Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-29

aSo0 IL IN every HpccCu dH0 nave H1UlHs
tanned 1t at all times. that am not
going to shift any blame or to say that
this or that person Is more responsible
than another for this situate There
is nobody to blame. II the people want
all these things which are incident to
the best civilization they must pay for
them. For instance, the other day
was in a fine Iowa city where they are
making great progress and take pride
in all that they do On inquiry found
they are paying in taxes in that city
107 mills on the dollar. OF that. 40
mills goes to the state. though OF that
the most OF it goes back again into
the local communities. How is the rest
distributed? A certain amount for
paving. more for street lights. some for
waterworks great deal for roads.
then for schools and all the other
things. I have no doubt every dollar Is
wisely expended. But I say to these
people that as a state official it is no
collect in taxes for all these things.
That is for them to decide. And they
do decide, and In most ases wisely.
Down in central Africa the people
don't pay any taxes. The reason Iowa
the things which the harbarians do not
want and could not use.
Statement Refuted.
eft has been said by some persons
evidently in ignorance rather than
malice that the work of the state board
of review in equalizing assessments as
between counties so that these shall
conform to the requirements of the
law. by lowering where assessments
were too high and raising where too
low, both as to real estate and classes
of personal property. came as sur
prise and distinct shock to the ottl-
cials having 70 deal with these subjects.
That Is not true.
1.-THE code of Iowa is so plain on the
subject that no man can be IN douot
as to what it means when IT com
manGs valuation at actual value IN
the market The executive council. not
alone last year. but three and four
years ago ard on back. has sent out TO
the local officials the plaine-st klnd
of instructions. quoting the essentlal
sections of the law. printed in black
face type ard emphasized in every pos
sible way. These instructions have
gone to every county and each ana
every assessor has been definitely IN
structed. unless the law has been fg-
nored entirely. that valuations must
he in accord with the law.
Then you will recall that three or
four years ago letter was sent by the
LEAGUE Of municipalities to every coun-
tv attorney virtually demanding that
they enforce the provisions of the law
as TO assessments and calling on them
to commence proceedings to remove Of
ficials who failed to make assessments
and euualizati ons lawfully.
1T has been said the legislature did
not know that assessments in Iowa
should be at actual market value. The
legislature adopted the code. The leg
islators know the law. Every official
from township assessor to district
Judge knows, and has known all along
what Is contemplated in assessment
and valuation Of property, and 1t is the
part of loyalty to our state and in the
interest Of fairness and equality OF tax
burdens that all the laws of the state
be upheld and enforced with impartial
ity.
Critics Are Unfair.
Those who criticise public officials
and seek to profit by prejudices thus
aroused are unfair in their methods
What 1 mean is illustrated by the sit
uation as found 1t in Jefferson coun-
ty Not word had been said there
about the equalization Of values or
personal property The farmers haG
had It dinned into their ears how as
sessments on their land had been raised
in the process OF equalization. They
were not told that in some counties real