South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-29
FRANCHISE TAXES
TAKEN Up BEFORE
BOARD OF REVIEW

late this afternoon the board OF
review levied an assessment of
100000 on the Chicago. south
Bend & Northern Indiana Railway
Co. franchise i'm south Bend. and
S25. 900 on the franchise Of the
same company i'm NiShawaka.
South Bend assessments Of
500. 900 each. on the franchises
Of the Indiana & Michigan Elec-
trio Co. and the Northern Indiana
Gas & Electric Co. were left 60
stand without increase. The city
had asked that each OF these val
uatiOns be raised 10 100000.
.... .essss
Whether it is within the province Of
local taxing officers 10 assess the fran
chises of interurban and street railway
companies was aruged before the
board of review in session Monday
morning, incident 10 Nishawaka's night
for an increase of assessments of the
property of the public utilities in that
city. Mayor Gaylor backed the night
with his presence. while the city was
represented i'm "a taikatlNe way by CITY
Atty. Jernegau, Isaac Kane Parks and
Jack b. Ingledrum.
Although an assessment Of 500, 600
was placed upon the franchises OF the
n
ago. and there are fights on 20 have
those assessments increased both I'm
South Bend and MishaWaka, street
railway franchises have heretofore es-
capped. Atty Harry Wars. representing
the Chicago, South Bend a Northern
Indiana Railway Co. insisting that q
is not within the province of local
taxing officers. bat falls within the
jurisdiction Of the state tax commits
sion.
THE value Of such franchises is
taken into account in determining the
value OF capital stock for taxing pur-
DCses." said Atty. Wair and 20 assess
them again locally would be double
taxation" He quoted decision OF the
appellate court in support Of his opin-
ion. but relying upon the state statutes.
and even going SO far as 20 hint that
the appellate court decision had been
dOped, the BIishawaka lawyers main-
tained differently
Board Gives No Hope.
II was "A decidedly see-saW brand Of
argument and went on for couple of
hours. Unless there has been some
change in the law since two wears
ago said one member OF the board.
Il cannot see how we can find differ
emily than We did then We put d tax
on the franchises Of the gas and cleo
trio companies then. bat the state tax
commission explained 10 Us that we
should keep OF from the street rail-
way franchises. as the taxation OF such
franchises belonged 10 them this i'm
accordance with the contention Of Mr..
Wair
Give MS chance" was the next
plea OF the Mishawaka men. Levy
assessment OF 81 OF Of a million dol
lars. and leave chance 20 appeal and
settle the question, with a confirmation
or -overruling Of that appellate court
drivle." said Jack Ingiedrum. IF
you make it a dollar we VIII appeal it.
and if YOU make it a million YOU may
be sure that the other fellows Will"
following which an adjournment was
taken until afternoon The Impression
sessment. though decision was with
held.
Mayor Keller Present.
Previous 90 the taking up Of the
street railway case. the matter Of as
sessmeut OF the Indiana a. Michigan
Electric Co. franchise in South Bend
suffered a brief attack Mayor Keller.
Controller Manning and 4 I'll. Rice.
m mber OF the board OF -vorks were
on th- Job. backing City ATTY. Seebirt
with Saeir moral influence. They were
sidetracked when Mishawaka appear
ed on the scene. the board preferring
20 finish up the contests ~ that city.
and have them over with