Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-07-17
SMALL OWNERS OF PROPERTY
NOW BEAR HEAVIEST BUR.
DEN OF TAXATION.
TAX HEARINGS ARE
BROUGHT TO CONCLUSION
Stipp Suggests Taxation at Actual
Vauation-Plan' Presents Many Diff
ficuIt'es-LittIe Expected in Way Of
Reform Until Tax Commission 10
Given Authority.
Special to Times Republican.

furnish TO state officials a recipe for
an absolutely fair and equitable system
Tor taxation OF Iowa property, the
members of the state executive council
viii adopt it Immediately.
The trouble is with the present
system" said Governor Clarke, durin :
the discussion. that the burden OF
taxation falls heaviest on the small
owner OF property, and the changes
suggested would bat add 10 the dis
crepancies. We will not secure as
sessments at full value. or on an equal.
ity until it is done by tax commits
the assessors at the bottom and not
With the equaiiZa ton at the top
County auditors and members OF
boards representing several counties Of
the state-Wap apollo, Fremont. ALBANIA
kee, Winneshiek. Warren, Mitchell-in
the main agreed with others present
that but little can be expected in the
way of reform until a state tax COM
mission is given authority and county
assessors Greet the work.
II. II. Stipp, attorney, rather stirred
the ire Of some members OF the coUn
ell by some intimations he made IN the
course OF an argument. He contended
for raising all assessments to actual
market prices and said that unless the
council does this the members are no,
living up to their oaths. But he had
no figures 20 offer as TO what would
be proper basis for commencing.
We expect TO make the adjustme nts
and valuations az actual values as
shown by the evidence submitted 10
US" said Mr. Allen.
But the council has refused to DO
that very thing" said stipp.
How do YOU know the mem hers did
not use their best judgment in arriving
al their conclusions?"
Best evidence in the world; because
they have said So was the reply.
VINO has said so?"
81 refuse TO state or quote from any
one"
Tax on Actual Values.
, Stipp took the ground that the coun-
Gil should commence with railroad
property and fix values at actual worth
then raise ali others to actual value
George c. White, ex-member OF the
legislature from Story, called attention
to the fact that the Thirty-fourrh gen
eral assembly recognized that propert!
values are and can not be fixed
market prices. The county auditor o.
| Warren county raised a question Whic!
! nobody got over. He showed that az
| for .wo-thirds Of the farm propert!
I OF the county il is now assessed al
actual value. To raise the other thirc
! 20 full value would mean TO boost ths
| two-thirds way beyond actual value.
/ Can we afford to commit the create
! Injustice by this kind Of an adjustment
| than 10 leave matters much as lheS
are ~ a skad a member. In other Wofds
I aEv scheme for a horizontal raise O
valuations will but accentuate the IN
Justice and inequality of the presen.
Never let il be said there is no sooc
land in Iowa. The council had II Gem
onstrated yesterday that there ls
whole lot of mighty poor lana IN iowa
For instance. as TO Allamakee county
II was declared the county mas gfea
deal Of .and almost worthless. 80 a!s'
az 70 Fremont, Winneshiek ana wa
pelo.
Peculiar Situation Disclosed.
4 peculiar situation came up as u
waDello. While the state was defeno
ing itself from attacks at OttuHl"a
y7ar7 hers of the board and the couh >
auditor were before the same state Oh
Acials begging for an adjustment ina
f, vvo,,Id give them an advantage IN Tax
a-ion matters 1t was even suggeSle'
~rorn that source that the council nlgh
oraer raise Of say 10 per cent OF
rronarties worth a certain sum, ana y
~ 20 mar cent on more valuable prop
,r-hi
Judge Hunter might object.
- c-a.n Of West Liberty, repre-
sar,tirg the Corn Growers Association
spoke of the attitude OF .he "a me
generally in favor Of e9uaAty Oh 'aAa
ton. - ,+ re-
Member Of the council sought re
peatedly to have anyone GIVE
definite plan for arriving at acluaI a.
ne either of the railroads or laflii ~
er,y. Mr.. Bleakly suggested ulaI w
railroad attorneys do not agree az
after wears OF effort the interstate ~
MERGE commission has not
abIe TO determine how 10 i@ ., :.
values and how could tne coui'eH ~
il III three or four Gays
The hearings are now conciuueo'
Exoress Companies Complain
An interesting fact IN coii"ee''o-
with the hearing was brought out ~
an attorney for the Wells-faFso e.
nress Company. He demonstrated ina
the naroels post law has been terri
hIs thing for the express companies
and has taken away a great deal o.
business from them. In fact. accord
ing to their figures, business com
menced to decline almost immediatei!
on the people having chance at send
ing parcels by mail, and has continued
to decline to the presea: time. .