Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-24
FACTS PRESENTED
IN SPEECH BEFORE BONA
PARTE AUDIENCE.
COMPARISON OF LAND
VALUES SURPRISING
Extreme Examples Of Values in Wash
inston and Plymouth Counties az
Land Valuation in Van Buren, coun-
ty-'ncrease in Railroad Valuations.
TO Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Bonaparte. April "a. = Governor
Clarke revealed some astounding facts
here last night in relation 20 the slar-
ing Inequalities Of taxation in Iowa.
He pointed out as extreme examples
the land values Of Washington and
Plymouth counties as originally turned
in 10 the executive council by the
county boards Land values in these
TWO counties do not actually differ
widely IN Washington county the To-
cal board fixed the average per acre
valuation Of land at sS1.i4 and in Ply
mouth county similar board fixed
their valuation per acre AT s:i.5i- This
nanifestly unfair and unequal assess
mert was adjusted as directed by law
by bringing same 10 its taxable val
ue" A decrease in valuation was or
dered in Washington county and an
Increase in Plymouth.
The governor further disclosed IN his
address that in -h!-ty-tive counties IN
Iowa the assessments Of lands fixed by
local taxing boards was less in 1913
than in 1911, altho it is well known
that they in fact enjoyed an increase
during the intervening years of SO
to SIS per acre.
lnequ aIities in Assessment.
Under such inequalities in assess
mert." said the governor, there mus,
be greater inequalities between individ-
uals in bearing the public burden.
Nothing can be more ourraseous than
40 or-,-
burden that another should bear or
that his burden is heavy. while an
other. who is able TO carry it and more.
IS light.
There should be equality il sacri-
fee IN taxation. each citizen sac-ific-
ing in proportion TO the actual value
Of the taxable property owned by him.
There is no remedy for this inequality
except by obeying the law ii the mat
ter Of assessing al actual value ana
equalizing upon that basis
Governor Clarke frankly stated that
Van Buren, county was one OF those
which had submitted q lower valuation
in 1913 He said:
Taxation in Van Buren, County.
This county has a comparatively
low land valuation. In 1911 your local
taxing board reported to the state
s3S2l as the average assessment vslu-
alton per acre on Van Buren, county
land. The executive council fixed the
valuation that year at s3s flat. In 1913
your local taxing board fixed the av-
erage per acre valuation at 1857. This
reduction was in the face Of the gen
eral increase Of land values. 1t is past
understanding how land in this coun-
ty should have been lowered in valu-
alton. and therefore, il the general ec-
justment OF land values Of the state by
the state executive council for pur-
poses OF taxation Il was fixed at s41.4e
per acre.
Immediately upon the completion
by the executive council Of its WORK as
an equalization board il reduced the
state levy for general revenue purposes
TO 20 mills, lower than il has been for
twelve years, and wrote letter TO
every county auditor in the state tell
ing Of the increased valuation and
saving: The council recommends that
great caution be taken by the boards
Of supervisors in fixing the local lev!es
q. the lowest possible rates. Where
this IS possible the council strongly
recommends that the amount Of tax
be not increased on account OF in
creased valuations, but that the rate
OF levy be reduced. The council urges
that the levies De carefully consid cred
in order that they may be is low as
vii. care for public !2tecesrs
Fail to Lower Local Levies.
This suggestion was acted upon in
some counties and local levies lowered
r., :,,- ~ IF ties
It was not needed.
1T is pointed out that township
trustees n April determine the amount
20 be raised for township purposes and
perhaps fix the rate as they may do.
1t is true that school authorities had
determined the amounts they deemed
necessary to be raised and had cert;-
fed same TO board of supervisors, who