Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-12
GATHERED BY THE WAYSIDE

Us tina, every move for reform Of ,he
taxing system Is opposed by The rail-
roaGs and similar corporations. The
truth Is as 10 railroad taxation thar
Falues which attach 70 stations yards
and improvements in the cities, are
now distributed along the entire sys-
TENS and The taxing .iistric; which lie
along ther ights- of-way are collect
ng and Using taxes Levied On these c!ty
values, and there isn't a rural taxing
district which include 4 railroad right
of-way out that : getting taxes 10
which il is not fairy entitled.
4 striking illustration OF this might
be given II a certain place IN Iowa
there IS a stretch OF railroad assessed
for taxation at $4,000 mile, and
eighteen miles running thru rural tax
ing districts. Now nobody would pre-
tend that a strip OF ground 100 feet
VIDE and one mile long should be as
sessed for SIS 600 il Only its actual
value as a right OF way vas TO he con-
sidered- The twelve acres OF there
abouts might be worth for assessment
thousand dollars. The other 81. goo
represents value gwen by reason OF
terminals and connections ard use in
other states But township and
school district having SIX or eight
mics Of this track. which might be
would De in the happy position of
pay very large share OF the local
taxes. As for that railroad it would
hardly approve the present Iowa sys-
rs-sr7 nr 81
, owners of the taxing districts along
the right OF Way viii certainly oppose
state taxation OF railroads
II the municipalities Of Iowa range
themselves against tax reform and de-
tea- the constitutional amendment in
tended 70 pave the way for effective re-
form. another long delay and agitation
VIII follow a great deal o. excellent
educational work has been done in re-
cent Years TO open the way for better
rnen- Of the taxation Laws OF the state.
State officials. legislators. publicists.
and newspapers nave Joined in pointing
out the need Of something to be done.
Now that q legislature is to be elected
that 8aay deal largely with the oues-
ton there IS as Vet no real discussion
% me major problem OF taxation.
There can never oe any home rule for
cities until the assessment question is
swept OFT o. the way. for as things are
nov -he state must keep hand on the
! assessment and taxation business IN
ever district.
4 decided Injustice hes been repeat
| edlF done the state administration by
4 some of the editors of the state. prob
1 ably thru ignorance as much as any
1 thing else, m regard to the assessor Ell,
I u railroad property and the distribu-
I ton Of rail Values for taxation purpos-
/ IS. That which il has been made hard
/ Cor the people 10 understanding
/ easy for the iemagogues 20 nnisrepre-
ssnt-is the change that ras made a
Z rear ago in the manner OF distribution
Of these values. One m e-uber Of the
legislature, az least. is actually run.
! ming on a pledge TO see to ii that the
+ old nnetno1 OF distribution is restored
/ namely. TO nave values nigh on certain
4 parts Of tire systems ard lOr on other
! parts os the same system This was
{ another scheme Of the ra ilroads which
/ they induced the executive council tc
! adopt in the years they had full con-
/ troll. And It had been carried alone
| on the supposition that Il vas in ac-
/ cord with law. But last year pre-.
/ cedents did not go. and only the Code
ot Iowa was taken as guide II wa:
found that the code provides exactl,
now the values shall he distributed
and that is by the systems as a whole
There IL not a word or hint anywher.
Of distinction between main lines am
branch lines. SO the distribution O
values was made by systems, not be
cause the state administration believed
one way better than another but sim
ply and solely because that is the onl,
way that is legal and right. 1t is no
true. as every intelligent person knows
that the members os the executiy,
| council made the change because O
n belief that the old system was essen
tally unfair. tho OF a truth 1t was un
fair. The change was because no othe
course could be followed without VIC
lation Of the code. And it is solel.
because OF this following of the cod
that the claim is made that fifty mil
lion dollar increase IN railroad assess
ments was in fact so per cent de
crease.
Appropriations by the present con
sress have now reached sum whicl
means expenditure for the fedora
, government amounting to at least 81
per capita for each man. woman an
} child In Iowa Additional taxes ar
| being asked and viii be made Tn
, additional taxes will amount to NOR
for the people Of Iowa than the ent:.
state tax.
The tax problem has some funn
phases.