Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-09-12

are 1900 miles away from you. You
ought to let them know how you feel
on pending legislation, otherwise how
can they know just what the people Of
Iowa want "a
Local Taxes Most.
While taxes mount higher and high
er each year, the governor surprised a
goodly portion of his audience by tell
ing them that of every dollar of direct
taxes collected, only s cents goes to the
state and the other 80 cents to the
city or township. He advised
starting Mt the very bottom-in the
home-and practicing the most rigid
economy. Here he quoted a saying
from Napoleon: Failure begins where
diligence ends. The world belongs to
the energetic"
Gov. Kendall is opposed to Il good
deal of the socalled modern education
Education" said he. has two pur-
misunderstanding and housekeeI'-
ing" He plead for more tlloroughncss
and less diversity of learning.
He explained why the executive
council was compelled to make slight
raise in the tax levy for the coming
year. "But you must not forget he
added. that the great burden of the
taxes are levied right in the county
where you live. He complimented the
Farm Bureau Federation for the in
terest it is taking In tax matters.
Farm Values.
In eauaiizing values, the executive
council has left farm values where
they were and has raised railroad and
other valua tons. The governors eX-
PLANTATION Of the raise in railroad
values is interesting. To quote him YER
batum, he said in part:
"In the assessment of property for
taxation purposes, it was the I'M
animous judgment of the council that,
considering the depressed prices which
prevail on all agricultural products. the
farm property of the state is now re-
spending with commensurate taxes.
and ought not to be compelled to carry
any additional burden at this time.
1.-THE railroad, interurban, telegraph.
telephone, express, sleeping car and
transmission line assessments. which
have remained practically stationary
for so many years, were somewhat ad-
vanced because the council deter
mined, after as thorough an invetiga-
ton as it was able to devote to the
subject, that, these utilities are not at
present making their fair proportional
contribution toward the maintenance OF
the government when compared with
the contribution made by other de-
scriptions Of property. Nothing radical
was attempted, however. and the in
creases as finally ordered are so mod
crate that no reason for legitimate
complaint exists. For instance. with
reference to, railroads the valuations
which have obtained for many years
were raised as follows. per mile:
Burlington from $4,000 to $4,000
&C. 4 n. w. from $500 to $4,000
milwaukee from $1,000 to $4,000
Rock Island from $1,000 to $4,000
'Ill. Central from $1,000 TO $4,000
Their Own Valuations.
ut is readily admitted that the ac-
curate valuation of railroads is a labor
of infinite difficulty, and that no ade-
quate machinery has been provided for
the ascertainment Of the facts. The
council availed itself of every possible
means 1t could command to assist 1t in
arriving ut fair conclusions, and so far
as l am concerned proper attention
was given to two considerations which
I regard as exceedingly persuasive.
Twice within the past eighteen months
the carriers above mentioned have as
serted the valuations Of their respect
i've properties in the most formal and
solemn manner. In order to obtain
rates between the states
insuring the 8 per cent guaranteed
them by the act of congress OF lo20
they certified to the Interstate Com
merce Commission as follows:
System Value Mileage Value
$j16,256,4O4 5000.
451 1888 33 54.1SO.
Milwaukee 61,7S1,0S4 G5,635.
Rock Island 302.426.76o 51.Oa3
m Central 9i0.372, 46j - .O35.
The valuations foregoing were sub
adopted by the Interstate
commerce commission, which there
upon so fixed transportation rates as
to yield an annual return Of G per cent
thereon, and the railroad companies
have ever since been in the full enjoy
mont of tbn rates SO established