Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1890 — THE DEMOCRATS AND TAXES. [ARTICLE]

THE DEMOCRATS AND TAXES.

Railroad Companies Find Favor with Them, Farmers Bear a Barden, Indianapolis Jottnwl.— — —• , •. • The shifting of the burden of taxation from personalty to real estate as proposed by the Democratic party of the State will be of great benefit, especially to railroad corporations. The taxable values of the latter have always been carefully watched by Democratic State boards of equalization lest they become too great. Pleas of railway officials as to poor physical condition and failure to do anything more from earnings than to meet current expenses and pay interest have not been unheeded. On that account the railway values placed by Democratic boards are far below the natural order of increase as observed by the Republican boards. The latter this year placed upon the duplicate $69,763,676 as the aggregate value of real property held by the railroads in the State. The last Democratic board, that of 1886, thought that property at that time was worth no more than $55,244,820. Since 1882 the work of 'the State Board of Equalization in this respect has been as follows, in comparison with the mileage of each year: Year. Mileage. Valuation. Admin. 18t2.. ..4,898.44547,^5,.Repub1ican. 1888.. .5,240.19 ... 53,480,932. .Democratic. 1834.. ..5,2.9.49.... 55,057,687. .Dem icratic. 1885.. . .5.495.24.... 54,983,513. .Democratic. 1886.. . .5,560.32.... 55,244,820. .Democ-atic. 1887.. . .5,079.55.... 62,092,439. .Republican 1888.. . .5,745.75.... 64,211,717. .Republican 1889.. . .5,825.81 ... 66,241,532. .Republican’ 1890.. . .5.929.28.... 69,762,676. .Republican Increase in mileage during Democratic administration (1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886), 661.88 miles; increase in valuation, $7,359,422. Increase in mileage during Republican administration, 1887,1888, 1889 and 1890, 368,96 miles; increase in valuation, $14,517,856. In addition to $14,219,463, the value of rolling stock, is on the duplicate. Putting taxation on lands, is urged, and thus burdening the farmer and small householders to an extent that will virtually deprive them of their property, will exempt that great sum alone fioin bearing its share of taxes