The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-10-10

roads of Kentucky and whose valu-
atoms have just been declared ridicu-
lousy low by Judge A. NJ. J. Coch-
ran, Of the United States District
Court, to whom the railroads appeal
ed in the matter of the valuation OF
their franchises.
The Kentucky Board of Valuation
and Assessment, 1t will be easily re-
membered, boosted valuations on the
franchises of the roads last year.
Justus Goebel, Of Covington. brother
of the murdered william Goebel, had
worked up a case against the roads,
showing how they had escaped taxa
ticn and presented IL to the State
Board when the time came for valu-
ing franchises. Following the preced-
ent set by the Ohio Taxing Board,
the assessments we're boosted, In
some cases 200 per cent and the rail-
roads "hollered."
Later, when the Railroad Commits
sion met Lawrence B. Finn, one of
the Democratic members, wanted to
make a similar boost in the valuation
of the actual property of the roads,
but Mr.. Garrett. Republican, and Mr..
X air. Democrat. stood by the rail-
roads. and prevented any increase In
their taxes. Now, at the hands of
Judge Cochran, It seems that the
work of Klair and Garrett Is about
to be undone and that the railroads
of Kentucky will hereafter have to
pay their just share Of the taxes in
Kentucky, just as they are paying an
honest tax In Ohio and Indiana and
Wisconsin.
The battle between the Fusionists
on one side and the Democrats on
the other has waxed warm the past
week. The Democrats have accused
the FusiOnists Of charging flowers
for the courthouse to the expense Of
maintaining the standpipe on the
Richmond Pike. the cost Of portrait
Of Col. W. c. P. Breckenridge. to
charity, the salary of an engineer
at the customhouse and other items
to the Jail and various other alleged
mischarges. the alleged purpose being
to make good showing in the ex-
pense of management Of the court
house. The jail also comes in for
attack by the Democrats in the mat
ter of frequent escapes from the in
stitution, the so-called excessive cost
of disinfectants as compared with the
former administration Of Judge Frank
A. Bullock and other items of ad-
ministration in which the Fusionists
have spent more money within a
given time than the Democrats.
The Fusionists dec AIRED the Demo-
Gratis have ''juggled" the figures and
come back with questions relating
&c, the location of the voting booths
during Judge BullOck's term OF office
in alleged questionable places and
the control of the Democratic Or
ganization by Billy Klair, Tom Combs
and Frank Bullock when they were
the whole thing in the Democratic
parry in the county. The Democrats
have a better show to win this year
undoubtedly, for they had a primary
that was fair and while there Ia some
soreness. or rather was some sore
ness, most of the candidates have
swallowed their medicine and are in
line for the ticket.
Four years ago the rebellion in the
Democratic ranks WIS caused by ar
rangements for a primary. which
we're manifestly unfair. so much 90
that Judge Watts Parker Withdrew
from the primary. along with Dar
Scott. candidate for Sheriff, and ran
on an independent ticket. defeating
the Democratic nominees for Circuit
Judge and Sheriff on the issue of a
''fexed" primary so that ii would re-
suit In the nomination Of the mel
wanted by the old organization whetl
er they got the votes or not. Since
then the Democrats have learned Q
lesson. Judge Bullock having been
defeated for reelection, the Demo
cratic city ticket at the Last election
having slid thru by the skin Of the
teeth Railroad Commissioner Biny
Klair having been beaten IN his own
ranks when Matt S. Walton downed
his candidate for Representative II
the Legislature by good majority.
together the race in Fayette look
like a close one with neither aide
having any great advantage. tho thu
Fusionists have the offices and ths
advantage they give 70 candidates In
a new election.
The chssges of the Democrats Of thu
switching Of expense charges have
not been explained or denied 80 far
Nor have the Democrats yet answer
led the question about shoestring pre-
cinctS snd voting booths In question
able piaces under the old Democraki'
RUE.