Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-20
CHARGE CLARKE $500.

SSN'Ne SS-SS'
Who killed cock robin? Governor
Clark did, says the Webster City Free
man Tribune. Governor Clarke raised
the farmers taxes, therefore he can't
be reelected" But did he do it? Let's
see about that
The average quarter section Of land
in Scott township in Hamilton county
finds its total tax boosted from s5S.72
last year to 1887 this year and, of
course, somebody did it, but did Cover
nor Clark do it?
Governor Clarke was one OF four Of
icials on the executive council who in
creased land valuations for taxation.
Heretofore this $3.50 land in Scott
township had been returned for tax
alton at an average value OF s47.52 per
acre. The assessors this year boosted
it TO s5.47 and then the league Of
municipalities went into court secur-
ing writ ordering the executive coun-
Gil to obey section 1905 Of the code of
Iowa which states that all property
shall be valued at it's actual value
and defines actual value as cts value
in the market in the ordinary course
Of trade The writ was quashed in
appeal to the supreme court but it was
in force when the executive council
valued the property OF the state for
taxation and farm land in Scott town
ship, Hamilton county was valued at
sI2.57 per acre on an average. The
executive council called this its market
value.
Then on Aug. / the council sent out
a letter TO ali county auditors warning
them Of the increase in values and urg-
ing them to instruct all local taxing
boards to reduce their levies and /;
was done in Scott township for an av-
erage quarter section pays this yeal
SIS cents less for all township purposes
than it did last year. S26.71 as com
pared to s27.37. In spite of an increase
Of 50 per cent in land valuation the
township board kept it's levies dowr
and actually reduced the township tas
On every farm. Evidently Governor
Clarke did not increase township
taxes. Who did increase the taxes then
In Hamilton county the board Of su-
pervisors knew all about the increase
in values and reduced its levies 70,
county purposes in all funds excep
the bridge fund, road fund and schoo
fund 30 as to raise the same amount 0:
money as before. 1t cost a quarter.
section actually "a cents less this veal
than it did last year for general coun-
| ty purposes in spite of the increase
| Governor Clarke had made in LAND
| values, s11.32 as com pared to s11.5s
Evidently Governor Clarke did not in.
crease county taxes.
Who did then? Why the Hamilton
| county board needed more money fol
county bridges 30 they boosted an av.
erage farmers bridge tax from $3.50 t.
! $ll.6l, an increase OIL St.ul LOT COUNTY
bridges but Governor Clarke had moth
ing to do with that. The county board
did that.
| The state law fixes the county schoo
levy of 1 mill minimum so this in
creased this FARMS tax 81 when value
were raised but neither the executive
council nor Governor Clarke coult
change the law.
The county board had taxed farm
S2.ss for county roads last year an.
the new road laws would have com
PEELED an increase this year to 1911 blu
the county board in Hamilton count.
believes in good roads and went mil
better. putting the county road tax a
$1161 or an increase Of 1916 on thi
farm for county roads but Governo
Clarke had nothing to do with tina,
The county board needed the none
flor good roads and raised more eve