davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1915-10-26
On 1o0%
haHia.
Demonstration of Figures.

Demonstration OF Figures.
"In calculating tho actual tax bur-
den the assessment alone is of no
value, the tax rate alone Is Of no
vRlue. and the application to the tax
rate Of the unreliable reported rela =
tions of assessed to true value to
measure comparative tax burdens
gives results that are confessedly err
roneous.
THE only reliable standards OF
measuring the tax burdens OF the
various cities are the tax ievies. tho
dollars actually raised by taxation,
and the per capita tax levy which
distributes the total tax burden
among the persons constituting the
taxed community.
"Thc denomination Of the nEurcs
In not that WashinHtOR's nssess men
In more than twO-thirds Of the true
value OF Its realty. but that the as-
sessmcnts of most other American
cities nre less than twO-thirds, Svcn
In cases where the nominal full valu-
alton prevails and that the reports
from the cities Of the relation Of as
hcssed to true value are 40 inaccurate
and tainted with error that fnntastic-
ally misleading results follow amy
attempt 70 apply these false reports
to modify the actual tnx-rate ns a
measure of comparative tax burdens.
"'The tables of figures relied on In
the House debate to demonstrate the
comparative lightness Of the WASH
ipgtOBinn's tax burden arc reode red
NalueleSs by the use OF ard reliance
upon this discredited and Inlsle adm Y
factor In their calculations.
A Just Comparison.
Mr.. Moves argued that WashinGton's
tax burdens should be compared with
cities OF It's immediate environment and
In the same geographical section. TAX
ing the States of Virginia. West Vir-
cinia. Maryland and Delaware. he illus
trated:
The cities in these Statcs. WITH popu-
laton over 5000. arc Baltimore Rich
mond. Wilmington, Norfolk. Wheeling,
Huntington. Roanoke. Portsmouth, and
Lynchburg. Not one Of these cities has
SO large per capita realty tax levy as
Washington: one only Lynchbure) ex-
oCeds Washingtons per capita total
property tax levy; none exceeds WASH
ington in pcr capita receipts plus an
equitable proportion of county and State
taxes.
I'm per capita receipts from all mu-
nicipal taxes plus per capita receipts
from all county and States taxes three
cities 'Baltimore. Richmond. and Lynch
hnrel slightly exceed Washington's ner
capita. while tho remaining six cities
The Washington times., 1915-10-26

Noyes about the police force needed
mere on account of the public buildings.
Commissioner Brownlow again said he
we have virtually four police de-
partments here" he said. "One IL the
Capitol police. a second the park police,
ana mere are the Metropolitan Police.
aids In supporting all these except the
capitol police"
Discounted BY Prefaces.
More than an hour was taken up this
morning with a discussion OF how the
real tax burden of a community could
be arrived at. Mr.INoyes asserted that
census figures read In the House to
prove that the District citizens paid
100 nttle taxes. were discounted by
prefaces In the bulletins containing
comparisons of cities. He said these
notes warned against acceptance OF the
the vague relations between assessed
ana true values. In only three States.
he said. have efforts been made to de-
termine real values BY tallying them
with actual selling prices.
In the District Of Columbia the s6zt
sents about 70 per cent of actual value.
while In other States 100 per cent may
pc, De rom y to 30 per cent Of zeal value. u
- iouT contentlOn. tnen, said Mr
Cooper. .is that. broadly speaking. the
price,"
THAT is my contention" Mr.. Noyes
replied.
Assessment Shows Nothing.
"All your figures show may be that
Washington is not paying too much. bu,
that other cities are not paying
enough" interrupted Senator Works.
NO" replied Mr.. Noyes. "Our con-
tention is that assessment shows moth
ing about the tax burden unless It Is
taken In conjunction with the tax rate
and with the actual value OF property
II the rate is high the assessment may
be low. and vice versa
Summing up his contention on this
point Mr.. Noyes said:
I'VE are approaching the whole ques-
ton of apportionment from this view
point; that the citizens OF Washington
are bearing as much OF a tax burden
II not more. In view Of peculiar dis
abilities and conditions here. as other
cites; tie,,,ua we are paying rs much much ,o,i as
We trust you will conclude that. since
Washington Is doing Its full share, Con.
gress should not impose an additional
burden upon 1t, when that burden Is
the Government. and not from internal
| needs.
Former Commissioner Macfarland
| concluded his argument before the Con
| gressional committee at o'clock yes
| terday after occupying the entire day
lie was congratulated by his colleagues
on the joint citizens committee for ar
| able presentation OF facts in support oi
| the existing falf-and-half system.
In concluding his argument Mr.. Mac.
farland exhibited charts and tables
| supplied from Information obtained
| from the census bureau In support oi
the citizens committee contention that
the District Is not undertaxed. as
| claimed by opponents of the half-and-
| half plan in the last Congress.
| Congressman Cooper said these fig.
| ures did not agree with those exhibited
10 the House by the enemies OF the
| half-and-half principle, and Mr.. Cooper
wanted to know why his colleagues In
the HOtIse had not used the Census Bu-
| reau figures.
Il do not know" said Mr.. Macfarland.
| but so far as the census reports are
concerned. do not see how they could
The Washington times., 1915-10-26
Discrepancies Amazing.

THE fact that In Washington as
sessment a nominal &c % per cent
means an actual % per cent. while in
Aaost other cities . nominal 100 per cent
The Washington times., 1915-10-26

New Line OF Inquiry.
Senator salisbury interjected some
humor into the proceedings when. after
a eulogy OF Delaware as a wholly desir-
able place to live in. he concluded:
Now in that glorious State there Is
no tax on personal property. yet no ono
ever heard of millionaires tocking
there.
Perhaps It takes more than tax
exemption to attract millionaires." sug-
gested Congressman Gard
Plenty come to California for the
climate Alone interjected Senator
Works.
Congressman Rainey opened a new
line of inquiry when he quoted from a
speech by Mr.. Underwood In which It
was stated that the expenses of Wash
ington were increased by the police and
lire protection necessary here on ac-
count of the many public buildings.
Now I would like to know whether
that Is So" said Congressman Rainey.
Many of the Government buildings
here are tireproor. | do not remember.
during my residence here. OF any tires
In them. 1t does not seem to me that
they tax the fire department heavily.
Can you tell me- Mr.. Noyes. how the
police and fire departments are over
burdened here because of the build
ings."
The Washington times., 1915-10-26
MINNESOTA.
Gross UnderyaluatiOns

"The report OF tho citizens subcom-
mittee on assessments and taxation dis
credits the reported relation Of assessed
to true value In respect to the nineteen
cities. which on the basis Of true values
as determined by actual sales are com
pared as a result of the subcommittee 8
earnest labors. The subcommittee says
on this point: The Investigations q
the committee demonstrate the mac
curacy OF the reported relations OF as
sessed to true value as printed In the
census bulletin. the committee figures
confirming In this connection the de-
thorities which discredit the reliability
OF these irresponsible reports.
1T may be noted that this discussion
involves the same factors and follows
the same lines as the argument that tho
assessors of many other cities have
comparatively undervalued the value OF
the city's realty for assessment pur-
poses These ,on gross undepva'ussions; ussa nn
the one hand to demonstrate that
Washington Is the richest city in the
country, and the failure to confess these
gross undervaluations In reports to the
census IL utilized to demonstrate that
Washington IL the lightest taxed or
American cities.
Fantastic Discrepancies.
Assuming that the reported bases Of
reports in the taxed fraction OF nom
industrial Washington realty values
amounting to s5Os. .79s. .4s5. On the same
assumption the Cincinnati assessor re-
ports in the whole of that populous,
wealthy and money-making city realty
values Of S37b. .O85, $50. one hundred and
thirty-three millions less than that In
| the taxed fraction Of Washington. The
Newark assessor reports two hundred
! and seven millions less of realty values
in that city than in Washington. The
New Orleans assessor reports two hun
dred and eighty-five millions less OF
realty values In that city than In Wash.
ington.
"Of course. the reports of relation o,
| assessed to true value which develop
| these preposterous results are false and
| worthless. Instead Of Washington
realty being assessed at a two-thirds
rate as compared with a three quarters
valuation In New Orleans and full valu.
alton in Cincinnati and Newark. the
true relation will place Washington a,
a comparative 100 per cent and the
other cities at small fractions Of full
valuation.
1.-The truth which am urging Is
taught not merely by = few selected
cities. but by the entire list. Compare
the reported 100 per cent valuation OF
Washington's realty with those OF tn.
other cities (all except Baltimore ap-
proximating Washington In size) in the
| following table:
The Washington times., 1915-10-26

Disadvantages of Washington.
Turning to the question of national
capitals. Mr.. Noyes argued at length
the peculiF disadvantages of Wash
ington. He said In part:
"All nations except the United states
encourage the development of the
taxable resources of the capital com
munity. directly or indirectly, in vary
ing degrees, or. at least, do not dis
courage commercial. manufacturing,
and Industrial development The
United states alone among nations
under q systematic though unwrittsn
The Washington times., 1915-10-26

any one project. This is the National
Capital and the Government may or
may not call upon the citizens here
to contribute. My idea In that tho
Capital should be taken over by the
Government and run under It's own
name and not by an alien.
The District Of Columbia II a sham.
Ii has no power and no substance Mt
all. II Is mere shadow and II
simply confuses the situation and
confuses the people outside OF WASH
ington. OF course the Government
ought to contribute to the Capital:
IT ought to be responsible for II and
pay for II, whether the citizens here
pay one cent or not"
The Washington times., 1915-10-26
As To Fire Protection.


1.-THE department Is a potential pro-
lection for the public buildings" Mr..
Noyes replied.
"Yes, but Is the department any
larger here than in other cities" asked
Mr.. Rainey.
Mr.. Noyes said he did not know. and
Commissioner Brownlow interrupted
with the statement that, In population
the department here compared favor.
ably with other cities, though, In respect
to area. its equipment and men were
less.
"Then you do not. think the depart.
ment necessary for adequate protection
here. other things being equal, would
need to be greater than in another
city" Mr.. Rainey asked.
NO" replied the Commissioner. "Ii
there. was any diNerence 1t would be
slight"
Congressman Rainey inquired Of Mr
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
Don't NEEDLE With Wires,

According to- the Duncombe Trib-
une somebody did a thing between
here and Duncombe a few days ago
that might have resulted fatally.
Webster City furnishes the electric
fluid for lighting Duncombe and a
number of farm homes along the
line between here and that town.
The Tribune says that "a static
wire west of Highview broke and
when workmen went to repair it
they found that someone had fasten-
ed the end of the wire to a corn
stalk in a field alongside the road.
The wire was steel and if it had
touched any Of the copper wires, the
party touching it would have been
killed.
It is a very dangerous matter to
meddle with any of the wires, even if
they are broken, and signs are in
conspicuous places to warn people
of the danger. Electric light wires
are dangerous to meddle with and
it pays to be careful. Telephone
wires are dangerous if crossed with
light wires"
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
Why not in Webster City?

Cedar Falls Record: The sugges-
tion has been made that the women
are entitled to a representative on
the school board and that If condi
tions are favorable some one will be
chosen as candidate for election
at the annual election to be held
this spring. In many OF the cities
of the country women are valued
members Of boards of education.
They are discerning and if anything
just trife more thorough than the
average man. They are quick to de-
tect flaws in hygiene and sanitation
and keep close to conditions affect
ing the children under the boards
charge. The Record believes that
the women of Cedar Falls should
select a candidate and present her
name to the voters at the annual
election.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
PARkAURST & Law I.
ENDER WIN PRIZE
Sold More Hudson Cars in Given
Time Than Any Dealers in
Towns This Size.

The automobile firm of Parkhurst
& Lavender in this city recently won
the Chaplin prize which was offered
the first of last September for sell
ling the most Hudson cars between
that date and Jan. 1, 1915. They
sold more Hudson cars than was sold
in any other town, according to
size, in America. The prize of 5000
was the first one, Los Angeles win
ming second, and Washington, D. c.,
third prize.
All the Ford dealers in Hamilton
county are Off on a weeks trip TO
Detroit this week, where they will
attend the convention of Ford deal
ers now on in that place. They will
be the guests of Henry Ford at
banquent one evening
and be the recipients of numerous
of the big Ford firm.
Dealers from several small towns
will be present from this county
among these being, Hood & Snyder
of Jewell; Peter Hove, Stanhope;
Holstrum & Anderson of Stratford:
O. G. Nelson of Ellsworth; Caruth
Bros, Williams; Lloyd Riley, Blairs-
burg, and Parkhurst G. Lavender of
this city.
Following the banquet the deal
ers will go to Chicago where they
will attend the big automobile show
now on in that city. Messrs. Park
hurst G. Lavender will leave tonight
for Detroit.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
THE SCHOOL AND
CITY ELECTIONS
The Former Held on the Second
Monday in March-Latter on
the Last Monday.

Interest is being manifest in the
coming school and city elections and
quite a number of candidates are
already in the field for city Offices,
but thus far no announcements have
been made for positions on the
school board. The school election
will be held on the second Monday
in March, which will be the eighth
of the month. The city election will
be held on Monday, March 29th. The
terms of all elective city officers ex-
pire as do the terms of DR.. McCauliff
and J. w. Lee, as members of the
schoolboard. The Freeman-Tribune
feels quite favorable to the sugges-
ton for q woman member of the
board and it believes that if some
woman of sufficient breadth for the
position would consent to become a
candidate there would be no opposi-
ton to her. We are informed that
neither one Of the retiring members
of the board will be candidate.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
new TRIAL IN THE
WEBER CASE DENIED
Judge Wright Refuses to Grant Mo-
tions Submitted by City's
7 Attorneys.

Some ten days ago the attorneys
for the defendant in the case of
Weber VS.. the City of Webster City
appeared before Judge Wright at
Fort Dodge and submitted some mo-
tions, as follows: Motion for judg-
ment notwithstanding jury verdict.
Motion in arrest of judgment. Mo-
ton for u new trial. Tie judge has
filed his answer with the clerk Of
the district court of Hamilton coun-
ty and denies each motion. There
is nothing left now for the defend
ants to do except to pay the judg-
ment of $4,000 or appeal to the su-
preme court. 1t is likely that if the
city were disposed settlement
could be reached by which the tax
payers would save several thousand
dollars, but nothing of the kind is
hoped for.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
J. l.. Lenhart a Candidate.

J. L. Lenhart has decided to stand
as a candidate for member Of the
council from the Second ward and
SO informs the voters in today's
Freeman-Tribune. Mr.. Lenhart has
lived in Webster City and vicinity
many years and has had experiences
in many lines of business activity.
He has been farmer and business
man and used to buy grain and
stock upon the market here in Web
ster City. He is a man of good judg-
ment and his integrity has never
been questioned. That he possesses
the ability to make good record as
councilman none will dispute and
those who know him best know
that he has the courage to
stand for the things in which
he believes. Mr.. Lenhart tells the
Freeman Tribune that he wants 10
see the city forge ahead and that he
is in favor of continued advance
ment. He is not SO much concerned
over the amount of money expended
as he is over the manner of its ex-
penditure. He wants every dollar
to buy one hundred cents worth of
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
A plan TO SAVE
THE SHADE Trees
Suggested That an Expert Forester
be Induced to Come to Web
ster City.

A plan has been talked of in the
city recently, which should meet
with the hearty approval of all
property owners who have trees
beautifying their lots.
This is to have government eX-
pert or forester from Washington
come to the city where his services
may be obtained by all owners OF
trees, at reasonable charges, to look
the trees over and save the vegeta-
ton from disease and death. Few
if any trees die from old age. They
die of some disorder, the same as
human beings and if that disorder
is checked the tree may be saved.
Few owners of lots which are
beautified by large trees involving
from twenty to fifty years in the
process of attaining maturity,
would hesitate to pay two or three
dollars or even more to an expert
forester who would save the trees.
A dying limb of a tree is like a
diseased hand or foot-it should be
amputated to save the life of the
tree. And the amputation should
be surgically treated just as any
common wound. To see a magnif-
cent maple tree dying from lack OF
proper treatment and neglect is a
sad sight to treelovers.
1t will be hoped that the Commer-
cial League or the park commission
ers may take this matter up and
find within the year such an expert
to come to the city and give resi-
dents a few instructions how to care
for their trees.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
annual SUPPER AND
BUSINESS MEETING
Brief Speeches and Program of Mu-
sic and Readings to Follow
Church Reports.

st. Pauls Universalist church IS
to hold it's annual parish supper and
business meeting in the church diu-
ing room this evening. At this
time the pastor and heads of each
department will make detailed re-
ports of work done during the past
year.
Supper, which has been arranged
by the ladies aid and Swastika socie-
ties, will be served at 6 o'clock. The
tables will be set in the recently re-
finished and re-decorated dining
room which, with new frescoins,
curtains, pictures and linoleums, is
as cosy as living room at home.
While the guests tarry at the
tables, the business meeting will De
held, including two or three brief
speeches by Rev. Haywood, E. P.
Prince and others.
At 7:30 the guests will go to the
church auditorium to enjoy pro-
gram prepared under the direction
of Miss Helen Woolsey. Besides mu-
sical numbers by the choir, and n
series of readings by Miss Woolsey,
Rev. Haywood will give a humorous
monologue entitled, Timothy Hay
seeds Experiences. The general
public will be welcome at this en-
tertainment.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
HIGH Price for Land.

Duncombe Tribune: Farm land in
this vicinity sustained a boost this
week, when P. T. Flynn sold the
north half of the southeast quarter
Of section and the southeast quar-
ter of the northeast fractional quar-
ter, consisting of 123k acres, for
S27,7S7.50, which is 1925 per acre.
This farm is known as the old Van
devender place.
Four years ago this piece of land
was purchased for $12O an acre.
That it has increased in value $1O5
per acre during this time, demon-
strates that Webster county land is
a good investment.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
The Bowling Tournament.

Fort Dodge Messenger: The To-
cal Outlaws and the Mason Guy
bowling teams closed the tourna-
ment which was held here for five
days of the Iowa State Bowling As
sociation. The two teams tried very
hard to come up to the score set by
the Rankin Colts team, who won the
five men event, but were unable to
come anywhere near it. The Ma
son City team bowled a very good
score in this event. They succeeded
in getting 2601 pins.
The committee Of three elected to
give out the prize money have COM
pleted their figures. Rankin's Colts
of this city, as winners of the five
men event, will receive $161.5O to
be divided among the five players.
John Ford and John Ruge as win
ners of the two men event will re-
ceive $142.5O. Joe Sweeney of the
Sioux City team, as winner of the
single event, will receive $125.50.
The scores made by the Outlaws
and the Mason City teams in the
three events are as follows:
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
new HIGH MARK
FOR sunday IN
THE QUAKER CITY
Nearly 1900 Persons Profess Con.
version at Three Services
Held Yesterday.

Philadelphia, Pa, Jan. 25.-
Billy" Sunday received by far the
most spectacular ovation yet accord
ed him in Philadelphia yesterday,
when he delivered the most sensa-
tional sermon of the campaign, Hot
Cakes OFF the Griddle, or the Devils
Boomerangs."
He flayed his vast audience, com
posed Of men only, numerically. He
dissected himself as he was in the
days of sin and he held up the spec
tres Of disease and death to the tens
of thousands who heard him. He
gained a record breaking number OF
converts, a total of 1,443 persons
protesting to have been converted at
the three services. Yesterday morn
ing 313 responded to the call, 6O7
yesterday afternoon and 523 last
night.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
WILL TALK TO new
YORK FROM FRISCO
over THE PHONE
Man Who Heard First Word Over
Wire to Break in" Transcon-
tinental Service.

San Francisco, Cal, Jan. 25.-
Thomas A. Watson, an associate OF
Alexander Bell, inventor of the tele-
phone, and who heard the first word
spoken over a wire, will talk from
here to Mayor Mitchell in New York
today at a celebration of the COM
pletion of transcontinental tele-
phone service.
The original experiments were
made in Boston in 1875. Watson
was on one floor of a building and
the inventor on another. Bell spoke
the first words over the wire. He
said: "Mr. Watson, come here; |
want you
Watson has come from New York
for the purpose of talking over the
long line.
Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-01-26
Breaks Arm,

Steve Gordon, who is employed by
the Lou V. Mills plumbing estab-
lishment, had the misfortune to
break his arm this morning, He
was helping to steady some radia-
tors on a dray on the way to the
English Lutheran church and lost
his balance, falling from the dray
to the ground. His arm was broken
between the shoulder and the elbow
by the fall and a physician set it
at once.