Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1899 — TAXING (?) CORPORATIONS. [ARTICLE]

TAXING (?) CORPORATIONS.

“Every franchise (i. e. the right to use public property for private use) granted by any law of this state, owned or used by any person' or corporation, and every franchise or privilege used or enjoyed by aniy person or corporation shall be listed and assessed as personal property.” Sec. 8435, R. S. 1894. Within the city limits of Rensselaer there are two such franchises or privileges as are above referred to, the Western Union Telegraph Co., and the Jasper County Telephone Co. Together these taxes will amount to sl4 for 1898. The W. U. Co., was assessed on 1.18 miles of line in this city —that part of the line along the railroad track—in 1898, at $325 per mile, or a total of $384. Not a cent was assessed on its franchise along streets and alleys, which cost it nothing, nor on its double line from the C. I. & L. depot to its up-town office on "Washington street, eome 3,000 feet in length nor on its office and office appliances. Neither has anything ever been assessed against any of these properties. The Jasper County Telephone Co., was assessed on three miles of line at $25 per mile in 1898, or a total of $75! Not a cent was assessed on the franchise, which is the basis of every dollar of its Value, and without which its stock would not be worth the paper it is printed upon; not a cent on its office and exchange and fixtures and phones, about 300 in number, which are reported to be valued at $8,000! And what is worse, not a cent of this valuable property —this 12£ per cent dividend-paying property —ever found its way to the tax duplicate, although it has been in existence for more than four years! The American Express Co., has 1.18 miles of line inside the limits of this city and is assessed at $450 per mile. It also has an office up town. And these properties have been maintained and used since the new tax law went into effect in 1891, yet for the year 1898 this grinding corporation came near escaping taxation all together and was only placed on the duplicate last Wednesday morning, when we called the attention of the of- ; ficials to the matter and we understand some $531 was at once placed against them. It is assessed nil on its office and office fixtures and appliances. The Standard Oil oetupus —the worst trust of them all—has maintained a depot here for nearly two years and as yet the assessor has been wholly unable to discover that fact, and they, too, have gone scot free.

But justice over took three parties this week, who had failed to list for taxation three worthless dogs, and fines and costs were paid to the amount of $35.06. Since the dog business is satisfactorily disposed of, would it not be well to take up some weightier matters and thereby replenish the city treasury? The Democrat thinks there is dire need of some such action on the part of the tax officials.