to RELIEF
ing the sufferings Of the State an
people from unequal taxation. the
would at this hour be rightfully ell
titled to some consideration In the 81
lection Of special counsel.
y Corporations Again Show Hand.
( y charge. and am willing and read
'e to prove II necessary, that emlssaris
e Of these corporations. who. by dar
O. and damnable methods. tried their be,
n to prevent the Board OF Valuation an
y Assessment from making proper a
~ sessments OF their property. are toda
., meddling in the matter OF the emplo
q nent OF special counsel to assist n
"a lttorney General In these cast
rs against the State. and II they can Co
s. troll the selection they may be d
Is pended upon TO pay any man OF STRAY
u more than the State will agree to pa