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 Report of the special Tax coniinission lap 
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REPORT 
 
 Special Tax Commission 
 
 (Appointed May, 1911) 
 
 TO THE 
 
 GOVERNOR OF IOWA 
 
 1912 
 
 Authorized by Chapter 204, of the Acts of the Thirty-fourth 
 General Assembly 
 
 DES MOINES 
 
 EMOET H. ENGLISH, STATE PEINTEK 
 1912 
 
&^6^?/ 
 

 .V" 
 
 FEB 
 14 
 
 1939 
 
 -V-N 
 
 '■v 
 
 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 
 
 Honorable B. F. Carroll, Governor of Iowa. 
 
 Sir. — The Special Tax Cammission appointed by you in May, 
 1911, under the provisions of Chapter 204 of the Acts of the 
 34th General Assembly, by ■virtue of which said Commission was 
 authorized to examine into the subject of taxation and the tax 
 laws of the State of Iowa and other states, and to maie recom- 
 mendations for the improvement of the tax laws of the State of 
 Iowa, having completed its work, submit herewith its report for 
 your consideration and transmission to the General Assembly. 
 
 Dated October 8, 1912. 
 
 M. H. Cohen, 
 Chas. N. Voss, 
 
 A. C. RiPuiY, 
 
 B. E. Stonebeakek, 
 
 J. H. McCONLOGUB, 
 
 Commissioners. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 In response to a demand which had become quite general 
 throughout the state for a revision of the tax laws, the 34th 
 General Assembly passed a law authorizing the Governor to ap- 
 point a Special Tax Commission of five members to investigate the 
 revenue laws of Iowa and of other states and report its findings 
 to the Governor for the use and consideration of the 35th General 
 Assembly, together with a bill or bills to carry out its recoinmenda- 
 tions. An appropriation of $10,000 was made for this important 
 work. 
 
 On May 17, 1911, Governor B. F. Carroll announced the mem- 
 bership of the Commission as follows: Mr. M. H. Cohen of Des 
 Moines, Mr. C. N. Voss of Davenport, Mr. A. C. Eipley of Garner, 
 Mr. B. B. Stonebraker of Rockwell City, and Mr. J. H. MeConlogue 
 of Mason City. At the first meeting, held July 6, 1911, Mr. Cohen 
 was elected President, and Mr. Voss, Vice-president, of the Com- 
 mission; and at a subsequent meeting on August 2nd, Mr. J. E. 
 Brindley of Ames was appointed to act as Secretary. 
 
 Since the time of its organization, the Commission has held 
 twenty-one meetings and has been in session fifty-five days. 
 Sixteen meetings have been held at the State House in the City of 
 Des Moines, one at Richmond, Virginia, during the sessions of the 
 Fifth Annual Conference of the National Tax Association, Sep- 
 tember 5-7, 1911, and the Others at Davenport, Iowa, April 9-10; 
 Topeka, Kansas, April 29-30 ; and Sioux City, Iowa, June 5-6, 1912. 
 The Commission decided to go to Kansas and make a special study 
 of the practical working of the county assessor and tax commis- 
 sion system of that state; first, because Kansas is a neighboring 
 state where conditions are to some extent much the same as in 
 Iowa; and second, it is generally admitted that the revenue 
 machinery of that state is now being administered with as much 
 success as in any commonwealth of the Union. Members of the 
 
6 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Commission also visited Minnesota, Colorado, Wyoming and 
 California. 
 
 In addition to the regular meetings of the Commission, a large 
 part of the detail work has been done through committees. In fact, 
 the original draft of both the county assessor and tax commission 
 bills, which were finally united into one measure, was written by 
 committees appointed by the President of the Commission. The 
 revenue bill, however, incuding all other reports prepared by 
 committees has been carefully considered by the full membership 
 of the Commission in its regular sessions. 
 
 During the numerous meetings of the Commission, three dis- 
 tinct things have been kept in mind : first, the importance of com- 
 ing into close touch with the taxpayers in order to ascertain what 
 changes are most desired, and would, therefore, be most likely to 
 meet with the approval of the General Assembly; second, the 
 necessity of making a careful investigation of the tax laws of 
 Iowa and of other states ; and third, the work of drafting a revenue 
 bill or bills to put in operation desirable and necessary reforms. 
 
 It was primarily for the purpose of determining the views of 
 Iowa taxpayers representing the different economic interests that 
 a session of eight days was held January 10-18th of the current 
 year, which was preliminary to a regular Stalte Tax Conference 
 called by Governor Carroll to meet in Des Moines a few weeks 
 later, on March 20-21. Great interest was manifested throughout 
 the state in the deliberations of this Conference. Seventy-four 
 counties and four educational institutions were represented, with 
 two hundred eighty-one official delegates. More than a hundred 
 other taxpayers were present at part or all of the sessions, which 
 means that every section of the state was represented. It was for 
 the same purpose of holding public hearings that meetings were 
 arranged at Davenport and Sioux City, as above indicated. 
 
 It is thus apparent that the commission has taken nothing for 
 granted, but has made an earnest effort to study the revenue laws 
 of Iowa and of other states and at the same time ascertain the 
 temper of the public mind regarding various proposed reforms. 
 During all of the public hearings of the Commission, including 
 the State Tax Conference, it has been frankly admitted by nearly 
 every speaker that the primary defect of the present system of 
 taxation is the lack of efficient responsible administration. In fact, 
 it may be stated that the improved machinery of assessment pro- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 7 
 
 vided for in the proposed revenue bill is in harmony with the best 
 economic thought and most successful experience and is a neces- 
 sary basis of other fiscal reforms which may appear advisable from 
 time to time as circumstances may require or experience may 
 direct. 
 
 No improvements have been suggested in the method of collect- 
 ing taxes for the reason that it is generally admitted that our 
 revenue system is more efficient along this line than in the work 
 of assessment and equalization. The fact, however, that ap- 
 proximately $400,000 is lost annually in the form of delinquent 
 personal property taxes, shows that it is possible to place the col- 
 lection of this particular tax on a more business-like basis. 
 
 Other tax problems are mentioned in Chapter V which have 
 not been incorporated in revenue bills for two reasons: first, some 
 important and perhaps necessary changes are impossible under 
 Article VIII, Section 2, of the present constitution and, therefore, 
 require a constitutional amendment; and second, the Conamission 
 believes that before certain reforms can be intelligently recom- 
 mended, a more thorough investigation of all the facts should be 
 made by a permanent state tax board. 
 
 In conclusion, the Commission desires to emphasize the im- 
 portance of a more rigid economy in public expenditures, both 
 state and local. At the present time, more than nine-tenths of 
 the taxes levied in this state is for local purposes, which means 
 that the people themselves, through their local subdivisions of 
 government, are primarily responsible for the larger part of any 
 increase in the amount of taxation. The purpose of more efficient 
 machinery of assessment and equalization is not to increase or 
 decrease taxes as such, but rather to equalize and properly dis- 
 tribute the public burdens. The universal result, however, of 
 more rigid state and county supervision of local assessment is to 
 place a large amount of property, for the most part of an in- 
 tangible character, on the assessment rolls, which had formerly 
 made no contribution to the public revenue. In other words, the 
 effect of the establishment of the state tax commission and county 
 assessor plan is to reduce the average amount of taxes on property 
 already listed, provided additional levies are not authorized by 
 the people themselves to support the various functions of govern- 
 ment. This being true, any presentation of statistics purporting 
 to show that taxes are higher in certain states having tax com- 
 
8. TAX COMMISSION REPORT , 
 
 missions than in other states which have not established such 
 boards proves nothing at all, for the obvious reason that the levy 
 of taxes is always a legislative function, vested in the people them- 
 selves through their chosen representatives, while the assessment 
 and equalization of property is simply an administrative function 
 exercised by assessors and assessment and equalization boards. 
 
 The Commi^ion desires to express its appreciation of the 
 courteous treatment it has received from the state, officials for in- 
 formation and statistics furnished, and to extend to such officials 
 the thanks of the Commission for the assistance rendered. 
 
 The Commission also wishes to acknowledge the work done by 
 Professor John E. Brihdley, Secretary of the Commission, and 
 to accord to him credit for valuable assistance in the preparation 
 of our report. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 HISTORIAL INTRODUCTION. 
 
 If it is true that practical men have no lamp by which their 
 feet are guided except the lamp of experience, it logically follows 
 that a brief historical statement showing the development of any 
 important problem should constitute a sound working basis of 
 any proposed constructive reform. This is especially true of the 
 complex question of assessment and taxation. The fundamentals 
 of our revenue system, the ad valorem principle of listing prop- 
 erty, township, town or city assessment of general property and 
 state assessment of the property of various public service cor- 
 porations, township, county and state review or equalization; and 
 certain special forms of taxation like that on banks and insurance 
 companies, reach far back into the history of the state, and in 
 some cases even to the territorial period. A brief statement, there- 
 fore, of the revenue history of Iowa, showing the temper and 
 thought of the people in the past, will shed much light, both on 
 the amount and character of fiscal reforms, which the taxpayers 
 themselves through their chosen representatives are likely to accept 
 in the future. 
 
 Needless to say, the most distinctive feature of our whole revenue 
 history is the genera,l property tax itself. In this particular, Jthe 
 experience of Iowa is quite similar to that of every other state in 
 the Union. Indeed the general property tax, borrowed as it was 
 from earlier jurisdictions, largely in fact, from th0 original Ohio 
 laws, established by the First Legislative Assembly of the Ter-' 
 ritory of Iowa in 1838 and continuing to the present time, forms 
 the very heart of the revenue system. This being true, it is neces- 
 sary t<j understand this tax thoroughly before one can 3udg6 fairly 
 concerning the iiaftire and scope of other reveiiue problems. ; 
 
 Any thorough study of general property iaiation! ; should be 
 made from two standpoints: first, the underlying'' -prlntipliBS or 
 
10 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 theory of the tax itself ; and second, the administrative machinery 
 of assessment, review, levy and collection. Unless this important 
 distinction is made, no discussion of the general property tax is 
 scientific and trustworthy. For example, political economists, and 
 practical tax reformers as well, have condemned this tax indis- 
 criminately without bearing in mind that the machinery of ad- 
 ministration is more at fault than thj underlying principles of 
 the same. This Commission believes that the general property 
 tax is open to serious criticism from both viewpoints, but that the 
 almost complete failure of the system itself is primarily the re- 
 sult of lax and inefficient administration. 
 
 To review in mere outline the machinery of assessment and 
 equalization, it may be said that a county assessor was provided 
 for by the First Legislative Assembly in 1838, the appointment of 
 a deputy being authorized in 1840.' Township assessment was 
 introduced for the first time in 1844.^ but in 1845 county assess- 
 ment was re-introduced and remained in force until 1853. The 
 law of 1853 provided for annually elected township assessors and 
 further re(iuired that such assessors should meet at the office. of 
 the county judge and act as a county board of equalization. 
 
 This was, indeed, a radical change from county assessment and 
 review to township assessment, and what, in some measure, 
 amounted to township review.^ County assessment, however, was 
 again introduced in 1857, but it proved to be only temporary, as 
 "the township system in vogue at the present time was permanently 
 established in 1858. In other words, the system of listing prop- 
 erty by assessors elected annually in the civil townships, until 
 1882 when the biennial method of election was established, has 
 been in force for more than one-half a century, and is, therefore, 
 firmly rooted in the customs and thought of the people. 
 
 With reference to the important subject of review or equaliza- 
 tion, it may be said that almost every conceivable plan has been 
 followed at some period of our revenue history. At the beginning 
 of the territorial period, corrections in the assessment roll were 
 made by the county assessor himself in co-oepration with the clerk 
 of the board of county commissioners. This duty was soon trans- 
 ferred to the board of county commissioners, a body quite similar 
 to the present county board of supervisors, which method con- 
 
 1. Laws of Iowa, 1839-1840, p. 66. 
 
 2. Laws of Iowa, 1843-1844, pp. 32, 33. 
 
 3. Laws Of Iowa, 1:852-63, p. 123. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 11 
 
 tinued in force until 1851 when the county judge system was 
 established. Prom 1851 to 1853, the county board of equalization 
 was composed of the county judge, clerk and treasurer. As already 
 noted, the law of 1853 gave this authority to the local assessors 
 themselves meeting at the ofBce of the county judge. This strange 
 system, however, was only temporary, the law of 1857 providing 
 for a county board of reveiw, composed of the county judge, clerk, 
 surveyor, assessor and sheriff. 
 
 When the county judge system of local government was abolished 
 in 1860, and the county board of township supervisors established 
 on the basis of the New York law, the work of review or equaliza- 
 tion of assessment was placed in the hands of this board, com- 
 posed, as it WEis, of representatives elected in the civil townships. 
 This method continued in force until 1870 when the present 
 county board of supervisors was established. At that time, a 
 radical and important change was made, resulting in the present 
 system of equalization. The review of individual assessments was 
 placed in the hands of township trustees or similar authorities in 
 towns and cities, and the county board of supervisors retained the 
 authority merely to adjust the aggregate valuations of the various 
 minor civil divisions.* Thus the present system of township re^ 
 view of individual assessments and county review of aggregate 
 values of the various subdivisions of local government has been 
 the law for nearly one-half a century. 
 
 We should bear in mind, however, that state equalization was 
 established by the Code of 1851, this authority being given to the 
 Census Board, a body corresponding to the present Executive 
 Council." Strange to say, this state board was at first given power, 
 at least on paper, to adjust individual assessments, but the law 
 was soon changed to its present form which merely clothes the 
 Executive Council with the authority to increase or decrease the 
 aggregate assessed values of the various counties of the state. 
 
 From the standpoint of certain necessary reforms, it thus, ap- 
 pears that a number of important facts regarding the evolution 
 of administrative machinery for the assessment, equalization and 
 collection of taxes are very significant. From 1838 to 1858, county 
 assessment prevailed during about three-fourths of the time. From 
 1838 to 1870, Iowa had no township system of review or lequaliza- 
 tion. During this entire period the work of equalization or cor- 
 
 4. Laws of Iowa, 1870, pp. 94, 186, 187. 
 
 5. Code of Iowa, 1861, p. 83. 
 
12 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 rection of the assessment rolls was a county function, being vested 
 first in the board of county commissioners, later in the county 
 judge in co-operation at one time with the local assessors them- 
 selves, and later with certain regular county officials, and finally 
 in the county board of township supervisors. This fact is par- 
 ticularly instructive when considered in relation to the recom- 
 mendation of the Commission that the county be made a more im- 
 portant unit of local government from the standpoint of review 
 or equalization. 
 
 It should be stated that the movemient in favor of township 
 assessment and equalization prior to 1870 was simply a part of 
 the general extension of township government, which was the 
 logical result of settlement from the northern states where that 
 type of local institutions predominated. In other words, the legis- 
 lators of Iowa consciously adopted and, in some cases, literally 
 copied the statutes of Ohio, Michigan and New York. In many 
 respects the early county forms of administration had given more 
 satisfactory results, and under the present conditions, with town- 
 ship assessment and review, a recognizied failure in practice, there 
 is coming to be an urgent demand in Iowa and other states for 
 county supervision of local assessment which necessarily must in- 
 clude county review of individual assessments. 
 
 The levy and collection df taxes has always been a county 
 function. During the territorial period, and imtil 1851, the levy 
 was made by the board of county conimissioners, this authority 
 being vested in the county judge from 1851 to 1860, in the 
 county board of township supervisors from 1860 to 1870, and 
 finally in the present county board of supervisors. Save for the' 
 optional system of township collection, provided in 1868, which 
 did? not prove popular or successful, the collection of taxes, with 
 thfe. exception of special charter cities, has always been placed in 
 the hands of the county treasurer and his deputies. Thus we 
 see. that the recommendation to make the county a more im- 
 portant imit of local government for purposes of assessment and. 
 taxation rests upon the solid foundation of our revenue history. 
 
 We have already noted that the general property tax should 
 be judged, first, from the standpoint of revenue machinery, and 
 second, with reference to the underlying principles of equal and 
 uniforin taxation. But little aeed be said regai-ding the general 
 basis or plan of ad valorem taxation. The first act passed by the 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 13 
 
 Legislative Assembly of the Territory in 1838 provided for the 
 levy of a tax on real and personal property, the assessment to 
 be made at the value of the property. At the following session, 
 the phrase "at the actual value" was placed in the law provid- 
 ing for the listing of real and personal property for purposes of 
 taxation.* In 1841, the revenue measure clearly provided that 
 the assessment should be made upon the value of land per acre, 
 the value of town lots and of all other property subject to a 
 tax for county purposes.'^ In 1844, additional provision was made 
 for money at interest and corporation stock, which was required 
 to be taxed at the "true value." Two years later the term "cash 
 value" was applied to the assessment of real and personal prop- 
 erty, it being further required that assessors should consider the 
 fertility and quality of the soil, water privileges, the vicinity to 
 roads, towns, villages, navigable water, and, in fact, all other local 
 advantagies.' 
 
 In the Code of 1851 and the Revision of 1860, also in the Code 
 of 1873, we note a somewhat more detailed explanation of the 
 term "value," but the underlying principles are the same. In- 
 deed, nothing of importance has been added to the theory or basic 
 principles of general property taxation since the territorial period. 
 Different terms have been employed in different revenue measures, 
 such as "value," "true value," "cash value," "true cash value," 
 "current rate," and "actual worth in money." The courts have 
 uniformly held that the listing of property at its value, cash value, 
 or whatever term is employed, means the listing of the same fox 
 the price it will bring on the market in the ordinary course of 
 trade and not at a forced sale. In other words, the principle of 
 ad valorem taxation dates back to the xery beginning of our 
 revenue history, and as we shall see later has been expanded so 
 as to apply to the property of socalled public service corpora- 
 tions. The Code of 1897, which provided for assessment on the 
 twenty-five per cent basis, still required the listing of .property at 
 its actual cash value. 
 
 Passing from the general property tax, including, as it does, 
 the administrative machinery of practically our whole revenue 
 system, we come to the subject of the taxation of corporations. 
 While Iowa has never had a general corporation tax, as that term 
 
 6. Laws of Iowa, 1839-1840, p. 64. 
 
 7. Laws of Iowa, 1840-1841, p. 67. 
 
 8. Laws of Iowa, 1845-1846, pp. 5, 6. 
 
14 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 is usiially understood, at least two of three general principles 
 should be carefully noted before considering the method or plan 
 of taxing special classes of corporations. 
 
 , Prior, to 1851 the : property of corporations was almost uni- 
 versally included in the general property tax as administered by 
 Local assessors. The rale that certain corporations,, however, should 
 be taxed through theiir shares of stock was gradually applied, the 
 same, to be listed at their true cash value as above suggested. Up 
 to 1873, the law did not specify whether the real estate of cor- 
 porations should be separately, taxed, nor was the nature of cor- 
 porate stock clearly defined. Indeed, there is nothing in the Code 
 of 1851, the Revision of I860, or the Code of 1873, to indicate 
 whether corporate stock should be considered as credits, a very 
 important question when we bear in mind that holders of credits 
 are permitted to deduct their just debts. 
 
 When the Code of 1897 was adopted, however, the following 
 points had become established along, fairly definite lines: first, 
 that in listing corporate stock the value of real estate should be 
 deducted and taxed where located ; second, that in some cases cor- 
 porate stock should be entirely exempted from taxation, in other 
 cases the amount of just debts should be deducted from the value 
 of the stock, and in still others no deduction of debts should be 
 permitted ; and third, that the taxation of corporate stock in gen- 
 eral, especially stock in foreign corporations, constitutes a very 
 complex problem which has not as yet been solved in a satisfactory 
 manner. The Thirty-fourth General Assembly in 1911 passed a 
 law prohibiting the deduction of debts from aU classes of bank 
 stock, thus treating, national bank stock the same as the stock of 
 state and saving^i banks and loan and trust companies.^ 
 
 Dealing more specifically with the taxation of corporations, it 
 should be stated that banks were Uie first to be put in a class by 
 themselves from the standpoint of assessment and taxation. The 
 revenue act passes by the First General Assembly in 1846 included 
 the capital stock, undivided profits or means of any company, in- 
 corporated or un-incorporated, in the personal property which 
 was required to be listed for purposes of taxation.^" The Code of 
 1851 also contains a provision placing in the list of general proper- 
 ty liable to taxation the shares of stock in any bank or company 
 
 9. Laws of Iowa, 34 G.. A., Chap. 63. 
 10. Laws of Iowa, 1846-1847, p. 137. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 15 
 
 incorporated or otherwise and incorporated in this or in any other 
 state.^^ 
 
 Railroads first entered the state in 1855, and from that date 
 until 1862 they were taxed on the shares of stock in the hands 
 of the individual stockholders. In 1862, the gross receipts system 
 was estahlished largely as a war measure, one-half the revenue 
 going into the State Treasury and the other one-half being dis- 
 tributed among the counties on a mileage basis. In 1870, the law, 
 however, was so amended as to give only one-fifth of the tax to 
 the state, the remaining four-fifths being distributed among the 
 counties. 
 
 It is a significant fact that the chief objection to the taxation 
 of the shares of railroad stock, and later, the gross receipts sys- 
 tem, was the method of tax distribution. As this is one of the most 
 important objections to the present ad valorem railroad tax law, 
 it is apparent that the plan of distributing the proceeds of rail- 
 road taxes has been open to serious criticism from the very be- 
 ginning of railway taxation in 1855. 
 
 Under the law of 1862, imposing a tax of oh» per cent on gross 
 earnings in lien of all other taxes, the right of a municipality to 
 levy taxes upon the property of a railroad within its limits was 
 for a considerable period a disputed question. In two ca»s the 
 supreme court was e<|ually divided in its opinion, which meant 
 that the decision of the lower court, denying to the cities such 
 right, was by operation of law afiirmed. In a later ease, however, 
 the court held that a municipality did have a right to tax the prop- 
 erty of a railway porporation within its limits; in other words, 
 that the act of 1862, as amended in 1868, providing a gross earn- 
 ings tax, was limited in its scope to state and county taxes and had 
 no reference to municipal taxes.*^ 
 
 With reference to telegraph, telephone and express companies, 
 only a word need be written. Telegraph and express companies 
 were first include*! in the general property tax. In 1868, however, 
 a law was passed providing for an arbitrary assessment of these 
 corporations, the amount of their personal property being fixed 
 at forty per cent of the gross receipts; but this act was repealed 
 in 1870.*' In the case of express companies, the taxation of their 
 
 11 Code, 1851, p. 76. 
 
 12. Dunlelth nnd Dubuque Bridge Co. vs. The City of Dubuque, 32 Iowa. 
 427. The court had been eguaUy divided In Dubuque and Sioux City Kallroad 
 Co. vs. The City of Dubuque 17 Iowa, 120. 
 
 13. Laws of Iowa, 1870, p. 103. 
 
16 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 real and personal property continued until 1896 when the gross 
 receipts system was introduced. This law, however, was changed 
 in 1900 and the ad valorem system applied to express companies, 
 the general plan of tax distribution being substantially the same 
 as in the case of' railroads. 
 
 The law taxing telegraph companies on their real and personal 
 property, passed in 1870, was repealed in 1878 when these cor- 
 porations were taxed on an ad valorem basis at the average rate 
 of the general property tax, state, county and municipal, the 
 proceeds of the same being all paid into the state treasury. Finally, 
 in 1900, the system was again changed, largely as the result of 
 a supreme cotirt decision, and telegraph companies were placed 
 practically in the same class with express companies and railroad 
 corporations from the standpoint of tax distribution. 
 
 In conclusion, it is thus apparent that general property or ad 
 valorem taxation not only dates back to the territorial period, 
 but has gradually developed and, after a number of changes in the 
 laws, has become applicable to public service corporations. lu- 
 deeid, the only exception to this rule was the gross receipts tax 
 applied to railroads as a war measure from 1862 to 1872, and to 
 express companies from 1896 to 1900. Under the law of 1868, 
 as repealed in 1870, the forty per cent of gross receipts was merely 
 a method of ascertaining the personal property of telegraph and 
 express companies. It may be safely stated, therefore, that the 
 following fundamental principles of assessment and taxation are 
 firmly rooted in the revenue history of Iowa : first, the ad valorem 
 or general property tax principle; second, the assessment of 
 general property by town, township or city assessors, and the 
 assessment of the property of certain public service corporations 
 by a state board; and finally, the levy and collection of taxes 
 by county authorities. It will also be recalled that the county has 
 always been an important unit of fiscal administration from the 
 standpoint of review or equalization. State review dates from 1851, 
 and township review from 1870, while county review was provided 
 for by the First Legislative Assembly of the territory in 1838 and 
 has continued to the present time. In fact, the county has come 
 'to be a more and inore important unit of local government for 
 revenue purposes, which in a large measure justifies the recom- 
 mendation of the iCotii'mission that a county supervisor of assess- 
 taents be provided and clothed with sufficient powers and authority. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE PRESENT REVENUE SYSTEM AND ITS DEFECTS. 
 
 Before any one can be expected to understand clearly the de- 
 fects of the existing revenue system of this state, he must form in 
 his own mind a definite outline of that system in actual opera- 
 tion. As a necessary supplement, therefore, of the hrief historical 
 survey already presented, it seems both logical and desirable to 
 draw a cross section of the present system of assessment and tax- 
 ation, whereby Iowa now raises more than $36,000,000 annually 
 for the support of state and local government. Such an outline 
 can be arranged conveniently under the following heads : property 
 subject to and property exempt from taxation ; the basis and meth- 
 od of listing or aissessment; the administrative machinery of as- 
 sessment and equalization or review for general property ; the as- 
 sessment of various public service corporations, the levy and col- 
 lection of taxes; and finally, certain special forms of taxation. 
 
 It is a well established principle of law that taxation is the 
 rule, and exemption from taxation the exception. In fact, tax ex- 
 emption laws are strictly construed, no property being exempted 
 unless clear and explicit legislation has been enacted authorizing 
 the same. Indeed, the burden of proof is on the person claiming 
 exemption and the presumption of law is in favor of liability for 
 taxation.^ 
 
 The revenue laws of' Iowa, however, provide very liberal exemp- 
 tions, in fact, mi)re liberal than exist in the majority of states. 
 In common with the general practice, property belonging to one 
 of the various uiiits bf government is exempt from taxation on the 
 theory that the township, city, county, state and nation should 
 all. enjoy a reasonable amount of freedom of action within their 
 respective sph6i-es of' jurisdiction; and that in the last analysis, 
 
 1. Par-well vs. Des Moines Brick Manufactufin^ Co., 97 Iowa, 297; Lacey 
 vs. Davis, 112 Iowa, 106; Report of Attorney General of Iowa, 1898, p. 225. 
 
 2' ■ '"'■'-'■" ■''■■ ■'■' ■■ 
 
18 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 to tax public property is simply to take money out of one pocket 
 and pay it to the other. The exemption of municipal, school and 
 drainage bonds or certificates provided for in the session of 1909 
 would, therefore, appear to rest upon a logical foundation.^ 
 
 Closely related to property actually owned by the public is that 
 owned by private individuals, associations or corporations, but 
 devoted to public use and not made the basis of private gain. In 
 this class may be mentioned the property of "literary, scientific, 
 charitable, benevolent, agricultural and religious institutions and 
 societies devoted solely to the appropriate objects of those insti- 
 tutions."* 
 
 It should be noted, however, that the amount of land exempted 
 for the use of such an institution is limited to one hundred and 
 sixty acres. This form of exemption is again quite common, in 
 fact, well nigh universal throughout the United States. 
 
 In the next place, the statute provides very liberal exemptions 
 in the case of farm produce and farm animals. The liberal exemp- 
 tions, however, granted to the farmer should be judged in the 
 light of the history of taxation in Iowa. For a generation or 
 more, an effort was made to pass a law securing to the owners 
 of real estate a privilege long enjoyed by those listing moneys and 
 credits, viz: the right to deduct their debts from the value of his 
 real estate. Indeed, efforts along this line have been made for 
 more than one-half century, sometimes in the form of homestead 
 exemption bills and sometimes in the form of actual deduction. 
 Senator A. Converse said, in 1874, that "exemptions should either 
 be expunged altogether or made universal in their application."* 
 While the representatives from the rural districts have not been 
 successful in securing a law providing for the deduction of debts 
 from the value of their real estate, they have obtained the liberal 
 exemptions of farm produce and animals, which exemptions, if 
 judged from the impartial verdict of history, must be considered 
 in connection with the deduction of debts from the amount of 
 moneys and credits listed for taxation. 
 
 Finally, property exempt from taxation under the laws of Iowa 
 indudes the polls or estates of persons who by reason of age or 
 infirmity are not able to contribute to the public revenue, farming 
 utensils, the tools of mechanics and various other items scattered 
 
 2. Laws of Iowa, 33 G. A., Chap. 81. 
 
 3. Code, Section 1304. 
 
 4. The Iowa Dally State Register, Vol. XIII, No. B*. March B, 1874. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 19 
 
 through the statute which the Commission, however, has collected 
 and placed under the heading of exemptions in the revenue bill. 
 In this connection may be mentioned the exemption of shares of 
 capital stock of manufacturing companies where the real estate, 
 personal property and moneys and credits have been listed in 
 the manner required by law."" 
 
 While we believe that the present exemption laws are open to 
 some criticism, no important recommendation is made in this 
 connection for two reasons: first, to modify any part of the ex- 
 emption law involves the whole question of tax exemptions and 
 therefore affects the entire revenue system; and second, other re- 
 forms are more essential and we believe more practicable at this 
 time. In re-drafting the revenue laws, the Commission, however, 
 feel that it would be more convenient and logical to have exemp- 
 tions placed together rather than , scattered through the statute. 
 
 As to the basis of assessment or valuation, but little need be 
 added to the facts as stated in the previous chapter. All forms of 
 property subject to ad valorem taxation are supposed to' be listed 
 at the actual cash value which has been interpreted by the courts 
 to mean what property will bring on the market in the ordinary 
 course of trade and not at a forced sale. This has been the require- 
 ment of law from the beginning of the territorial period and it is 
 now on the statute books of every one of the forty-eight states 
 with the exception of Alabama. While four other states, Illinois, 
 Iowa, Nebraska and Idaho, provide by law for the assessment of 
 property at a fraction of its value, we should bear in mind that 
 the actual listing must be made at the market value as already 
 defined. This being the case, the recommendation of the Commis- 
 sion that property should be listed and assessed at its actual value 
 would seem to rest on the solid foundation of the experience of 
 practically every state. 
 
 The manner of listing, however, varies with different classes of 
 property. The general rule is that real estate is listed where the 
 same is located and certain personal property, including moneys 
 and credits, notes, bills, bonds and shares of stock in various cor- 
 porations, where the owner lives. However, in the actual work of 
 listing there are, of course, numerous exceptions to this general 
 rule. For example, in many cases property must be listed by an 
 agent, who may be a person or corporation. 
 
 5. Code, Section 1319. 
 
20 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 The revenue law provides special regulations in the case of com- 
 mission mei*ehants, grain, ice and coal dealers, partnerships, mer- 
 chants, manufacturers and corporation stock. The stock of goods 
 of a merchant, and those materials of a manufacturer on hand or 
 in process of being worked up into the final product, are assessed 
 "at the average value of the stock during the year next preceding 
 the time of assessment."^ The machiuery used l)y a manufac- 
 turer is regarded as real estate for the purposes of taxation, and, 
 as already noted, the shares of stock under certain conditions are 
 exempted from taxation. 
 
 The shares of stock of any corporation organized under the laws 
 of this state, unless otherwise provided by law, are assessed to the 
 owners of the same at the place where its principal business is 
 transacted. In listing such stock, the amount of capital actually 
 invested in real estate must be deducted and assessed where the 
 same is located. It should be noted, however, that in making this 
 deduction "the actual value at which said real estate is valued 
 by the assessor or other taxing officer or body where the same is 
 assessed shall be the value thereof. ' '* Finally, corporations, unless 
 otherwise provided, are made liable for the payment of taxes as- 
 sessed to the stockholders and are given the necessary authority 
 to recover the amount of the tax. 
 
 The listing of the property of banks, water and gas works, electric, 
 light plants and street railways, practically completes the forms 
 of property subject to local assessment. In the case of private 
 bankers, the listing is made at the "aggregate actual value of 
 moneys and credits, after deducting therefrom the amount of de-. 
 posits, and the aggregate actual value of bonds and stocks after 
 deducting the portion thereof otherwise taxed in this state," and 
 all other property pertaining to the business, including real estate, 
 is assessed in the usual manner.^ It should be stated, however, 
 that the Thirty-fourth General Assembly in 1911 enacted a law 
 providing that state, savings and national bank stock and loan and 
 trust company stock and moneyed capital in competition with 
 banks should be assessed and taxed at twenty per cent rather than 
 twenty-five per cent of the actual value thereof. This reduction 
 from one-fourth to one-fifth was made under the claim that all 
 other forms of property were being greatly under-assessed, or, 
 
 7. Code, Sections 1318, 1319. 
 
 8. Code, Section 1324. 
 9. Code, Section 1321. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 21 
 
 as the law provides, the twenty per cent provision was adopted 
 in order to place bank stock "on a taxable value relatively equal 
 to the taxable value at which other property is now actually as- 
 sessed throughout the state as compared with the value thereof."^" 
 
 Moreover, it was further provided in the same act "that no de-- 
 duetion for debts shall be allowed from the shares of stock of any 
 state, savings or national bank or loan and trust company, nor 
 from moneyed capital used in competition with banks, within the 
 meaning of Section five thousand two hundred and nineteen (5219) 
 of the revised statutes of the United States." 
 
 Concluding our brief discussion of the numerous forms of proper- 
 ty listed by local assessors, it should be stated, : first, that moneys, 
 credits and corporation shares of stock, unless specifically exempted 
 by law or otherwise assessed, and excepting shares of stock of 
 national, state and savings banks and loan and trust companies,, 
 and moneyed capital in competition with banks, are taxed on the 
 uniform basis of five mills on the dollar of actual valuation, the 
 same to be assessed and collected where the owner resides ;^^ 
 second, that in listing moneys and credits in general, including 
 the actual value of building and loan shares, the owner is entitled . 
 to deduct the amount of his just debts ; third, that shares of stock 
 in manufacturing companies are entirely exempt from taxation pro- 
 videde their real estate and personal property, including moneys 
 and credits, has been listed in the manner provided by the statute j 
 and finally, no deduction of debts, as already noted, is made from 
 the shares of stock of banks or from moneyed capital in compe^' 
 tition with banks. 
 
 The property,' however, listed by local assessors and subject to 
 review or equalization by township, county and state boards re- 
 spectively, does not include all the property subject to ad valorem 
 taxation in Iowa. We have already noted that the gross receipts 
 system of railway taxation was abolished in 1872 and the ad va- 
 lorem system established, the assessment to be made by the state 
 executive council. Assessment in the same manner has gradually 
 been applied to other public service corporations. At the present 
 time, the property of railroads, telegraph and telephone companies, 
 express companies, freight line and equipment companies, and aU, 
 
 10. Laws of Iowa, 34th G. A., Chap. 63. 
 
 11. Laws of Iowa, 34th G. A., Chap. 63. 
 
22 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 similar state wide public service corporations, is assessed by the 
 Executive Council. 
 
 In each case, the assessment is made on the basis of reports re- 
 quired by law to be submitted by the corporations to the Council. 
 The report filed by the railroads includes practically all the various 
 items of physical .property, also gross and net earnings of the en- 
 tire road, gross and net earnings within the state, and, finally, 
 operatiag expenses of the entire road, including a separate state- 
 ment of operating expenses within the state.^^ The report made 
 by telegraph, telephone and express companies are of substantially 
 the same character, except that a statement of the total capital 
 stock of the company, the number of shares of capital stock issued 
 and outstanding, and the par or face value of each share, also the 
 market value of the same, must be included. An effort was made 
 in 1902 to require a similar statement regarding capital stock from 
 the railroads, but the bill failed to pass. 
 
 From the standpoint of tax distribution, it should be suggested 
 at this time that with the exception of freight line and equipment 
 eompanes, the assessed value of the property of pubic ser- 
 vice corporations is distributed by the Executive Council on a 
 main track mileage basis among the various counties of the state, 
 and divided by the county boards of supervisors among the minor 
 civil divisions for taxation on the same basis as the property of 
 individuals. In the case of freight line and equipment compan- 
 ies, it is made the duty of the Executive Council to "determine 
 the rate of tax to be levied and collected upon said assessments, 
 which shall be equal, as nearly as may be, to the average rate of 
 taxes, state, county, municipal and local, levied throughout the 
 state the previous year."^^ The tax thus levied and collected is 
 in lieu of all other taxes, except on real estate and personal prop- 
 erty locally assessed, and is collected by the State Treasurer. 
 
 We come next to the all important problem of administration. 
 The administrative machinery of assessment and taxation may be 
 very briefly outlined. All property in the state subject to. ad 
 valorem taxation, except the property of certain public service cor- 
 porations as above outlined, is listed by local assessors in the civil 
 townships, towns and cities of the state. There are more than two 
 thousand local assessors, and, with the exception of a few cases in 
 the cities, they are elected biennially by the people. The work of 
 
 12. Code, Section 1324. 
 
 13. Code, Section 1324-d. 
 
TAX COMMISSION EBPORT 23 
 
 these assessors commences on the second Monday in January, and 
 must be completed by April first. In a very real sense, this im- 
 portant work forms the basis of our revenue system, which is no bet- 
 ter and no worse than the hopelessly decentralized and inefficient 
 system of local assessment established in 1858 and which has con- 
 tinued to the present time. 
 
 After the completion of the assessment and the making of the 
 assessment rolls, the work of review or equalization by local boards 
 follows. The assessment rolls are required to be laid before the 
 local board of review on or before the first Monday in April, it 
 being made the duty of the township trustees or town or city 
 council or commission to meet and adjust individual assessments 
 in such manner as to secure the listing of all taxable property 
 at its actual value. This important work, commenced on the first 
 Monday of April, must be completed not later than the first day 
 of May, and represents the only means of correcting individual 
 assessments now provided for by the revenue laws of this state. 
 
 Local review is followed by county review, which is vested in 
 , the county board of supervisors, it being made the duty of said 
 board at their regular meeting in June to adjust the assessments 
 of the several townships, cities and towns of their county by adding 
 to or deducting from the assessed value of the property in the 
 same manner that the state adjusts assessments of the several 
 counties of the state. In other words, county boards of super- 
 visors may increase or decrease the aggregate assessment of a 
 minor civil division, but are not clothed with authority to correct 
 individual assessments. Finally, on the basis of reports submitted 
 by the various county auflitors to the State Auditor and by the 
 State Auditor to the Executive Council, it is made the duty of 
 the latter to act as a State Board of Review. Sitting in this 
 capacity, the Executive Council may increase or decrease the 
 aggregate assessed value of any county of the state and in fact 
 may increase the total aggregate assessed value of the entire state. 
 The council, however, the same as the county board of review, 
 has no authority to correct individual assessments. 
 
 The making out of the tax list by the county auditors, filing 
 of the same with the county treasurers, furnishing the Auditor 
 of State with a certifiH statement "showing separately the 
 aggregate full and taxable valuation of the real and personal 
 property in the county, and also the aggregate amount of each 
 
24 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 separate tax as shown by the tax list",^* the levy of taxes in the 
 various sub-divisdons of govermnent, the collection of taxes by the 
 county treasurers, with the exception of the inheritance tax, in- 
 surance taxes and the tax on freight line and equipment com- 
 panies which are collected by the State Treasurer, completes in 
 general outline the machinery of assessment and taxation which 
 now prevails in Iowa. 
 
 At the basis of the fiscal pyramid, we have the work of more 
 than two thousand local assessors and the correction of individual 
 assessments by local review boards composed of more than six 
 thousand officials. Add to this long list the county boards of sup- 
 ervisors, county treasurers and auditors and the State Executive 
 Council and we have an army of assessment and taxation officials 
 composed of about ten thousand men without any central super- 
 vision or control either in the county or state. 
 
 It should be noted especially that the only authority which has 
 power to correct errors made by the local assessors is the local 
 board of review of which there are from eighteen to thirty in 
 the average county of Iowa. This means that the township or 
 other minor civil division is the important unit of local govern- 
 ment from the standpoint of assessment on the one hand and the 
 review or correction of individual assessments on the other. The 
 county board of supervisors under such a system is absolutely 
 powerless to bring about anything approaching uniformity among 
 the minor subdivisions of a county. In fact, no adequate author- 
 ity is now provided in the revenue laws of Iowa whereby the 
 county is able to guarantee uniformity of assessment within its 
 borders. For these and other reasons the Executive Council, 
 acting as a State Board of Review, is not able to bring about 
 uniformity of assessment as between the various counties of the 
 state without doing great injustice to many individual taxpayers. 
 The necessity of having uniformity as between the minor sub- 
 divisions of the county and at the same time among the various 
 counties of the state is the basis of the recommendation of this 
 Commission that a county assessor or supervisor of local assess- 
 ments and a permanent' state tax commission be created. 
 
 Having outlined wbat we believe to bfe an antiquated system 
 of assessment and taxation, which in some measure is borrowed 
 from the territorial p^i-iod and has continued in forSe since 1872, 
 
 14. Revenue Laws of Iowa, 1911, p. 96. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT . 25 
 
 substantially in its present form, we will not consider the success 
 or failure of the plan itself in actual operation. For this pur- 
 pose, we have prepared and herewith submit the following table 
 of statistics. 
 
 Table I represents the total amount of taxes levied for state and 
 local purposes in Iowa from 1873 to 1911, thus showing the rapid 
 and constant increase of the cost of state and local government. 
 It appears that the total revenue for all purposes amounted to 
 only $9,360,451.79 in 1873; $10,457,982.14 in 1880, as compared 
 with $15,563,974.05 in 1890 ; $19,726,789.80 in 1900; $27,550,669.84 
 in 1907; and $36,197,221.58 in 1911. This enormous increase of 
 public expenditures especially in recent years is primarily respon- 
 sible for the popular interest now being taken in the important 
 subject of assessment and taxation. If the people of Iowa are to 
 raise more than $36,000,000 annually for the support of state and 
 local gevernment, which is practically double the amount levied 
 only twelve years ago, it is highly important that this burden 
 should be equally distributed among the taxpayers, both as to in- 
 dividuals and corporations. Thus with the constantly increasing 
 public burdens, uniformity of assessment, which is the necessary 
 basis of (equality in taxation, has become more and more imper- 
 ative. 
 
26 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 TABLE I." 
 
 Total amount of taxes levied for state and local purposes 
 1873-1911. 
 
 Year Amount Year Amount 
 
 1873 ? 9,360,451.79 1893 $18,297,497.54 
 
 1874 9,574,408.07 1894 18,497,483.75 
 
 1875 10,288,721.77 1895 18,785,907.49 
 
 1876 10,699,762.39 1896 18,584,429.67 
 
 1877 10,561,694.89 1897 18,353,994.81 
 
 1878 10,763,602.57 1898 18,692,480.60 
 
 1879 10,146,041.04 1899 18,891,742.78 
 
 1880 10,457,982.14 1900 19,726,789.80 
 
 1881 11,183,576.21 1901 20,600,044.23 
 
 1882 12,201,493.69 1902 22,542,580.45 
 
 1883 13,261,251.27 1903 25,657,913.58 
 
 1884 13,978,912.62 1904 25,693,543.33 
 
 1885 14,430,547.40 1905 26,061,977.03 
 
 1886 14,953,060.65 1906 26,333,163.31 
 
 1887 14,278,817.31 1907 27,550,669.84 
 
 1888 14,732,286.34 1908 29,248,378.54 
 
 1889 15,483,328.74 1909 30,747,416.51 
 
 1890 15,563,974.05 1910 32,500,045.88 
 
 1891 16,043,081.44 1911 36,197,221.58 
 
 1892 16,889,671.34 
 
 One additional point should be suggested with reference to Table 
 I. We refer to the comparative amounts of state and local 
 revenue. In 1873, the taxes raised by the state represented ap- 
 proximately one-tenth of the total revenue of $9,360,451.79. In 
 1880, there was a state levy of about $1,000,000 as compared with 
 the levy for state and local purposes of $10,457,982.14. In 1885, 
 the total revenue was more than twelve times the state levy, which 
 is approximately the ratio prevailing at the present time. Indeed, 
 the burden of taxation has always been largely a local burden, 
 and, therefore, if imiformity of assessment is a necessary basis of 
 state levies, it is vastly more essential when judged from the more 
 important standpoint of local taxation. 
 
 Table II gives the total and per capita assessed valuation for 
 certain years from 1856 to 1900 inclusive. In 1856, when Iowa 
 was for the most part a pioneer state with a population of 517,878, 
 the assessed valuation was $164,394,413.00 or 317.44 per capita. 
 
 15. Data compiled from the Reports of Auditor of State. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 27 
 
 In 1875, when the population had reached 1,350,553, the per capita 
 assessed valuation had fallen to $293.52 ; and in 1885, with a popu- 
 lation of 1,753,980, there was a per capita assessed valuation of 
 only $279.17. Finally, it should be noted that the per capita 
 assessed valuation, which in 1857 reached the large sum of $373.13, 
 was only $241.83 in 1900 and $311.59 in 1910. 
 
 TABLE II. 
 
 Total and per capita assessed valuation. 
 
 ,, ,->„ ,„..„ Assessed Valuation 
 
 Years Population valuation Per Capita 
 
 1856 517,875 $164,394,413 $317.44 
 
 1857 562,930 210,044,533 373.13 
 
 1859 641,628 197,823,350 308.31 
 
 1861 685,713 177,244,316 251.19 
 
 1863 701,093 167,108,974 238.35 
 
 1865 756,427 215,063,401 284.31 
 
 1867 902,317 256,517,184 284.28 
 
 1869 1,045,025 294,532,252 281.84 
 
 1871 1,217,900 348,642,728 286.26 
 
 1873 1,251,340 369,124,912 294.98 
 
 1875 1,350,553 395,423,140 293.52 
 
 1877 1,445,900 404,670,044 279.87 
 
 1879 1,541,000 405,541,397 262.14 
 
 1881 1,660,000 419,102,728 252.47 
 
 1883 1,700,000 463,824,466 272.83 
 
 1885 1,753,980 489,660,081 279.17 
 
 1890 1,911,896 523,861,858 273.47 
 
 1900 2,231,853 539,737,596 341.83 
 
 1910 2,224,771 693,211,177 311.59 
 
 With reference to this relation between the growth of popu- 
 lation and increase of asessed valuation, the Auditor of State in 
 1885 made the following significant stateme];it: 
 
 "The total equalized valuation of property is $489,660,081. That this 
 figure very inadequately represents the wealth of the state needs no argu- 
 ment to estaiblish. It is palpable. No observing person will contend that 
 the state's growth in population until it now contains one and three- 
 fourths millions of people within its borders, has not been accompanied 
 with a much greater increase in wealth, both aggregate and productive. 
 
 Yet the figures ,of the assessors would indicate far otherwise 
 
 These figures show that, while the population of the state has increased 
 in the last twenty-nine years, 238 per cent, the assessed valuation of 
 property has been raised only 198 per cent."" 
 
 16. Report of Auditor of State 1885, p. X28. 
 
28 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 The obvious reason for this decrease in per capita assessed valu- 
 ation in spite of the fact that the wealth of Iowa has increased 
 more rapidly than the population is apparent. From a consider- 
 ation of Table III, which gives the actual and assessed value of 
 taxable property for the years 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900 and 
 1904, it appears that in 1850 the revenue system was fairly well 
 adapted to the pioneer conditions of that time when practically 
 all property was visible and consisted of real estate. The assessed 
 value as given in the Report of the Auditor of State was nearly 
 100 per cent of the actual value as shown by the' Federal Census 
 Report. It will be observed, however, that the assessed value has 
 declined very rapidly. While the census figures of actual valu- 
 ation for 1910 are not yet available, it is a matter of common 
 knowledge, in fact, is generally admitted, that property on an 
 average is now being listed at approximately one-half of its value 
 and assessed at one-fourth of that sum. 
 
 TABLE III." 
 Actual and Assessed Value of Taxable Property 1850-1904. 
 
 Date Actual Value "'^Value'^ Per Cent. 
 
 1850 $ 23,714,638 ? 22,623,334 95 
 
 1860 247,338,265 185,000,000 75 
 
 1870 574,115,800 294,532,252 51 
 
 1880 1,721,000,000 409,819,020 23 
 
 1890 2,226,117,151 523,862,858 23 
 
 1900 3,271,559,959 539,737,596 13 
 
 1904 3,943,314,927 642,445,336 16 
 
 Table IV gives statistics of average assessed value by coimties 
 and has been compiled from data received from the county re- 
 corders and county treasurers of the state. 
 
 17. Data compiled from the Federal Census Reports for actual valuation 
 and from the Reports of the Auditor of State for assessed valuation. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 29 
 
 TABLE IV." 
 
 A study of Assessment by Counties. 
 
 Name of County ^^Naoi^^ 
 
 Adair 47 
 
 Adams 34 
 
 Audubon 50 
 
 Black Hawk 26 
 
 Boone 37 
 
 Bremer 24 
 
 Carroll 32 
 
 Calhoun 42 
 
 Cass 17 
 
 Cerro Gordo 38 
 
 Cherokee 37 
 
 Clay 24 
 
 Clayton 27 
 
 Clinton 40 
 
 Crawford 22 
 
 Davis 36 
 
 Decatur 43 
 
 Dubuque 24 
 
 Emmet 48 
 
 Floyd 24 
 
 Fremont 23 
 
 Greene 44 
 
 Grundy 35 
 
 Hancock 48 
 
 Hardin 19 
 
 Harrison 24 
 
 Humboldt 49 
 
 Jefferson 25 
 
 Linn 5 
 
 Louisa 29 
 
 Lyon 28 
 
 Marion 40 
 
 Marshall 47 
 
 Mitchell 19 
 
 Jfontgomery .... 44 
 
 Muscatine 22 
 
 No. of 
 Acres 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 Taxable 
 Value 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of Taxable 
 to Sale 
 Value 
 
 5,753 
 
 $512,114 
 
 $56,952 
 
 11 
 
 3,400 
 
 306,131 
 
 36,065 
 
 11 
 
 5,808 
 
 706,981 
 
 74,525 
 
 11 
 
 3,546 
 
 341,276 
 
 35,537 
 
 10 
 
 3,535 
 
 352,085 
 
 43,305 
 
 12 
 
 
 154,308 
 
 20,240 
 
 13 
 
 3,110 
 
 381,100 
 
 37,661 
 
 10 
 
 
 486,983 
 
 55,515 
 
 11 
 
 1,797 
 
 191,954 
 
 22,195 
 
 11 
 
 4,984 
 
 391,773 
 
 53,371 
 
 11 
 
 .... 
 
 486,315 
 
 41,048 
 
 8 
 
 3,355 
 
 294,363 
 
 31,951 
 
 10 
 
 2,049 
 
 134,569 
 
 14,378 
 
 10 
 
 4,038 
 
 414,583 
 
 49,400 
 
 11 
 
 
 309,128 
 
 41,187 
 
 13 
 
 2,940 
 
 188,385 
 
 28,101 
 
 14 
 
 6,191 
 
 399,157 
 
 53,059 
 
 13 
 
 2,326 
 
 224,580 
 
 31,904 
 
 14 
 
 7,301 
 
 490,521 
 
 71,928 
 
 14 
 
 2,646 
 
 233,420 
 
 29,647 
 
 12 
 
 2,793 
 
 258,175 
 
 26,480 
 
 10 
 
 6,183 
 
 679,255 
 
 65,849 
 
 10 
 
 
 685,872 
 
 70,713 
 
 10 
 
 8,738 
 
 657,345 
 
 69,054 
 
 11 
 
 
 305,332 
 
 35,979 
 
 11 
 
 
 288,870 
 
 42,229 
 
 14 
 
 .... 
 
 436,333 
 
 79,491 
 
 11 
 
 2,891 
 
 331,446 
 
 36,617 
 
 11 
 
 365 
 
 44,200 
 
 7,050 
 
 15 
 
 
 213,087 
 
 23,421 
 
 10 
 
 4,713 
 
 369,526 
 
 50,267 
 
 13 
 
 3,632 
 
 346,184 
 
 47,593 
 
 11 
 
 .... 
 
 704,879 
 
 86,176 
 
 12 
 
 3,520 
 
 289,059 
 
 32,793 
 
 11 
 
 .... 
 
 708,376 
 
 78,398 
 
 11 
 
 2,082 
 
 217,280 
 
 31,790 
 
 10 
 
 18. It win be understood that the listed value and per cent of listed to 
 sale value of farm lands is four times the taxable value and per cent of 
 taxable to sale value as given in this Table, and also in Tables VIII-XII. 
 In-other words, where the taxable value Is 13 per cent of the sale value 
 as given in the last column of said tables, it means that said land is now 
 being listed by the assessor at 52 per cent of what it would bring on the 
 market in the ordinary course of trade. 
 
30 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 TABLE IV— Continued. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 No. of No. of Sale Taxable of Taxable 
 
 Name of County transfers Acres Value Value to Sale 
 
 Value 
 
 O'Brien 49 7,361 795,507 88,028 11 
 
 Page 44 4,580 696,165 72,178 10 
 
 Palo Alto 39 5,638 475,761 53,052 11 
 
 Plymouth 48 6,014 693,404 68,326 10 
 
 Pocahontas 44 8,100 778,554 94,006 12 
 
 Polk 29 2,480 260,625 40,825 15 
 
 Pottawattamie .. 24 2,813 343,481 37,200 11 
 
 Poweshiek 44 5,420 743,675 75,632 10 
 
 Ringgold 43 4,077 292,385 42,200 15 
 
 Sac 43 582,893 62,745 11 
 
 Sioux 36 4,375 606,540 59,795 10 
 
 Story 42 .... 655,427 68,939 15 
 
 Taylor 48 .... 465,189 45,588 10 
 
 Van Buren 27 2,386 140,810 15 
 
 Washington .... 25 2,428 340,540 45,458 13 
 
 Wayne 34 3,372 226,160 31,348 13 
 
 Webster 39 4,446 379,962 51,180 13 
 
 Winnebago 22 .... 172,512 26,238 15 
 
 This Commission sent out blank forms, to the county recorder 
 in order to ascertain the sale value of farm lands well distributed 
 over the county. No tracts of less than forty acres were included 
 and instructions were given that all sales should be omitted that 
 were clearly based on a nominal or fictitious consideration. In 
 this blank, nothing was said about taxable values; but when the 
 sale value of said pieces of land was obtained, the descriptions 
 of such tracts were placed on a separate blank and sent to the 
 county treasurer, with a request that he place opposite the descrip- 
 tion of each tract the taxable value thereof. In this way the 
 Commission secured more reliable data than would have been 
 obtained by asking for it all on one blank, for the obvious reason 
 that many county ofScials might be anxious to make the best pos- 
 sible showing for their own county. 
 
 While we were obliged to secure data of assessed and sale value 
 through the co-operation of county ofScials, it is believed for 
 reasons above suggested that the results are reasonably accurate 
 and sufficient for the purposes of the Commission. Other states 
 like Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Kansas have made a much more 
 comprehensive study of assessed and sale value but this has been 
 done by permanent tax commissions, granted sufficient appropria- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 31 
 
 tions and possessing all tbe necessary time to do the work on a 
 thorough, scientific basis. 
 
 A glance at Table IV which gives the number of transfers, 
 number of acres sold, sale value, taxable value, and per cent of 
 taxable to sale value in more than one-half of the counties of the 
 state, shows that the taxable value of Iowa lands is approximately 
 12 per cent of the sale value. This means that the listed value 
 of farm lands is slightly less than half of the sale value according 
 to the statistics returned by the county recorders and county 
 treasurers. It also appears that the average assessed value ranges 
 from about 10 per cent in Carroll, Plymouth and Sioux counties 
 to 13 per cent in Crawford, Decatur, Lyon and "Washington, and 
 15 per cent in Polk, Einggold, Taylor and Winnebago. In other 
 words. Table IV shows, a very decided under-assessment of farm 
 lands, and also substantial inequalities in the average assessed 
 value of this class of property as between the various counties of 
 the state. While it is not contended that this data is absolutely 
 correct, it should be stated that the results check up fairly well 
 with other sources of information along similar liaes. 
 
 In 1909, the Executive Council sent out blanks in order to as- 
 certain the actual and assessed value of farm lands in the various 
 counties of the state, said information to be used as a basis of 
 review of equalization of aggregate county assessments, and at 
 the same time to enable the Council to form a more accurate judg- 
 ment as to the comparative assessed valuation of farm lands and 
 railroad property. . Table V gives the information along this line 
 which was secured by the Secretary of the Executive Council. In 
 fact, this table gives the per cent of assessed to sale value both 
 in 1903 and 1909, the same being the only dates when informa- 
 tion of this character was secured. 
 
32 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 TABLE V. 
 Abstract of Lands Valuations and Transfers, 1909. 
 
 Counties 
 
 .2 I 
 
 '°S 
 
 S I 
 
 o ^^ 
 
 a d3 
 
 ao.H 
 
 aoag 
 
 3 n S 
 ■SoS 
 <! 
 
 ■ags 
 
 ?S.2 
 
 i^ c ee 
 
 go 
 !> I 
 
 u-i a 
 
 o a 
 
 P > 
 
 oJ IB 
 
 (> I 
 
 Adair 1 $37.02 $36.84 
 
 Adams 2 42.51 38.13 
 
 Allamal^ee 3 23.42 
 
 Appanoose 4 32.06 
 
 Audubon .5 45.77 
 
 Benton 6 63.78 
 
 Black Hawk 7 49.96 
 
 Boone 8 48.07 
 
 Bremer 9 43.22 
 
 Buclianan lo 42.66 
 
 Buena Vista _. ii 45.76 
 
 Butler 12 4«.ei 
 
 Calhoun 13 46.78 
 
 Carroll 14 60.92 
 
 Cass 15 46.89 
 
 Cedar 16 61.60 
 
 Oerro Gordo „ 17 42.37 
 
 Cherokee 18 44.84 
 
 Chickasaw 19 
 
 Clarke 20 32.92 
 
 Olay 21 ^.16 
 
 Olayton 22 32, 
 
 Clinton 23 49.37 
 
 Crawford 24 43.03 
 
 Dallas 26 50.07 
 
 Davis 26 32.54 
 
 Decatur 27 32.30 
 
 Delaware 28 43.62 
 
 Des Moines 29 43.60 
 
 Dickinson 80 
 
 Dubuque 31 40.88 
 
 Emmet __ 32 
 
 Payette 33 38.27 
 
 noyd 34 43.50 
 
 PranMln 35 46.18 
 
 Fremont 36 42.48 
 
 Greene 37 4,7.29 
 
 Grundy 38 50.33 
 
 Guthrie 39 
 
 Hamilton 40 47.03 
 
 Hancock 41 34.85 
 
 Hardin 42 48.05 
 
 Harrison 43 37.; 
 
 Henry 44 42.34 
 
 Howard 45 89.87 
 
 Humboldt 46 40.45 
 
 fda 4V 46.85 
 
 Iowa 48 40.66 
 
 .Taekson 49 33.11 
 
 Jasper 50 48.21 
 
 Jefferson 51 
 
 Johnson 52 49.93 
 
 Jones 53 45.62 
 
 Keokuk 54 42.64 
 
 Kossuth 56 34.95 
 
 Lee 56 3(5.58 
 
 L'hh 57 51.85 
 
 Louisa 68 4o.'56 
 
 Lucas 69 33.64 
 
 Lyon 60 39.40 
 
 Madison 61 38.85 
 
 Mahaska I 62' 43 88 
 
 53.34 
 31.83 
 44.33 
 
 es.ea 
 
 48.79 
 
 47.77 
 
 43.22 
 
 41.66 
 
 45.12 
 
 44.51 
 
 46.68 
 
 48.37 
 
 43.02 
 
 51.22 
 
 41.16 
 
 43.47 
 
 87.72 
 
 31.90 
 
 38.73 
 
 34.12 
 
 48.61 
 
 41.18 
 
 61.08 
 
 31.96 
 
 32.10 
 
 39.79 
 
 44.60 
 
 36.84 
 
 39.62 
 
 34.45 
 
 37.70 
 
 40.62 
 
 43.76 
 
 41.91 
 
 43.98 
 
 62.14 
 
 38.91 
 
 44.85 
 
 32.29 
 
 47.67 
 
 37.19 
 
 44.46 
 
 38.I5R 
 
 40.34 
 
 53.83 
 
 41. 7F 
 
 32.85 
 
 46.97 
 
 38.14 
 
 50.00 
 
 44.65 
 
 44.70 
 
 32.39 
 
 37.55 
 
 52.19 
 
 41.31 
 
 31.96 
 
 37.70 
 
 35.91 
 
 43.61 
 
 $37.68 
 37.51 
 24.45 
 33.13 
 44.32 
 54.23 
 
 50.67 
 
 43.41 
 
 42.73 
 
 47.02 
 
 43.80 
 
 45.77 
 
 49.14 
 
 42.87 
 
 53.04 
 
 44.66 
 
 44.44 
 
 37.96 
 
 32.46 
 
 38.35 
 
 34.73 
 
 48.75 
 
 42.87 
 
 49.07 
 
 32.24 
 
 32.25 
 
 40.17 
 
 45.15 
 
 36.70 
 
 41.32 
 
 34.96 
 
 41.78 
 
 41.02 
 
 44.22 
 
 40.84 
 
 44.63 
 
 52.12 
 
 39.67 
 
 47.65 
 
 32.3f 
 
 47.85 
 
 S7.71 
 
 48.04 
 
 36.46 
 
 40.60 
 
 45.28 
 
 32.98 
 
 51.31 
 44.28 
 65.15 
 47.31 
 45.06 
 32.04 
 39.64 
 65.30 
 43.62 
 31.91 
 39.66 
 35.64 
 43.88 
 
 474,738 
 490,902 
 213,823 
 248,335 
 334,287 
 297,348 
 486,442 
 360,380 
 295,506 
 408,216 
 511,080 
 471,670 
 406,117 
 618,641 
 600,600 
 494,775 
 357,886 
 849,177 
 232,820 
 85,723 
 386,495 
 283,732 
 i«9,70S 
 861,832 
 528,599 
 169,420 
 252,496 
 118,850 
 185,344 
 371,490 
 377,110 
 283,933 
 343,369 
 !'52,176 
 434,961 
 327,133 
 491,649 
 654,336 
 303,832 
 626,578 
 491,894 
 483,870 
 299,706 
 231,020 
 187,080 
 301,305 
 383,412 
 346,114 
 69,366 
 666,327 
 176,400 
 139,620 
 146,747 
 -%1,760 
 444,366 
 492', 03S 
 634,301 
 123,976 
 179,656 
 427,r" 
 387,318 
 164,940 
 
 i 275,135 
 911,044 
 275,332 
 157,862 
 474,355 
 429,706 
 258,338 
 432,820 
 249,528 
 211,860 
 612,313 
 296,342 
 451,368 
 742,196 
 382,481 
 583,208 
 693,942 
 628,136 
 269,762 
 437,382 
 447,893 
 966,497 
 288,272 
 301,882 
 261,366 
 279,655 
 323,549 
 26S,176 
 111,172 
 396,518 
 360,200 
 376,173 
 4ffr,195 
 484,283 
 374,181 
 4?6,6i75 
 290,939 
 405,280 
 166,315 
 351,737 
 401,228 
 242,642 
 359,663 
 212,997 
 747,287 
 439,749 
 668,967 
 463,465 
 269,181 
 412,851 
 370,976 
 230,307 
 176,680 
 1,066,686 
 613,960 
 314,639 
 1,012,388 
 409,362 
 271,175 
 484,280 
 463,495 
 512,869 
 
 248,388 
 
 254,272 
 
 140,238 
 
 187,893 
 
 160,192 
 
 167,420 
 
 265,061 
 
 200,800 
 
 199,191 
 
 242,406 
 
 285,752 
 
 270,084 
 
 248,997 
 
 330,964 
 
 284,289 
 
 265,008 
 
 237,108 
 
 398,736 
 
 139,236 
 
 .55,918 
 
 212,682 
 
 171,555 
 
 229,600 
 
 479,720 
 
 294,820 
 
 132,702 
 
 165,529 
 
 82,230 
 
 91,122 
 
 253,576 
 
 238,309 
 
 175,. 573 
 
 227,784 
 
 150,112 
 
 248,636 
 
 171,668 
 
 257,596 
 
 306,572 
 
 180,263 
 
 369,99'! 
 
 251,096 
 
 262,724 
 
 128,745 
 
 129,048 
 
 110,640 
 
 160,262 
 
 186,628 
 
 173,996 
 
 44,714 
 
 328,286 
 
 107,433 
 
 80,086 
 
 102,368 
 
 209,886 
 
 223,770 
 
 300,776 
 
 323,284 
 
 71,866 
 
 111,968 
 
 261,960 
 
 194,344 
 
 89,640 
 
 175,346 
 
 798,128 
 224,271 
 143,294 
 407,938 
 376,164 
 166,801 
 365,146 
 188,202 
 175,490 
 608,448 
 234,688 
 413,381 
 669,381 
 285,809 
 473,832 
 433,175 
 449,307 
 175,867 
 326,943 
 407,362 
 803,163 
 231,596 
 262,021 
 208,564 
 264,831 
 274,794 
 190,677 
 83,686 
 358,307 
 292,247 
 330,689 
 308,061 
 380,980 
 306,600 
 274,718 
 265,460 
 310,943 
 157,108 
 321,242 
 239,802 
 213,036 
 302,833 
 209,028 
 615,346 
 303,188 
 440,775 
 311,304 
 188,793 
 363,363 
 287,623 
 196,290 
 147,949 
 939,187 
 412,658 
 300.127 
 866,225 
 334,728 
 224,947 
 3.58,630 
 351,.332 
 396,649 
 
 49 
 
 67 
 95 
 86 
 82 
 83 
 74 
 76| 61 
 77' 62 
 
 1 
 2 
 3 
 4 
 6 
 6 
 7 
 8 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12. 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 40 
 41 
 42 
 43 
 
 44 
 45 
 
 46 
 47 
 48 
 49 
 6D 
 61 
 52 
 53 
 64 
 65 
 56 
 57 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 TABLE V— Continued. 
 
 33 
 
 Counties 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 OJ 
 
 OJ 
 
 
 o. 
 
 Q. 
 
 a 
 
 
 
 
 S 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 T32 
 
 
 TdrH 
 
 
 
 
 sl 
 
 S 0) 
 
 »H 0} 
 
 
 
 
 3 y 
 
 3 o 
 
 n" 
 
 CT-d 
 
 , o-rt 
 
 
 w 
 
 f>^ 
 
 M 
 
 
 
 
 5Sp 
 
 a! p. •a 
 
 CD J 
 
 a <3 > 
 — ■« . 
 
 O ojo 
 
 ■aSs 
 
 ■goS 
 
 
 °S-2 s 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 OJM 
 
 sg 
 
 ss 
 
 
 
 » 1 
 
 > 1 
 
 
 
 o a 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 
 o o! 
 
 Ht> 
 
 
 ?i.«i 
 
 o ** 
 
 II «i 
 
 
 
 
 FM 
 
 Pm'-' 
 
 
 
 Marion 
 
 Marshall 
 
 Mills 
 
 Mitchell 
 
 Monona 
 
 Monroe 
 
 Montgomery .. 
 
 Muscatine 
 
 O'Brien 
 
 Osceola 
 
 Page 
 
 Palo Alto 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 Pocahontas 
 
 Polk 
 
 Pottawattamie 
 
 Poweshiek 
 
 Ringgold 
 
 Sao 
 
 Scott 
 
 Shelby 
 
 Sioux ___' 
 
 Story 
 
 Tama 
 
 Taylor 
 
 Cnion 
 
 Van Buren 
 
 Wapello 
 
 Warren 
 
 Washington __. 
 
 Wayne 
 
 Webster 
 
 Winnebago 
 
 Winneshiek 
 
 Woodbury 
 
 Worth .._ 
 
 Wright 
 
 Totals and 
 averages ._, 
 
 sr 
 
 39.68 
 
 40.96 
 
 40.51 
 
 eo.i5 
 
 50.70 
 
 53.17 
 
 45.6E 
 
 45.30 
 
 46.94 
 
 39. 7« 
 
 39.00 
 
 39.40 
 
 29.76 
 
 31.47 
 
 30.25 
 
 33.23 
 
 84.47 
 
 35.30 
 
 46.96 
 
 47.71 
 
 48.60 
 
 50.26 
 
 61.17 
 
 61.77 
 
 42.27 
 
 39.82 
 
 39.96 
 
 37.36 
 
 37.07 
 
 S7.20 
 
 47.86 
 
 50.14 
 
 B2.90 
 
 34.62 
 
 31. 7S 
 
 80.75 
 
 40.15 
 
 39.67 
 
 39.48 
 
 44.03 
 
 38.67 
 
 40.47 
 
 57.96 
 
 62.89 
 
 60.00 
 
 47.90 
 
 60.83 
 
 62.48 
 
 45.40 
 
 45.se 
 
 46.14 
 
 34.82 
 
 32.40 
 
 33.24 
 
 47.36 
 
 45.69 
 
 46.12 
 
 69.60 
 
 58.89 
 
 59.84 
 
 41.22 
 
 38.89 
 
 42.21 
 
 43.82 
 
 43.37 
 
 43.41 
 
 4».71 
 
 48.56 
 
 49.16 
 
 48.58 
 
 45.68 
 
 49.36 
 
 40.63 
 
 37.52 
 
 88.03 
 
 37.44 
 
 36.84 
 
 36.25 
 
 33.25 
 
 32.67 
 
 35.20 
 
 33.18 
 
 37.87 
 
 36.02 
 
 41.80 
 
 43.58 
 
 44.31 
 
 44.38 
 
 44.75 
 
 46.69 
 
 34.20 
 
 33.20 
 
 34. 7S 
 
 44.29 
 
 41.03 
 
 42.53 
 
 34.21 
 
 31.43 
 
 80.83 
 
 37.46 
 
 37.83 
 
 37.86 
 
 S5.38 
 
 35.71 
 
 87.18 
 
 35.97 
 
 35.78 
 
 36.98 
 
 39.43 
 
 S9.17 
 
 39.83 
 
 $41.97 
 
 $41.35 
 
 $42.17 
 
 281,184 
 513,687 
 224,240 
 600,117 
 352,168 
 113,822 
 448,560 
 667,811 
 668,292 
 317,168 
 683,115 
 830,885 
 829,496 
 311,632 
 287,162 
 579,802 
 612,885 
 333,165 
 450,840 
 442,812 
 617,745 
 684,602 
 683,850 
 542,200 
 397,^5 
 265,249 
 208,024 
 168, 2E8 
 480,344 
 720,742 
 397,090 
 544,824 
 588,610 
 95,172 
 333,520 
 224,070 
 551,008 
 
 408,459 
 420,399 
 283,740 
 635,165 
 465,651 
 200,125 
 608,907 
 292,842 
 330,284 
 369,800 
 919,710 
 285,415 
 876,417 
 631,174 
 289,888 
 463,761 
 285,416 
 762,460 
 442,618 
 411,887 
 146,958 
 480,690 
 526,779 
 541,489 
 239,570 
 590,279 
 269,250 
 96,643 
 861,970 
 793,776 
 185,612 
 742,089 
 676,619 
 414,976 
 826,259 
 362,021 
 637,305 
 
 154,U3 
 249,230 
 117,143 
 282,468 
 186,841 
 
 79,443 
 200,448 
 357,501 
 278,468 
 171,877 
 295,913 
 173,398 
 389,380 
 158,286 
 169,672 
 314,492 
 802,908 
 192,824 
 233,340 
 235,940 
 291,883 
 362,296 
 250,688 
 284,336 
 231,864 
 143,919 
 141,821 
 
 83,384 
 329,964 
 354,960 
 128,669 
 2S8,0T8 
 301,212 
 
 63,374 
 169,488 
 121,716 
 302,423 
 
 $ 38,838,515 $ 42,393,579 $ 21,257,937 
 
 357,730 
 356,666 
 213,194 
 402,472 
 292,965 
 174,674 
 365,772 
 270,968 
 208,046 
 289,857 
 720,668 
 246,360 
 687,473 
 426,154 
 270,130 
 434,156 
 208,656 
 690,347 
 827,866 
 356,417 
 112,313 
 396,467 
 388,852 
 433,211 
 179,660 
 465,724 
 214.781 
 71,269 
 381,328 
 647,857 
 161,666 
 622,478 
 668,361 
 327,268 
 254,447 
 225,257 
 383,425 
 
 $ 33,974,6 
 
 65 eo 
 
 ,68 
 64 
 
 66 
 67 
 
 70 
 71 
 72 
 78 
 74 
 75 
 7» 
 77 
 78 
 79 
 80 
 
 84 
 
 es 
 
 8S 
 87 
 
 90 
 91 
 92 
 93 
 94 
 95 
 
 es 
 
 97 
 98 
 99 
 
 On May 3, 1903, the Secretary of the Executive Council 
 addressed the following letter to all county auditors : 
 
 "The Executive Council having determined that it is desirable that 
 data be gathered relative to the actual value of lands and other prop- 
 erty in the several counties of the state. I am directed by the governor 
 to request, under the authority of Section 544 of the Code, that you 
 furnish during the current month a list of lands that have been con- 
 veyed In your county between the dates May 1, 1908, and May 1, 1909, 
 by deeds, representing the real sale value thereof, together with the actual 
 values placed upon the same by the several assessors and as equalized 
 by the township and county boards of equalization. 
 3 
 
34 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 In selecting the tracts, endeavor to select tracts from each township 
 of the county, if possible. Select tracts of 160 acres or more in preference 
 to smaller tracts, and in no case select tracts of less than 40 acres. Do 
 not report more than six descriptions in the same township nor more 
 than an average of three for all the townships of the county. Discard 
 transfers based on contracts made prior to 1908, where you can determine 
 the fact from the conveyance or from information in your possession. 
 Discard quit claim deeds and all other deeds that for any reason do not 
 represent the actual value or present value. With this letter will be sent 
 a printed form for the land transfers." 
 
 While the data thus collected may be incomplete the same as 
 similar data collected by this Commission, it represents fairly well 
 the actual conditions now prevailing in Iowa. In 1903, the ratio 
 of assessed to sale value was as follows in selected counties : Adair, 
 63 per cent ; Adams, 87 per cent ; Appanoose, 91 per cent ; Monona, 
 65 per cent; Polk, 93 per cent; and Warren, 100 per cent. In 
 the same list of counties the ratio of assessed to actual sale value 
 was as follows in 1909: Adair, 52 per cent; Adams, .52 per cent; 
 Appanoose, 75 per cent ; Monona, 57 per cent ; Polk, 57 per cent ; 
 and Warren, 69 per cent. Two conclusions are apparent from a 
 study of this table: first, that the assessed valuation . decreased 
 viery materially, the general average being eighty per cent in 1903, 
 as compared with fifty-five per cent in 1909 ; and second, gross in- 
 equalities exist as between the aggregate assessed valuations of 
 the various counties of the state. 
 
 Information of this same general character has also been fur- 
 nished by the representatives of the railroad companies, for the 
 period January 1, 1910, to June, 1911, covering thirteen counties, 
 including 3,912 transfers and 530,373 acres of farm land. As 
 so presented, Table VI gives the number of sales, acres sold, 
 average price per acre, average assessed value per acre under 1909 
 assessment of land sold, ratio of 1909 assessed value to sale price 
 during period, estimated average true value per acre of entire 
 county as of January 1, 1911, and ratio of 1909 assessed value to 
 estimated true value of January 1, 1911. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 35 
 
 TABLE VI. 
 
 Land Values in Iowa, January 1st, 1911. 
 
 (Based on Land Sales Jan. 1, 1910, to May and June, 1911) 
 
 
 (0 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 ssed value 
 der 1909 
 of lands 
 rs 
 
 V 0) S 
 
 ssed value 
 entire 
 erl909 
 —Dollars 
 
 
 eragetrue 
 ere of en- 
 asof Jan. 
 ollars 
 
 assessed 
 bimated 
 3f Jan. 
 er cent. 
 
 County 
 
 H 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 1 
 
 ge asse 
 acreun 
 ssment 
 -Dolla 
 
 |S'5 
 
 ,«■** so 
 
 o o a . 
 
 verage asse 
 per acre of 
 county und 
 assessment 
 
 ge true 
 of ent 
 ng peri 
 
 ars 
 
 ated av 
 e per a 
 county 
 1911-D 
 
 of 1909 
 e to es 
 value 
 1911-P 
 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 
 > 03 
 
 vera 
 per 
 asse 
 sold 
 
 atio 
 valu 
 duri 
 cent 
 
 vera 
 acre 
 duri 
 Doll 
 
 atim 
 valu 
 tire 
 1st, 
 
 atio 
 valu 
 true 
 1st, 
 
 
 !zi 
 
 < 
 
 <! 
 
 < 
 
 « 
 
 < 
 
 < 
 
 H 
 
 « 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 Lyon 
 
 183 
 
 30,654 
 
 94.68 
 
 39.81 
 
 42.05 
 
 40.44 
 
 96.17 
 
 104.00 
 
 38.88 
 
 Osceola 
 
 250 
 
 44,984 
 
 76.94 
 
 35.13 
 
 45.66 
 
 37.20 
 
 81.47 
 
 84.00 
 
 44.29 
 
 Sioux 
 
 280 
 
 36,082 
 
 115.70 
 
 42.67 
 
 36.89 
 
 43.24 
 
 117.21 
 
 128.00 
 
 33.78 
 
 O'Brien 
 
 272 
 
 41,353 
 
 97.03 
 
 40.03 
 
 41.28 
 
 40.78 
 
 98.79 
 
 105.00 
 
 38.82 
 
 Plymouth 
 
 354 
 
 60,875 
 
 98.97 
 
 39.96 
 
 39.96 
 
 41.25 
 
 103.23 
 
 U4.00 
 
 38.19 
 
 Woodbury .. 
 
 644 
 
 76,416 
 
 84.36 
 
 33.36 
 
 39.54 
 
 37.35 
 
 94.46 
 
 103.00 
 
 36.26 
 
 Harrison 
 
 395 
 
 43,348 
 
 84.84 
 
 35.95 
 
 42.88 
 
 37.71 
 
 88.98 
 
 02.00 
 
 40.99 
 
 Carroll 
 
 289 
 
 85,981 
 
 111.89 
 
 47.78 
 
 42.70 
 
 49.71 
 
 116.42 
 
 120.00 
 
 41.42 
 
 Marshall ■ 
 
 176 
 
 18,897 
 
 119.21 
 
 52.31 
 
 43.88 
 
 53.17 
 
 121.17 
 
 124.00 
 
 42.88 
 
 Linn 
 
 214 
 
 23,296 
 
 105.14 
 
 53.03 
 
 60.44 
 
 52.78 
 
 104.64 
 
 109.00 
 
 48.48 
 
 Payette 
 
 388 
 
 46,187 
 
 78.17 
 
 40.83 
 
 62.23 
 
 41.78 
 
 79.99 
 
 82.00 
 
 60.95 
 
 Palo Alto .._ 
 
 26E 
 
 38,016 
 
 69.43 
 
 31.60 
 
 45.60 
 
 32.a 
 
 70. 7e 
 
 72.00 
 
 44.73 
 
 Cerro Gordo - 
 
 316 
 
 47,286 
 
 80.95 
 
 41.62 
 
 51.41 
 
 43.16 
 
 83.98 
 
 86.00 
 
 60.19 
 
 Group — 
 
 3,912 
 
 530,373 
 
 91.00 
 
 30.63 
 
 43.56 
 
 42.76 
 
 88.19 
 
 102.82 
 
 41.59 
 
 Briefly stated, the data thus compiled shows that farm lands 
 are now being assessed in the thirteen counties investigated for 
 only 41.59 per cent of their present full value. In submitting 
 this table to the Executive Council on July 10, 1911, it was alleged 
 that the average assessed value on all farm lands in the State of 
 Iowa was substantially less than the assessed value of town lots 
 on the one hand or railroad property on the other. For example, 
 the ratio of assessed value to sale price of town lots was 54.25 
 per cent as compared with the ratio of 43.55 prevailing as to farm 
 lands in the same counties during the same period. The ratio of 
 assessed to sale values in various cities and villages according to 
 the report now under consideration was as follows: Alton, 42.53 
 per cent; Ashton, 58.63 per cent; Carroll, 54.51 per cent; Clear 
 Lake, 58.21 per cent; Doon, 58.86 per cent; Emmetsburg, 58.11 
 per cent ; Hospers, 50.21 per cent ; Le Mars, 66.71 per cent ; Logan, 
 65.21 per cent; Manning, 39.*40 per cent; Missouri Valley, 66.21 
 per oent; Oelwein, 52.66 per cent; Rock Rapids, 61.51 per cent; 
 Ruthven, 68.50 per cent; Sheldon, 51.85 per cent; Sibley, 69.44 
 
36 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 per cent ; Sioux City, 49.75 per cent ; State Center, 47.95 per cent ; 
 West Union, 67.89 per cent." 
 
 The same authority made the following significant statement: 
 
 "The unfair advantage which acre property has over city and village 
 real estate and railroad property, with respect to standard valuation ap- 
 plied thereto in assessments, is rapidly increasing. Farm land values are 
 advancing in Iowa at present at not less than 10 % per annum. . City and 
 village real estate is increasing in value very slowly, certainly at not 
 more than 3 per cent per annum on the average. The unfairness com- 
 plained of will not cure itself; on the contrary, it will continue to grow 
 worse. For the Executive Council to do nothing at this juncture consti- 
 tutes a sanction by it of the existing injustice and would imply a con- 
 scious willingness that such injustice be increased rather than diminshed. 
 In this case, inaction is action. 
 
 "Justice to the owners of city and village real estate, as well as justice 
 to the railroads, requires that the assessed valuation of farm lands be 
 substantially increased (certainly not less than 10 per cent for the state 
 as a whole) and that assessed value of city and village real estate and of 
 railroad property be not increased." 
 
 Table VII, which was prepared by the Council in 1911, shows 
 that the aggregate assesed value of eviery county in the state was 
 increased, the same ranging in amount from 7% per cent to 22% 
 per cent. The aggregate assessed value of Crawford, Delaware, 
 Fremont, Madison, Plymouth, Ringgold, Shelby and Winnebago 
 counties was increased 22% per cent and that of Chickasaw, 20 
 per cent. In the following counties the increase of assessed value 
 was 17% per cent: Adair, Allamakee, Appanoose, Buena Vista, 
 Cass, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Clinton, Decatur, Dubuque, 
 Greene, Guthrie, Hancock, Harrrison, Humboldt, Jackson, Lucas, 
 Lyon, Mahaska, Monroe, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Sioux, Tay- 
 lor, Warrea, Winneshiek and Woodbury. Briefly stated, the in- 
 crease of aggregate assessed valuation was as follows in different 
 groups of counties: 7% per cent in 28 counties; 10 per cent in 
 8 counties ; 12% per cent in 21 counties ; 15 per cent in 4 counties ; 
 17% per cent in 29 counties; 20 per cent in 1 county, and 22% 
 per cent in 8 counties. This means an approximate average in- 
 crease of about 12% per cent on all the farm lands of the state. 
 
 The question may very properly be asked, on what basis did the 
 Executive Council increase the assesed value of farm lands from 
 
 19. Land Values and Railroad Values in lewa, in 1911, the same belns 
 ? , ?i®H?"i^ Argument submitted to the Executive Council of Iowa on 
 July 10, 1911, on behalf of the C. St. P. M. & O. Ry. Co. by T. A. Polleys, its 
 Tax Commissioner. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 37 
 
 714 per cent ts 22^4 per cent in tlie various counties of the state 
 while making no change in the assessment of city real estate? 
 It does not appear that the Council had before it data showing 
 the ratio of assessed to sale value of farm lands in the different 
 counties for 1911. In the absence of statistics of this kind, the 
 Council was obliged to rely: first, on its own general estimate 
 of farm values throughout the state; and second, the data shoVing 
 assessed and sale values of farm lands compiled by interested 
 parties, the correctness of which was unknown to the Council. We 
 have no doubt that the Executive Council acted with the best 
 of intentions and on the basis of all the facts which it was possible 
 or at least practicable to collect in the short time at its disposal 
 to complete the work of review and equalization. 
 
 TABLE VII. 
 
 Increase of County assessments by Executive Council, 1911. 
 
 County 
 
 Per 
 Cent. 
 
 Adair -..17% 
 
 Adams : 12% 
 
 Allamakee 17% 
 
 Appanoose 17% 
 
 Audubon 12% 
 
 Benton 7% 
 
 Black Hawk 12% 
 
 Boone 7% 
 
 Bremer 12% 
 
 :Buchanan 12% 
 
 Buena Vista 17% 
 
 Butler 7% 
 
 Oalhoun 12% 
 
 Carroll 7% 
 
 Cass 17% 
 
 Cedar 7% 
 
 Cerro Gordo 7% 
 
 Cherokee 17% 
 
 Chickasaw 20 
 
 Clarke 17% 
 
 Clay 7% 
 
 •Clayton 17 
 
 Olinton 17% 
 
 ■Crawford 22% 
 
 Dallas 7% 
 
 Davis 12% 
 
 County 
 
 Per 
 
 Cent. 
 
 Decatur 17% 
 
 Delaware 22% 
 
 Des Moines 7% 
 
 Dickinson 7% 
 
 Dubuque 17% 
 
 Emmet 12% 
 
 Fayette 12% 
 
 Floyd 12% 
 
 Franklin 7% 
 
 Fremont 22% 
 
 Greene 17% 
 
 Grundy 10 
 
 Guthrie .17% 
 
 Hamilton 7% 
 
 Hancock 17% 
 
 Hardin 12% 
 
 Harrison 17% 
 
 Henry 7% 
 
 Howard 15 
 
 Humboldt 17% 
 
 Ida 7% 
 
 Iowa 15 
 
 Jackson 17% 
 
 Jasper 7% 
 
 Jefferson 12% 
 
 Johnson 10 
 
38 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 TABLE VII— Continued. 
 
 County . Cent. 
 
 Jones ^^ 
 
 Keokuk 10 
 
 Kossuth 12% 
 
 Lee 12% 
 
 Linn '^Va 
 
 Louisa 12% 
 
 Lucas 17% 
 
 Lyon 17% 
 
 Madison 22% 
 
 Mahaska 17% 
 
 Marion 12% 
 
 Marshall 7% 
 
 Mills 10 
 
 Mitchell 10 
 
 Monona 12% 
 
 Monroe 17% 
 
 Montgomery ... .-.' 12% 
 
 Muscatine 7% 
 
 O'Brien 17% 
 
 Osceola 17% 
 
 Page 7% 
 
 Palo Alto 17% 
 
 Plymouth 22% 
 
 Pocahontas 7% 
 
 Per 
 
 Cent. 
 
 County 
 
 Polk 7% 
 
 Pottawattamie 7% 
 
 Poweshiek 12% 
 
 flinggold 22% 
 
 Sac 12% 
 
 Scott 7% 
 
 Shelby 22% 
 
 Sioux 17% 
 
 Story 10 
 
 Tama 7% 
 
 Taylor 17% 
 
 Union 7% 
 
 Van Buren 7% 
 
 Wapello 7% 
 
 Warren 17% 
 
 Washington 15 
 
 Wayne 7% 
 
 Webster 12% 
 
 Winnebago 22% 
 
 Winneshiek 17% 
 
 Woodbury 17% 
 
 Worth 10 
 
 Wright 15 
 
 This Commission has no criticisms to offer concerning the action 
 of the Executive Council in making the increased assessments 
 above outlined; nor does the Commission pass any judgment as 
 to the equity of the increase made by the Council in any county 
 or group of counties. Indeed, the inore one investigates the tax 
 question in general, the less he is inclined to criticise any par- 
 ticular official or board, beginning with the local assessor and 
 ending with the State Board of Review, and the more he is com- 
 pelled to realize that the primary fault is with the system itsielf, 
 which by its provisions is almost entirely ex officio in its personnel, 
 and, therefore, inefficient in its actual operation. 
 
 The equalization made in 1911 by the Council, or any equal- 
 ization in the past or which may be made in the future, is open 
 to most serious criticism under the existing revenue system for 
 the following definite reasons: No trustworthy data can be 
 secured through public chamiels at the present time, aiforSing 
 easy comparison as between assessed and sale value of farm lands; 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 39 
 
 the same is true regarding town lots; and the assessment of the 
 railroads and similar public service corporations is based on re- 
 ports required to be submitted to the Council, the correctness of 
 which they have no personal knowledge. This being the case, the 
 work of review or equalizatzion, first by the county boards of 
 supervisors, and later by the Executive Council, must be very 
 unsatisfactory and will continue to be so until adequate revenue 
 machinery is provided similar to that outlined in the bill drafted 
 by the Commission. 
 
 It should be one of the important duties of the county assessor 
 to collect statistics of sale values, both of farm lands and town lots. 
 Moneover, it should be one of the important functions of a per- 
 manent tax commission to make a complete inventory of all the 
 property of the so-called public service corporations in order to 
 form some intelligent idea as to whether or not that class of 
 property is being assessed higher or lower than farm lands on 
 the one hand or city property on the other. The equalization 
 made in 1911 would tend to show that statistics of this kind are 
 desirable to secure an equitable distribution of the public burdens, 
 and that owners of all classes of property will be benefited by 
 creating the office of county assessor and a permanent tax com- 
 mission in order to obtain the necessary information on which 
 to base a more accurate and trustworthy review of assessments. 
 
 Tables VIII to XII, inclusive, give the taxable and sale value 
 of individual tracts of real estate well distributed over the fol- 
 lowing counties: Adair, Boone, Cerro Gordo, Hancock and 
 "Wayne. The under-valuation of property already outlined and the 
 absence of adequate information on which to compare the assessed 
 ralues of farm lands and city property with that of public ser- 
 vice corporations in making equalization by the Executive Council, 
 while a serious defect, is by no means the most important one 
 in the present revenue system. Inequalities between various 
 classes of property are undesirable and should be removed by a 
 more efficient system of assessment and equalization, but the most 
 serious objection, however, lies behind and deeper than the mere 
 question of comparative aggregate assessments of taxing districts 
 or of different forms of property. We refer to the inequalities 
 between individual property holders whether persons or cor- 
 porations. 
 
40 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 TABLE VIII. 
 Adair County. 
 
 Acres 
 
 1 80 
 
 2 80 
 
 3 160 
 
 4 40 
 
 5 80 
 
 6 .., 200 
 
 7 80 
 
 8 160 
 
 9 80 
 
 10 160 
 
 11 254 
 
 12 160 
 
 13 80 
 
 14 160 
 
 15 83 
 
 16 160 
 
 17 40 
 
 18 , 240 
 
 19 80 
 
 20 160 
 
 21 81 
 
 22 160 
 
 23 180 
 
 24 73 
 
 25 160 
 
 26 160 
 
 27 80 
 
 28 80 
 
 29 80 
 
 30 100 
 
 31 80 
 
 32 160 
 
 33 84 
 
 34 160 
 
 35 160 
 
 36 160 
 
 37 141 
 
 38 40 
 
 39 160 
 
 40 80 
 
 41 80 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 $8,800 
 5,000 
 
 24,000 
 3,500 
 4,800 
 
 12,000 
 4,960 
 
 10,000 
 7,200 
 
 22,500 
 
 20,170 
 
 16,000 
 7,600 
 
 11,000 
 6,200 
 
 14,400 
 2,200 
 
 24,000 
 6,500 
 
 11,200 
 8,000 
 
 12,000 
 4,800 
 9,700 
 
 17,600 
 
 15,100 
 5,600 
 7,200 
 5,200 
 
 11,508 
 6,800 
 8,800 
 7,824 
 
 15,600 
 
 12,000 
 
 16,000 
 
 16,200 
 5,000 
 
 13,760 
 8,800 
 7,000 
 
 Taxable 
 
 Valiie 
 
 $836 
 
 724 
 2,291 
 
 357 
 
 633 
 1,163 
 
 871 
 1,764 
 
 642 
 1,650 
 2,324 
 1,650 
 
 792 
 1,466 
 
 862 
 2,016 
 
 391 
 2,105 
 
 719 
 1,485 
 
 846 
 1,476 
 
 633 
 
 948 
 1,557 
 1,559 
 
 792 
 
 881 
 
 724 
 1,140 
 
 705 
 1,175 
 
 732 
 1,569 
 1,557 
 1,650 
 1,409 
 
 550 
 1,650 
 
 995 
 
 719 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 ofTaxablft 
 to Sale 
 Value 
 
 9.5 
 14 
 10 
 10 
 13 
 10 
 18 
 18 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 12 
 10 
 10 
 13 
 14 
 14 
 18 
 
 9 
 11 
 13 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 10 
 
 9 
 10 
 14 
 12 
 18 
 10 
 11 
 13 
 
 9 
 10 
 13 
 10 
 
 9 
 11 
 12 
 11 
 10 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 41 
 
 TABLE VIII— Continued. 
 Adair County. 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 42 
 
 43 
 
 44 
 
 45 
 
 46 
 
 47 
 
 Acres 
 
 160 
 160 
 
 80 
 119 
 160 
 
 80 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 19,200 
 17,200 
 
 5,800 
 13,000 
 14,400 
 
 7,300 
 
 Per Cent. 
 Taxable of Taxable 
 Value to Sale 
 
 1,741 
 1,764 
 
 814 
 1,177 
 1,616 
 
 742 
 
 Value 
 
 9 
 10 
 14 
 
 9 
 11 
 10 
 
 TABLE IX. 
 Boone CSounty. 
 
 No. of A„_„c, Sale Taxable 
 
 Transfers ^^^^ Value Value 
 
 • 1 80 ?8,000 $934 
 
 2 40 4,600 601 
 
 3 80 12,000 1,103 
 
 4 80 8,000 1,034 
 
 5 80 8,800 1,103 
 
 6 40 5,600 837 
 
 7 80 10,000 1,228 
 
 8 82 ' 9,080 1,076 
 
 9 80 7,600 1,113 
 
 10 40 3,000 409 
 
 11 :... 120 15,600 1,693 
 
 12 80 6,400 977 
 
 13 40 5,100 591 
 
 14 80 9,000 1,036 
 
 15 20 2,750 516 
 
 16 80 8,000 1,090 
 
 17 40 3,300 542 
 
 18 80 7,000 981 
 
 19 - 40 7,500 583 
 
 20 80 10,480 1,104 
 
 21 80 11,280 1,060 
 
 22 80 9,000 1.118 
 
 23 160 20,400 2,346 
 
 24 80 10,000 1.155 
 
 25 160 17,280 2,266 
 
 26 40 4,000 461 
 
 27 , 160 12,000 2,050 
 
 28 80 7,600 1,127 
 
 Per Cent, 
 of Taxable 
 
 to Sale 
 
 Value 
 
 12 
 13 
 
 9 
 13 
 13 
 15 
 12 
 12 
 15 
 14 
 11 
 15 
 12 
 12 
 19 
 12 
 16 
 14 
 
 8 
 10 
 
 9 
 12 
 
 11.5 
 12 
 13 
 12 
 16 
 15 
 
42 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 
 TABLE IX— Continued. 
 
 
 
 
 Boone County. 
 
 
 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 Acres 
 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 Taxable 
 Value 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of Taxable 
 to Sale 
 Value 
 
 29 
 
 80 
 
 
 12,000 
 
 1,145 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 80 
 
 
 11,000 
 
 1,402 
 
 13 
 
 31 
 
 320 
 
 
 28,000 
 
 3,458 
 
 12 
 
 32 
 
 160 
 
 
 14,535 
 
 1,472 
 
 10 
 
 33 
 
 80 
 
 
 7,200 
 
 688 
 
 10 
 
 34 
 
 80 
 
 
 9,000 
 
 1,128 
 
 13 
 
 35 
 
 80 
 
 
 8,200 
 
 1,145 
 
 13 
 
 36 
 
 160 
 
 
 15,280 
 3,500 
 
 1,983 
 730 
 
 13 
 
 37 
 
 40 
 
 21 
 
 
 TABLE 
 
 X. 
 
 
 
 
 Cerro Gordo County. 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 No. of \nr-aa ^alc Taxable of Taxable 
 
 Transfers ^'^^^ Value Value to Sale 
 
 Value 
 
 1 160 $8,000 $1,889 23 
 
 2 80 7,500 954 12 
 
 3 320 20,800 3,539 17 
 
 4 160 19,680 2,324 12 
 
 5 155 10,850 1,694 15 
 
 6 120 12,000 1,563 13 
 
 7 ■ 80 4,900 785 16 
 
 8 120 12,285 1,530 12 
 
 9 160 14,000 1,909 14 
 
 10 160 16,000 2,003 13 
 
 11... 80 5,600 874 16 
 
 12 76 5,800 899 15.5 
 
 13 120 8,040 1,477 18 
 
 14 83 - 5,000 1,091 22 
 
 15 160 17,600 1,971 11 
 
 16 80 5,600 978 17 
 
 17 160 16,000 2,033 13 
 
 18 160 10,000 1,585 16 
 
 19 80 5,500 977 18 
 
 20 160 9,600 1,544 16 
 
 21 160 10,400 1,822 18 
 
 22 160 11,200 1,792 16 
 
 23 160 12,800 2,038 16 
 
 24 160 11,500 1,810, 16 
 
 25 80 3,928 713 18 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 43 
 
 TABLE X— Continued. 
 
 Cerro Gordo Connty. 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 Acres 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 Ta,xa,ble 
 Value 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of Taxable 
 to Sale 
 Value 
 
 26 
 
 80 
 
 5,960 
 
 909 
 
 15 
 
 27 
 
 80 
 
 6,800 
 
 939 
 
 14 
 
 28 
 
 160 
 
 10,400 
 
 1,970 
 
 19 
 
 29 
 
 80 
 
 7,000 
 
 850 
 
 12 
 
 30 
 
 160 
 
 10,400 
 
 1,760 
 
 17 
 
 31 
 
 80 
 
 5,800 
 
 933 
 
 16 
 
 32 
 
 77 
 
 4,900 
 
 632 
 
 13 
 
 33 
 
 160 
 
 15,440 
 
 2,054 
 
 13 
 
 34 
 
 80 
 
 3,650 
 
 678 
 
 19 
 
 35 
 
 80 
 
 6,800 
 
 956 
 
 14 
 
 36 
 
 80 
 
 6,400 
 
 967 
 
 15 
 
 37 
 
 320 
 
 22,040 
 
 2,433 
 
 11 
 
 38 
 
 160 
 
 13,500 
 
 1,696 
 
 13 
 
 TABLE XI. 
 Hancock County. 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 13 
 
 14 
 
 15 
 
 16 
 
 17 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 Acres 
 
 80 
 
 80 
 
 120 
 
 ' 120 
 
 400 
 
 160 
 
 80 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 80 
 
 80 
 
 80 
 
 200 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 320 
 
 320 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 $6,000 
 
 4,400 
 
 10,200 
 
 8,000 
 
 27,000 
 
 12,000 
 
 4,200 
 
 15,105 
 
 10,400 
 
 15,200 
 
 10,840 
 
 3,900 
 
 5,600 
 
 4,000 
 
 18,200 
 
 16,800 
 
 12,800 
 
 22,440 
 
 21,440 
 
 15,900 
 
 12,700 
 
 Taxable 
 Value 
 
 $693 
 
 539 
 
 1,031 
 
 1,092 
 
 3,092 
 
 1,326 
 
 578 
 
 1,240 
 
 1,248 
 
 1,318 
 
 1,287 
 
 553 
 
 632 
 
 632 
 
 1,560 
 
 1,248 
 
 1,326 
 
 2,418 
 
 2,516 
 
 1,232 
 
 1,248 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of Taxable 
 
 to Sale 
 
 Value 
 
 12 
 12 
 10 
 13 
 11 
 11 
 14 
 
 8 
 12 
 
 9 
 12 
 14 
 11 
 16 
 
 9 
 
 7 
 10 
 
 n 
 
 12 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
44 
 
 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 TABLE XI— Continued. 
 
 No. of 
 Transfers 
 
 Hancock County. 
 Acrtis 
 
 Sale 
 Value 
 
 22 156 10,485 
 
 23 160 9,600 
 
 24 80 8,800 
 
 25 160 12,000 
 
 26 80 7,600 
 
 27 160 10,700 
 
 28 320 14,400 
 
 29 320 27,600 
 
 30 175 14,000 
 
 31 160 10,400 
 
 32 120 7,100 
 
 33 160 17,000 
 
 34 160 8,800 
 
 35 155 11,800 
 
 36 160 14,100 
 
 37 221 14,720.63 
 
 38 160 8,000 
 
 39 160 18,600 
 
 40 320 23,360 
 
 41 320 10,400 
 
 42 185 20,000 
 
 43 348 20,000 
 
 44 160 10,000 
 
 45 348 34,644.7 
 
 46 320 27,000 
 
 47 160 14,205 
 
 48 160 8,745 
 
 Taxable 
 Value 
 
 1,265 
 1,404 
 
 671 
 1,248 
 
 597 
 1,326 
 2,909 
 2,652 
 1,400 
 1,404 
 
 944 
 1,326 
 1,248 
 1,240 
 1,248 
 1,841 
 1,248 
 1,280 
 2,496 
 2,184 
 1,547 
 1,624 
 1,326 
 2,624 
 2,711 
 1,232 
 1,247 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 of Taxable 
 to Sale; j 
 Value 
 
 12 
 
 15 
 
 7 
 10 
 
 8 
 12 
 20 
 10 
 10 
 13.5 
 13 
 
 8 
 14 
 11 
 
 9 
 13 
 16 
 
 7 
 11 
 21 
 
 8 
 
 8 
 13 
 
 8 
 10 
 
 9 
 14 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 45 
 
 
 TABLE XI] 
 
 ■• 
 
 
 
 
 Wayne Coanty. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Per Cent. 
 
 No. of 
 
 Acres 
 
 Sale 
 
 Taxable 
 
 of Taxable 
 
 Transfers 
 
 Value 
 
 Value 
 
 to Sale 
 
 
 
 
 
 Value 
 
 1 
 
 154 
 
 ?6,6p0 
 
 $1,987 
 
 30 
 
 2 
 
 79 
 
 5,100 
 6,200 
 
 5,100 
 645 
 
 14 
 
 3 
 
 80 
 
 10 
 
 4 
 
 80 
 
 6,400 
 8,400 
 7,500 
 
 839 
 748 
 635 
 
 13 
 
 5 
 
 118 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 98 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 80 
 
 6,000 
 4,300 
 
 903 
 465 
 
 15 
 
 8 
 
 77 
 
 11 
 
 9 
 
 80 
 
 6,000 
 4,800 
 8,000 
 5,160 
 5,600 
 4,700 
 
 748 
 
 535 
 1,141 
 
 722 
 1,509 
 
 595 
 
 12 
 
 10 
 
 78 
 
 12 
 
 11 
 
 78 
 
 14 
 
 12 
 
 79 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 158 
 
 27 
 
 14 
 
 78 
 
 13 
 
 15 
 
 78 
 
 5,200 
 6,000 
 
 922 
 818 
 
 18 
 
 16 
 
 78 
 
 14 
 
 17 
 
 , 79 
 
 5,000 
 4,000 
 3,000 
 3,400 
 5,200 
 16,000 
 16,100 
 6,000 
 4,800 
 
 655 
 
 468 
 
 388 
 
 511 
 
 968 
 
 1,979 
 
 2,393 
 
 721 
 
 1,699 
 
 13 
 
 18 
 
 79 
 
 12 
 
 19 
 
 80 
 
 13 
 
 20 
 
 80 
 
 15 
 
 21 
 
 75 
 
 19 
 
 22 
 
 196 
 
 12 
 
 23 
 
 200 
 
 15 
 
 24 
 
 79 
 
 12 
 
 25 
 
 158 
 
 35 
 
 26 
 
 159 
 
 15,600 
 
 1,798 
 
 12 
 
 27 
 
 80 
 
 5,000 
 
 510 
 
 10 
 
 28 
 
 76 
 
 3,200 
 
 744 
 
 23 
 
 29 
 
 156 
 
 12,000 
 
 1,258 
 
 10 
 
 30 
 
 80 
 
 6,400 
 
 645 
 
 10 
 
 31 
 
 78 
 
 6,000 
 
 765 
 
 13 
 
 32 
 
 118 
 
 10,000 
 
 888 
 
 9 
 
 33 
 
 79 
 
 5,600 
 
 638 
 
 H 
 
 34 
 
 37 
 
 2,900 
 
 497 
 
 17 
 
 The information given in Tables VIII to XII, inclusive, was 
 obtained by this commission in the manner already described and 
 gives the taxable and sale value of individual tracts of land well 
 distributed over the different counties. The comparative statis- 
 tics herein presented are self-iexplanatory. It appears that the 
 
46 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 taxable value even of farm lands ranges all the way from about 
 7 per ceni) to 18 per cent and in a few rare cases, 25 per cent 
 of the sale value and even more. In other words, farm lands ac- 
 cording to the data received from county officials are listed from 
 about one-fourth of their sale value to three-fourths of the same, 
 in a few exceptional cases the listed values being more than the 
 land would bring on the market in the ordinary course of trade. 
 Yet, there are those who contend that no substantial lack of 
 uniformity exists in the assessment of farm lands. 
 
 The Commission has investigated more than half the counties 
 of the state in the manner above outlined, and has found that 
 essentially the same conditions exist in every county. The fact 
 is, that the assessment of farm lands is honeycombed with great 
 inequalities in every section of the state of Iowa, which is the 
 direct result of the present inefficient method of assessment. 
 These inequalities have always existed and are growing greater 
 as the years go on. The obvious and only remedy is an efficient 
 plan of state and county supervision of local assessment. 
 
 If it is true that the assessment of ordinary farm lands, in 
 many respects the least difficult of all forms of property to assess 
 on an equitable basis, is characterized by great inequality as be- 
 tween taxpayers, what should be said of other classes of prop- 
 erty of a more complex and intangible character? What about 
 the assessed value of real estate on the principal streets of our 
 leading cities where land is frequently sold at hundreds of dollars 
 or even thousands of dollars per front foot? What may be said 
 regarding the assessed value of the improvements thereon, and of 
 the buildings and other property of large industrial corporations? 
 What about the assessment of railroads and and other similar 
 public service corporations? If the present revenue system has 
 broken down from the standpoint of administration even in the 
 case of farm lands, could we reasonably expect any greater success 
 when dealing with vastly more complex forms of property? 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 COMPAKATIVE STUDY OP ASSESSMENT AND 
 EQUALIZATION. 
 
 To discuss the revenue machinery of all the forty-eight states 
 in detail would require a volume, rather than a brief chapter. 
 Space will permit only a very general statement regarding this 
 complex subject, which may be arranged logically under the fol- 
 lowing topics: first, basis of listing or valuation; second, method 
 or plan of assessment; and third, the system of equalization or 
 review of assessments. Both the methods of assessment and the 
 machinery of equalization or review should be considered from 
 the standpoint of the civil township or similar subdivision of local 
 government, the county and the state. 
 
 "With reference to the basis of listing or valuation of property 
 in the various states, only a word need be said. All property sub- 
 jected to ad valorem taxation in every state except Alabama is 
 required by law to be listed on the basis of actual market value, 
 which is interpreted by the courts in other states the same as in 
 Iowa to be that price which the same would bring on the market 
 in the ordinary course of trade. Different terms are used, like 
 "value", "actual value", "actual cash value", "the present true 
 and actual valuation", " true value", "fair market value", "fair 
 cash value", "just value", but they all mean substantially the 
 same thing. In Arizona, cash value is defined as "what the 
 property would be taken for in the payment of a just debt due 
 from a solvent debtor". In New York, the courts have defined 
 the full value of property to be " the amount of money the prop- 
 erty would sell for at a fair, free and well advertised sale". 
 
 But while all of the different states have laws requiring that 
 property subject to ad valorem taxation should be listed for the 
 amount in would bring on the market iu the ordinary course of 
 trade, at least two important facts should be noted: first, that 
 
48 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 this rule has been quite generally disregarded in practice, especi- 
 ally in states like Iowa; and secoid, four states have provided 
 that the assessed value shall be arbitrarily placed at a certain 
 fractional part of the listed value. In fact, it may be said that 
 property is being assessed in actual practice at from 10 per cent 
 to 100 per cent of its true value in the various states, dependiiig 
 entirely upon the efficiency or lack of efficiency of the revenue 
 system. With the .exception of Iowa, the only states, however, 
 which provide by law for fractional assessment are Illinois, where 
 the legal ratio is 33 1-3 per cent, Idaho, 40 per cent, and Neb- 
 raska, where the law provides that the property "shall be valued 
 at its actual value which shall be entered opposite each item and 
 shall be assessed at 20 per cent of such actual value". 
 
 When we consider, therefore, that every state except Alabama 
 requires that property shall be listed for taxation at its actual 
 value, the fractional assessment in Illinois, Iowa, Idaho and Neb- 
 raska, being mere arbitrary percentages of the listed value, and 
 that this same principle has been recognized in every revenue law 
 which has been passed by the General Assembly of this State 
 since the beginning of the territorial period, it would seem that 
 the recommendation of the Commission along this line must rest 
 upon a solid, scientific foundation. It is universally recognized 
 by authorities on taxation that uniformity of assessment is im- 
 possible or at least impracticable except on the basis of actual 
 value, and without uniformity of assessment, we cannot have an 
 equitable distribution of the burdens of taxation. 
 
 Throughout the entire country, general property of a strictly 
 local character and subject to ad valorem taxation is listed by 
 township or county assessors. In seventeen states the assessment 
 is made by township assessors without the supervision and control 
 of county assessors, or, in fact, any county supervision except the 
 mere nominal review or equalization by an ex officio county board. 
 This list included all of the New England States, and, in fact, 
 every state north of the Ohio and Potomac rivers and east of the 
 Mississippi river, except Illinois, Indiana and Maryland. More- 
 over, it is a striking fact that it includes only Minnesota, Iowa, 
 North Dakota and North Carolina in the vast region west of the 
 Mississippi and south of the Potomac rivers. 
 
 Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and South Dakota, also, have some 
 measure of township assessment. In Indiana, property is listed 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT -t'J 
 
 by local assessors who are subject to the supervision, however, of 
 a county assessor elected by the people. In Illinois, part of the 
 counties are under township organization and, therefore, have 
 township assessors; but in the remaining counties for the most 
 part in southern Illinois, the county system of local government 
 predominates and with it, county machinery of assessment. In 
 fact, the county treasurer is ex officio county assessor in certain 
 counties not under township organization. Kansas has township 
 assessors elected by the people in the rural districts and local 
 assessors appointed in towns and cities, but in either case the work 
 of listing property is subject to the rigid supervision of a county 
 assessor formerly appointed by the board of county commissioners, 
 but at present elected by the people. South Dakota has a dual 
 system of township and assessment quite similar to that which 
 prevails in Illinois. 
 
 In the great majority of the seventeen states which have only 
 township assessment, including the four states having a dual sys- 
 tem of township and county assessment, the local assessors are 
 elected by the people the same as other township officers. This is 
 especially true in the coimtry townships. In the cities, assessors 
 or boards of assessors, as the case may be, are quite frequently 
 appointive officials. In North Carolina, the assessment is made by 
 a board of list-takers of each township, who are appointed by the 
 board of county commissioners. 
 
 Finally, attention should be called to the fact that the list of 
 twenty-one states where either partial or complete local township 
 assessment prevails, represents those sections where the permanent 
 tax commission movement has made the greatest progress during 
 the last decade. This is particularly the result of more complex 
 and advanced economic conditions, but it may also be explained 
 in a large measure by the complete failure of this system of assess- 
 ment. Indeed, it is a significant fact that a permanent state tax 
 commission, state board of assessors or state tax commissioner has 
 been established in all of the twenty-one states under considera- 
 tion, except Iowa, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Illinois. Of 
 the seventeen states which have no county machinery of super- 
 vision, fourteen have created a permanent tax commission or the 
 office of permanent tax commissioner. New Hampshire, Ohio and 
 Rhode Island have been placed in this list of tax reform states 
 during the last two years. In other words, it is very evident that 
 
 4 
 
50 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 where local township assessment prevails, some method of super- 
 vision and control is deemed necessary in order to obtain anything' 
 approaching satisfactory results. Where this supervision is not 
 supplied at least partially by county authority, a central state 
 board becomes all the more essential. 
 
 At the present time, Iowa is one of only three states which has 
 local township assessment, and no county assessor or permanent 
 tax commission, in other words, no efficient supervision and control 
 of the machinery of assessment and equalization. The necessity 
 of supplying county and state supervision of local assessments in 
 order to place the same on a business-like basis is responsible for 
 Mle recommendation of this Commission that a county assessor and 
 permanent tax commission should be created. 
 
 The system of county assessment prevails in some form in 
 thirty-one states.^ This list includes every state west of the Mis- 
 sissippi and south of the Ohio and Potomac rivers except Minne- 
 sota, North Dakota, Iowa and North Carolina, which shows that 
 as the American people move westward the county as unit of lo- 
 cal government gradually proved its superiority over the township 
 for the purpose of listing or assessment of property. Indeed, it 
 should be stated that a movement is now on foot in Minnesota, 
 North Dakota and some of the other states like Ohio where the 
 township system of local government prevails, to create the office 
 of county assessor or county supervisor of local assessments. In 
 Minnesota and Ohio, especially, this movement has made substan- 
 tial progress and will probably bear fruit in the near future, 
 perhaps at the coming sessions of the legislatures of those states. 
 A word of explanation should be made regarding North Caro- 
 lina, which is a southern state where one might expect the county 
 system to prevail. As a matter of fact, the board of assessors 
 or list takers, while nominally township officials in that state, are 
 appointed by the board of county commissioners and, therefore, 
 subject to county supervision and control. When we consider 
 also that North Carolina has a tax commission which exercises 
 supervision over the various taxing officials, including the boards 
 of county commissioners, it is apparent that the plan of assess- 
 mient is only in name a township system. In other words, the 
 board of county commissioners in North Carolina, through its 
 
 1. The foUowing states do not have a county system of assessment: 
 Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, 
 >jew Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota,. 
 Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 51 
 
 power to appoint township list-takers, can influence and direct 
 the work of local assessments in much the same manner that 
 the county assessor is able to do in a state like Kansas. 
 
 The plan of county assessment, howiever, has been carried to 
 its logical conclusion in only a few states where it has been estab- 
 lished. In order to be placed in a really efficient basis, it is neces- 
 sary to establish state supervision also, which is rapidly being 
 extended in the form of a state tax commissioner or state tax com- 
 mission. Experience has proved that either the township or 
 the county system of assessment requires a substantial measure 
 of state supervision and control in order to bring about uni- 
 formity of assessment and, therefore, equality in taxation. One 
 of the first county assessor states to establish the office of state 
 tax commissioner was West Virginia, where the revenue system 
 has been completely revolutionized and placed on as scientific a 
 basis as that of any state. In fact, it may be stated that with 
 the possible exception of Kansas, property is now being listed in 
 West Virginia at more nearly its actual value and on a more uni- 
 form basis than in any other state which is the natural result of 
 carrying the county assessor and tax commission system to its 
 logical conclusion. 
 
 Other county assessor states are following the example of West 
 Virginia. Among this list should be mentioned Alabama, Kansas 
 and Texas, where the work of assessment has been greatly im- 
 proved. The same is true of California, Oregon and Washington 
 where the county system of assessment has always prevailed but 
 did not give satisfactory results until supplemented by rigid 
 state supervision exercised through permanent tax commissions. 
 The last county assessor states to establish commissioners were 
 Colorado, Arkansas and Arizona, but the new system has not 
 been in operation long enough to warrant any general conclusions. 
 It is safe to assume, however, that the same satisfactory results 
 will be secured as in West Virginia and Kansas. 
 
 The method of election, term of office, salary and powers of the 
 county assessors are not absolutely the same in any two states. For 
 the most part, county assessors are elected by the people the same 
 as other county officers for a term of two or four years.^ More than 
 one-fourth the states elect county assessors for a term of four 
 
 2. The following states elect county assessors for a term of four 
 years: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kansas. Kentucky, Lous- 
 iana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee and West Virginia. 
 
52 TAX COMMISSION EEPORT 
 
 years in the same maimer as is recommended by the Commission 
 in the proposed revenue bill. In Arizona, county assessors are 
 appointed by the county boards of supervisors, and in "Virginia 
 a unique system prevails where the appointment is made by the 
 circuit courts for a term of five years. The system of election, 
 however, is practically universal for the same reasons which pro- 
 vide for the election of other county officials in the various states. 
 
 The fact should be emphasized, however, that while the county 
 assessor system has obvious advantages over the more decentralized 
 township plan, it cannot be expected to insure satisfactory re- 
 sults without being supplemented by some efficient method of 
 state supervision and control. While the so-called tax commission 
 movement has made greater progress in states having the township 
 system of local government, for reasons already stated, the ex- 
 perience of the last few years has proved conclusively the same 
 necessity of state supervision where the county plan of local as- 
 sessment prevails. The fact that eleven states of this class have 
 created permanent tax commissions or the office of state tax com- 
 missioner within the last decade, and the additional fact that in 
 B[ansas and "West Virginia the listing or assessment of property 
 is now on the most efficient basis of any of the states, emphasizes the 
 necessity of state as well as county supervision of this important 
 work.* 
 
 In concluding our brief discussion of the county assessor system, 
 we can do no better than quote the following statement of the 
 Minnesota Tax Commission with reference to this important sub- 
 ject : 
 
 "A number of vital points in the plan may well be considered here. 
 While some of the states provided for the appointment of the county as- 
 sessor by the county commissioners, others have enacted laws which make 
 the assessorship an elective office. Perhaps, all things considered, the 
 latter method is the wisest. While it may be said that an assessor. If 
 elected by popular vote, would truckle to public opinion, nevertheless, a 
 long term of office, a fair salary and support in his office by a permanent 
 tax commission, would go a long way toward remedying a defect of this 
 kind. The term of office might well be placed at four years and the salary 
 fixed by population and area of county. One further feature remains to be 
 considered. Equality of assessment, as well as uniformity of assessment, 
 must be considered from both the county and state point of view. The 
 
 3. The following county assessor states have established tax commis- 
 sions or a state tax commissioner since 1902: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, 
 California, Colorado, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, Washington, West Virginia 
 and Wyoming. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 53 
 
 necessity of a state-wide body to supervise assessments and to secure 
 uniformity of action may be accepted without furtlier argument. The 
 need of control over county assessors in their work appears to be essen- 
 tial to the success of the plan. Such failures of the county assessor system 
 as have been recorded are due to the absence of a superior power to remove 
 the assessor who failed to do his duty. That it would be successful under 
 the direction of a state tax commission is clearly proved In the supervisor 
 system in vogue in Wisconsin, which, while in advance over the system 
 existent in Minnesota, has all the defects due to too many officers doing a 
 piece of work in too short a time; but it possesses advantages in the uni- 
 formity of assessment gained by the supervision of the assessors by the 
 county supervisors of assessments. 
 
 The state systems indicated in the schedule above do not provide for 
 state meetings, with two or three exceptions, or for the specific removal of 
 the county assessor, except in the instances of Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, 
 Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico and Virgiaia. In these 
 states no uniformity of removal power exists, some of the states placing 
 the power in the hands of the governor, others with the courts, others with 
 the boards of equalization. None of the states have carried the county 
 assessor plan to its logical conclusion. If such a system were created, the 
 assessor would be elected for four years, paid a fair salary, required to 
 meet with the tax commission, subject to their supervision in his work, 
 and removable by the same body if he failed to perform his duties as pre- 
 scribed by law. 
 
 To continue the discussion, a county assessor system possesses, to put 
 It briefly, the advantages that go with a permanent officer, who in time be- 
 comes an expert, capable of making with his deputies an equitable, just and 
 uniform assessment. Meeting in annual conference with the tax commis- 
 sion, the county assessor will come to a clear and uniform understanding 
 of the laws and work of listing property. Supervision and direction by 
 the tax commission will put him under the necessity of performing his 
 duties according to law, and his election by the people will give them the 
 opportunity of placing their approval or disapproval upon his work. Such 
 a system would mean a great reform in the assessing now in vogue in 
 Minnesota." (4) 
 
 "With reference to the very' important question of the review or 
 equalization of assessments, it should be stated that the different 
 commonwealths of the Union present a great variety of systems. 
 In no two states is the plan exactly the same. The subject can 
 best be considered from the standpoint of the power and authority 
 along this line vested in the different units of government, town- 
 ship, county and state. By the township we mean to include also 
 the town and city. 
 
 4. First Biennial Report of the Minnesota Tax Commission, 1908. pp 
 26, 27. 
 
54 ' TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Beginning at the top, we find that some form of state review 
 or equalization prevails in all but ten states. The states which 
 do not have boards of this character -are located for the most part 
 in the south, where the county is the, important unit of local gov- 
 ernment and state supervision and control has not been developed 
 to as great an extent as in some other sections of the country. Pri- 
 or to 1900, the great majority of state boards of equalization were 
 ex-offieio in character, consisting, as a rule, of some of the lead- 
 ing state officers. In other words, the plan of state review which 
 now prevails in Iowa was very general throughout the United 
 States until the last few years and even at the present day a 
 large group of states have systems of substantially the same char- 
 acter. 
 
 Two important tendencies, however, have been very apparent 
 during the last decade: first, the enlargement of the powers of 
 state boards of review; and second, the creation of state tax com- 
 missions or a state tax commissioner, which have taken the place 
 of the old ex-officio boards of equalization. At the present time, 
 as already suggested, more than half the states have a permanent 
 tax commission, a tax commissioner or a state board of assessors, 
 as in Maine, with powers of similar character. These commissions 
 have either taken the place of the former state boards of review 
 or have become members of such boards and supply the data on 
 which the equalization is based. In other words, the so-called tax 
 commission movement has resulted in the rapid elimination of 
 ex-offieio boards of state review, the substitution in lieu thereof 
 of permanent officials giving all their time to the important work 
 of assessment and equalization. 
 
 This means that the recommendation in favor of a permanent 
 state tax commission in Iowa to take the place of the Executive 
 Council, both as an assessing board for the property of certain 
 public service corporations and as a state board of review, rests 
 upon the successful experience of a great many states and is in 
 harmony with the tax reform movement which has become very 
 general in every section of the country. 
 
 The increasing number of tax commissions to take the place of 
 ex-officio boards of review has also been accompanied by a marked 
 increase in the powers and authority conferred upon such hoards 
 or commissions. In other words, state supervision and control of 
 local assessment has become more efficient for two important rea- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 55 
 
 sons: first, it has ceased to be a mere nominal ex-officio function, 
 teing placed in the hands of officials who are required to give all 
 their time to the work; and second, the authority vested in such 
 boards has been greatly enlarged. For example, commissions like 
 these in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas not only have general 
 supervision over the entire revenue system of their respective 
 states, but are clothed with power to compel the re-assessment of 
 an entire taxing district or ia cases where necessary they may 
 send their own agents to do the work of re-assessment. 
 
 In fact, the tendency of the last few years has been to provide 
 ways and means for the more efficient administration of law in 
 matters of assessment and taxation, and in order to bring about 
 this result, it has been found that it is essential to clothe the 
 state, through some permanent board or commission, with a very 
 substantial measure of supervision and control over local officials. 
 
 We have already noted the fact that the work of review or equal- 
 ization of assessments may be a township, county or state function. 
 Indeed, the county is a very important unit of local government 
 for fiscal purposes in every section of the country. It appears 
 that all but nine states have some form of county review or equali- 
 zation. Outside of New England every state has some plan of 
 county review or equalization except Delaware, Georgia and Vir- 
 ginia. 
 
 Of the long list of thirty-nine states which have county review 
 of assessment, this power is vested in the county boards of super- 
 visors in nine states, boards of county commissioners in twenty 
 states, and the county court in Texas and West Virginia." The 
 county boards of equalization in the remaining states present a 
 great variety of organization. For example, in Arkansas, the 
 county board consists of "three intelligent citizens, real estate 
 owners, and qualified electors" appointed by the Governor for 
 two years. In Louisiana, the police juries of the different 
 parishes act as a county board of review. In New Jersey, the 
 county board of review is appointed by the judge of common pleas 
 for a term of two years. In Missouri, the county clerk, counfy. 
 
 6. The county board of supervisors acts as a county board of equal- 
 ization in the following states: Arizona California, Kentucky, Nebraska, 
 Michigan, Mississippi, Iowa, New York and "Wisconsin. The same work is 
 placed in the hands of boards of county commissioners in the following 
 states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Idano, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, 
 Minnesota. Montana, Nevada, New Mexico. North Carolinafl Ohio, Oklahoma, 
 Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and 
 Wyoming. 
 
S6 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 surveyor, county assessor and judges of the county court make up 
 the county toard of equalization. Finally, Tennessee presents a 
 unique plan where the county board of review is composed of 
 five freeholders elected by the quarterly court of each county or 
 in some cases appointed by the city council. 
 
 Perhaps the most significant thing, however, about the various 
 county boards of review is the fact that they are almost univers- 
 ally clothed with the power to equalize assessments as between in- 
 dividual taxpayers, a power which existed in Iowa until 1870, 
 when the local board of review as now constituted was created. 
 Approximately two-thirds of the states clothe the county board 
 of review with the important power of equalizing individual 
 assessments, a power which ought to exist in this state and which 
 the Commission recommends and incorporated in the proposed 
 revenue bill, jloreover, it appears that the work of county re- 
 view or equalization is placed in the hands of boards of county 
 commissioners or county boards of supervisors in nearly thirty 
 states. The recommendation, therefore, that the county board of 
 supervisors should continue to perform the work of review or 
 equalization of assessment, and that its power along this line 
 should be enlarged so as to include the right to equalize in- 
 dividual assessments on appeal is in harmony with the experience 
 of a substantial majority of the states. 
 
 In the third place, the subject of township review should be 
 briefly considered. In a number of states where the township 
 system of local government prevails, especially in New England, 
 there is no local board of reviews, as that term is understood in 
 Iowa. In lieu thereof local boards of relief have been organized. 
 In states like Connecticut and New Hampshire, these local boards 
 merely have the authority to grant abatements of taxes and do 
 not increase or decrease the assessment of property as in this 
 state. 
 
 There are only six other states which have a system of local 
 review which corresponds to the Iowa plan. In Kansas, town- 
 ship review or equalization is made by a local board composed of 
 the township trustee and two persons appointed by the county 
 assessor. In Michigan, the township supervisors and two land- 
 holders elected by the people for two years act as a local board 
 of review between individuals. In Minnesota, the town board; 
 the assessor, clerk and president of each village; and the assessor, 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT BT 
 
 clerk and mayor of each city, act as a local board of review to 
 correct individual assessments. Practically the same stystem pre- 
 vails in North Dakota and South Dakota. Finally, in Wisconsin, 
 the supervisors, clerk and assessor of each township; the mayor, 
 clerk and assessors of cities ; and the president, clerk and assess- 
 or of villages, act as a local board of review with powers quite 
 similar to those prevailing in Iowa. 
 
 It thus appears that forty-one states are able to get along with- 
 out what is known as local or township review. This system of 
 local review was more general throughout the country at an earlier 
 date, but proved to be impracticable and has gradually been aban- 
 doned. For example. New Jersey abolished its local board of re- 
 view in 1906, Illinois in 1908, and Oklahoma and Nebraska in. 
 1911. Indeed, the township is too small a unit of local govern- 
 ment for purposes of review or equalization if we are to obtain 
 uniformity of assessment and, therefore, equality of taxation. In 
 other words, there should be some definite and permanent county 
 official whose business it is to see that assessments are uniform 
 throughout the county. This cannot be done when a county 
 is divided into from fifteen to thirty or more taxing districts with 
 the work of assessment and review both in the hands of township 
 officials and, therefore, each local taxing district a law unto 
 itself. 
 
 While the Commission recognizes that local boards of review,, 
 as well as the present local system of assessment, have proved a 
 failure, largely on account of the absence of efficient county and 
 state supervision, the fact is also appreciated that some method 
 of correcting errors in assessment should be provided which will 
 make it possible for the average taxpayer to obtain relief without 
 going to the county seat. This has been accomplished by clothing 
 the coUnty assessor with the authority to correct individual assess- 
 ments ; in other words, to do the work which is now in the hands 
 of a great many local review boards. Furthermore, the proposed 
 revenue bill authorizes him to hold meetings in different places 
 of the county for the convenience of taxpayers, requiring that 
 sufficient and proper notice be given of all such meetings. 
 
 In conclusion, it may be stated that the recommendation in 
 favor of a permanent state tax commission to take the place of 
 the present Executive Council in the work of assessment and 
 equalization, and the creation of the office of county assessor with 
 
58 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 power to list omitted property, collect data regarding assessed 
 and sale value and correct individual assessments, as already ex- 
 plained, is in harmony with the tax reform movement which now 
 pervades almost every section of the country. It has heen ob- 
 served that more than half the states now have permanent state 
 boards in one form or another, while in 1900 only five states had 
 boards or commissions of this character. However, approximate- 
 ly two-thirds of the states clothe their county boards of equali- 
 zation with the important power of reviewing individual assess- 
 ments, a power which is granted to the county board of super- 
 visors in the proposed revenue bill. Finally, the method or plan 
 of township equalization has been gradually abandoned until only 
 six other states have systems which correspond to that prevailing 
 in this state. It seems logical and desirable to confer this author- 
 ity upon a county assessor, giving all his time to the work and 
 permitting him to hold meetings in various places of the county 
 for the convenience of the taxpayers. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE COUNTY ASSESSOR AND TAX COMMISSION 
 SYSTEM. 
 
 The necessity of providing some efficient plan of state and 
 eovmty supervision of local assessment including the assessment 
 of public service corporation, is based upon the following impor- 
 tant considerations: 
 
 LOW ASSESSMENT. 
 
 By making a careful comparative study of actual valuations as 
 given in the report of the Federal Census and assessed valuations 
 to be found in the report of the Auditor of State, the Commission 
 has discovered that in 1850 property was being listed for taxation 
 at approximately its entire sale value. At the present time, it is 
 being listed at about one-half of its sale value and assessed at 
 one-fourth of that amount. 
 
 In this connection, it should be stated that political economists 
 and fax administrators almost universally agree that while it is 
 theoretically possible, it is practically im.possibly to secure uni- 
 formity of assessment, and, therefore, equality of taxation, except 
 on the basis of actual value. The moment a fractional basis is 
 introduced, tax rates will be increased in the same proportion and 
 a different valuation will be given to each individual or class of 
 property being listed for taxation. Indeed, the idea that all 
 property subject to ad valorem taxation should be listed at its 
 actual value is recognized by law in every state except Alabama, 
 and may also be found in every revenue law that has been adopted 
 by the General Assembly of Iowa. The fact that in forty-seven 
 states, property is required by law to be listed at its actual value, 
 shows that assessment at actual value is generally considered 
 fundamentally sound and the only practicable means of securing 
 
60 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 equality ©f taxation, and the additional fact that in. this state the 
 machinery of assessment and equalization has been absolutely un- 
 able to realize this ideal, but has departed farther and farther 
 from it, furnishes one of the strongest arguments in support of 
 the proposal to create the office of county assessor and, at the same 
 time, establish a permanent state tax commission. 
 
 INEQUALITIES OF ASSESSMENT. 
 
 Low assessment or under-valuation of property, however, is not 
 the most important defect in the workng of the present revenue 
 system in this state. As already stated, it is theoretically pos- 
 sible to secure equality of taxation on the basis of fractional as- 
 sessment. For example, if all property were listed at one-tenth 
 of its value, the only effect would be to multiply tax rates in the 
 same proportion, granting that the same amount of money wa^ 
 raised for the support of schools, the building of roads and 
 bridges and other legitimate functions of government. 
 
 Uniformity, however, has been the exception and inequality 
 the rule, wherever under assessment has prevailed. In this state, 
 a study of assessed and actual values on the basis of the sale 
 method shows that inequalities exist, even in the listing of farm 
 lands. An investigation of more than sixty counties shows that 
 some farms are now being listed for taxation at double, and even 
 three times, the amoimt of other farms in the same county, al- 
 though having in fact substantially the same value. In other words, 
 some of the farmers of Iowa are bearing from two to three times 
 their just burden of state and local taxation ia comparison with 
 their immediate neighbors. When we come to town lots, and large 
 corporate property, if it is especially of an intangible character, the 
 inequalities are vastly greater, a fact which has been almost uni- 
 versally proved by other tax commissions throughout the United 
 States. 
 
 The present Special Tax Commission has not been clothed with 
 the necessary powers, nor has it had sufficient time, to make a 
 complete valuation of the different forms of corporate property. 
 We refer not only to the property of railroads, telephone and 
 telegraph companies, or the so-called public service corporations, 
 but also to industrial corporations and large property holdings in 
 general, whether individual or corporate. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 61 
 
 In this connection, it should he stated that until a complete in- 
 ventory of the property of public service corporations has been 
 made, and until a more comprehensive investigation of tke actual 
 value of rural and city property has likewise been carried on, by 
 county assessors under the supervision of a tax commission or 
 some like authority, any statement as to whether this class of 
 property or that class of property is bearing more or less of its 
 share of the public burden will be mere guess-work. At the 
 present time, no reliable data exists which makes it possible to 
 make any reasonably accurate comparison of the relative burden 
 of taxation now being borne by. farm lands, town lots and the 
 property of such corporations. 
 
 In 1911, the Executive Ck)uncil increased the aggregate assess- 
 ment of farm lands all the way from 7% to 22% per cent in the 
 various counties of the state. In fact, the assessed value of farm 
 lands was increased on an average of about 12% per cent. This 
 was done on the theory that farm lands were being assessed 
 relatively lower than other property. 
 
 In this connection, the Commission desires to make only one 
 ■additional suggestion. "We refer to the broad assumption in many 
 quarters that farm lands are being assessed relatively lower than 
 some other classes of property. In fact, an effort has been made, 
 largely for political ends, to draw a line of cleavage between the 
 city and the country. Statistics have been collected for the pur- 
 pose of showing that town lots are being listed higher than rural 
 property. It should be stated that the only trouble with prac- 
 tically every investigation of this kind is the incompleteness of 
 the same. Every one knows that it is possible to go to the court 
 house records of Polk County or any other coufity of Iowa and 
 prove that property in the city is being listed at 75 per cent or 
 even 100 per cent of its value. It might also be proved that prop- 
 erty is being listed at less than 50 per cent of its value. It all 
 depends upon the property that is being compared. 
 
 When all the facts are considered, there should be no point of 
 cleavage between the property owners in the country and in the 
 cities. The sooner the people of Iowa get these matters clear in 
 their minds, the more rapid will be the progress in scientific tax 
 reform legislation. The inequalities in the present revenue sys- 
 tem are not confined to any community within the state or to any 
 kind or class of property. The injustice extends to the small 
 
62 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 holder of property as well as to the large holder and is a matter 
 of such common knowledge that many taxpayers, who are other- 
 wise honest, perjure themselves annually in the matter of listing 
 their property for the reason that they know full well that many 
 other property owners are doing likewise. In a word, the present 
 law in its operation tends to debase the public conscience. 
 
 PRESENT EX OFFICIO ADMINISTRATION. 
 
 The low valuation on the one hand and inequality of assess- 
 ment on the other, already outlined, are the logical results of our 
 present machinery of assessment and equalization, which is al- 
 most entirely ex officio in its personnel and, therefore, wholly 
 inefficient in its practical workings. Each local taxing district 
 is a law unto itself. The County Board of Review meets only a 
 short time in June, and the State Board of Review only a 
 few days in July. In fact, important duties are performed in 
 a perfunctory manner which ought to require intelligent and 
 conscientious labor throughout the entire year. 
 
 Until the office of county assessor is created there will be no 
 one whose business it is to see that assessments are uniform 
 throughout the county as between individuals, on the one hand, 
 and local sub-divisions of government on the other. In like man- 
 ner, until a permanent tax commission is created, there will 
 be no state board giving sufficient time to the important task 
 of equalizing values between counties, and at the same time 
 listing the property of public service corporations. Reduced 
 to its lowest terms, the chief defect of the present system is faulty 
 administration, which in turn is due, as already suggested, to the 
 planless and ex officio character of our present system of q,ssess- 
 menf and equalization. There should be a central supervising 
 officer in each county and a central state board giving their full 
 time to this absolutely necessary function of government. 
 
 PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS. 
 
 As already stated, one of the important duties of a permanent 
 tax commission is to make a thorough and complete valuation of 
 the property of public service corporations. Until this is done, 
 we will have no way of determining whether farm property or, 
 in fact, any other class of property, is bearing more or less than 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 63 
 
 its just share of the public burden. Practically all statements 
 made along this line in the past are not based on any author- 
 itative information. Under existing conditions, the Executive 
 Council simply does not have the necessary time to make a care- 
 ful and systematic valuation of this class of property, such as 
 would be made by a permanent state tax board giving a very sub- 
 stantial part of its time to this one problem. 
 
 The property of railroads, telephone, telegraph and express 
 companies is so vast in extent and so complex in its character that 
 any hasty valuation made by an ex officio board on the basis of 
 reports submitted by the companies must necessarily ' be very im- 
 perfect and unsatisfactory. Property which amounts to hun- 
 dreds of millions of dollars should not be listed for taxation in a 
 mere perfunctory manner, such as must be the cage in any state 
 where ex officio boards are required by law to do this work. This 
 Commission believes that the magnitude of this task alone is 
 sufficient to warrant the employment of a permanent state tax 
 board. Until this is done any comparison of the relative burden 
 of taxation as between farm lands and railroad property will 
 be largely guess work. Under such a system, public service cor- 
 porations may be required to pay more or less than their just 
 share of taxation, depending often times upon political influences. 
 The problem, however, of uniform and equitable taxation should 
 never depend upon politics, but upon the honest and efficient ad- 
 ministration of law. 
 
 TAXATION OF MONEYS AND CREDITS. 
 
 In the next place, it should be stated that one of the most im- 
 portant reasons why the office of county assessor and a per- 
 manent tax commission should be established is the necessity of 
 providing adequate machinery for the administration of the mil- 
 lage tax on moneys and credits. On the basis of the listing of 
 moneys and credits for the present year, it has been estimated 
 that the state alone will lose nearly $75,000.00, which means that 
 the local units of government will lose about $1,000,000.00 for the 
 same reason. One method of procedure would be to repeal the 
 present law and go back to the former tax ferret system, which 
 practically every authority on taxation, as well as the people, have 
 condemned. The other, and, in the judgment of the Commission, 
 
64 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 the most satisfactory plan, is to provide machinery of assessment 
 capable of listing moneys and credits as required by law. 
 
 The fact that this can be done has been demonstrated by ex- 
 perience in Maryland, Rhode Island and Minnesota. While the 
 listing of moneys and credits under the new flat mill rate here in 
 Iowa is substantially the same as under the old system, the 
 amount listed in Minnesota, Ehode Island and Maryland, where 
 tax commissions exist, has increased by leaps and bounds. Present 
 local assessors are not in a position to compel anything approach- 
 ing a complete listing of moneys and credits, and never will be 
 until county supervision is provided. 
 
 The taxpayer should bear in mind that the million dollars or 
 more which will be lost by the small listing of moneys and credits 
 under the flat mill law, must he made up by an additional levy 
 on other property. If a county assessor system had been in oper- 
 ation, the experience of other states shows that enough moneys 
 and credits would have been listed to counter-balance the reduced 
 rates. In other words, there ought not to have been any loss of 
 revenue. The Commission believes that a county assessor and 
 permanent tax commission system would secure more revenue 
 under the flat mill rate than was obtained under the old law. 
 
 Contrast for a moment the experience of Iowa with that of 
 Minesota, Maryland and .Rhode Island. It appears that the listing 
 of corporation stocks in Iowa wasas follows: $35,019,729 in 1910; 
 $56,974,484 in 1911 and $67,589,369 in 1912. In like manner, 
 the listing of moneys and credits was $194,198,620 in 1910 ; $170,- 
 131,195 in 1911 ; and $'188,733,772 in 1912, making a total listing 
 of both corporation stocks and moneys and credits of $229,218,349 
 in 1910; $227,105,679 in 1911; and $256,363,141 in 1912. The 
 total increase, therefore, of this class of property was only $29,- 
 257,462, which is very small, indeed, in comparison with the enor- 
 mous increase of this same class of property in Minnesota, Rhode 
 Island and Maryland, where a flat rate system similar to that in 
 Iowa is being administered under the supervision of permanent 
 state tax commission. 
 
 Mr. J. C. Armson in his address, delivered before the recent 
 National Tax Conference at Des Moines, outlined the experience 
 of Minnesota with the three mill tax on moneys and credits which 
 is being administered in that state under the supervision of its 
 tax commission. When comparing our experience along this line 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 65 
 
 with that of Minnesota, the difference in the scope of the two 
 laws should be carefully considered. In Minnesota the flat rate 
 law does not include notes and bonds secured by real estate mort- 
 gages upon which the mortgage rigistry tax has been paid. This 
 means that the total listing of moneys and credits in Minnesota 
 should be relatively much less than in Iowa. A comparison 
 should l^e made in each state of the listing under the old and new 
 law. In striking contrast with the failure to list moneys and 
 credits in Iowa, the following statements of Mr. Armson are 
 significant : 
 
 "In 1910 the assessed value of money and credits in the classes 
 now included in the three mill tax law amounted to $13,919,806. 
 In 1911, the first year under the new law, the amount returned 
 taxation was $115,676,126, an increase of 731 per cent over the 
 preceding year. With 3 of the 86 counties of the state estimated, 
 the assessment of money and credits this year is $135,034,476, 
 being an increase of 16.7 per cent over 1911, and 870 per cent over 
 1910. Based on the population of 1910, the per capita assessment of 
 this class of property was $6.70 in 1910, $55.73 in 1911, and 
 $65.06 in 1912. Compared with bank deposits, the assessment of 
 1910 represented only 4.2 per cent of such deposits, while in 1911, 
 it equaled 33.8 per cent, and in 1912, 42.3 per cent of bank de- 
 posits. 
 
 That the assessment is much more widely and hence much more 
 equitably distributed among the people is shown by the large in- 
 crease in the number of people assessed under the new law. 
 While no exact data is available for 1910, it is estimated that the 
 ♦ number of people assessed for this class of property in that year 
 did not exceed 6200. In 1911, the number assessed was 41,439, 
 and in 1912, the present year, 49,949 assessments of such prop- 
 erty have been reported. 
 
 For convenience in comparing the different items for the three 
 years, we give the following: 
 
66 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 RECAPITULATION. 
 
 1910 1911 1912 
 
 Number assessed 6,200 41,439 49,949 
 
 Total assessment 13,919,806 115,676,126 135,034,476 
 
 Per capita assessment |6.70 $55.73 $65.06 
 
 Per cent of bank deposits 4.2 33.8 42.3 
 
 Per cent increase over 1910 .... 731 870 
 
 Per cent increase over 1911 16.7 
 
 A brief comparative statement of the assessment of money and 
 credits under the old and new system in the leading cities of the 
 state may be of interest. The assessed value of such property in 
 the tvi^enty-four cities of the state having a population in 1910 of 
 5,000 and over was $9,892,526 in 1910, the last year under the 
 old law, while in 1911, the first year under the new law, it was 
 $74,859,801, an increase of 657 per cent. The assessment in 1912 
 in the same cities amounts to $90,303,134, being an increase of 
 20.6 per cent over 1911, and 812.8 per cent over 1910. The average 
 per capita assessment of this class of property in these cities was 
 $12.85 in 1910 ; $97.23 in 1911, and $117.29 in 1912. 
 
 Notwithstanding the low rate of taxation, the amount of revenue 
 derived from the three mill tax on moneys and credits in 1911 
 was nearly as large as that of 1910 when the rate averaged over 
 28 mills. The total tax on this class of property in 1910 was 
 $379,754.58; in 1911 it was $347,028.38, a decrease of $32,726.18 
 or 8.2 per cent compared with the preceding year. Excluding 
 Minneapolis and St. Paul from the statement, the balance of the 
 state made a net gain in revenue from this course of $71,505.85 in 
 1911 over 1910. Of the 86 counties of the state, 68 showed a gain* 
 and 18 a loss in revenue compared with 1910. In the 64 cities 
 and villages of the state having a population in 1910 of 2,000 
 and over, 53 gained and 11 lost in revenue." 
 
 The state of Minnesota, therefore, where the rate on money 
 and credits is only three mills, has been able, through the excel- 
 lent work of its tax commission, to increase the listing of this 
 class of property to a point where the revenue obtaioied is sub- 
 stantially the same as under the old law imposing the full local 
 general property tax rate. 
 
 The Chairman of the Tax Commission of Rhode Island also 
 stated at the National Tax Conference that the increased listing 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 67 
 
 of moneys and credits under the flat mill tay in Rhode Island 
 was more than sufficient to counteract the reduced rate. The 
 revenue obtained from this class of property in Rhode Island 
 will be increased as a result of the efficient administration of the 
 recent flat mill law. Maryland has had the same experience with 
 a flat rate or millage tax. In fact, the listing has been increased 
 to such an extent that the revenue now obtained from this class 
 of property in the city of Baltimore is vastly greater than it 
 ever was under the old general property tax rate. This is the reason 
 why. the Commission feels that the loss this year of more than a 
 million dollars in Iowa in absolutely unnecessary and can be pre- 
 vented in the future by providing efficient machinery of assessment. 
 
 In conclusion, it should be stated that the experience of other 
 states, especially during the last few years, constitutes one of the 
 strongest arguments in favor of creating a tax commission. In 
 1900 such commissions existed in only five states, while at the 
 present time more than half of the states have established a per- 
 manent tax commission or the office of permanent state tax com- 
 missioner. This list includes all of the states east of the Mississippi 
 and north of the Ohio and Potomac rivers except Pennsylvania 
 and Illinois. In the south, Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, 
 Arizona and Texas have also established central state boards. In 
 addition to this list of states should be mentioned Washington, 
 Oregon, California, Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming 
 and Kansas. This shows that public sentim'ent throughout the 
 Union is coming more and more to favor some efficient system of 
 tax administration. 
 
 Every state which has made a careful investigation of the tax 
 question has reached the conclusion that more efficient administra- 
 tion is the first essential of fiscal reform. In this connection, the 
 following statement of the tax commissioner of West Virginia is 
 significant. 
 
 "The Tax Department was created by an act of the special 
 session of the Legislature passed August 11, 1904. The official 
 head of the department is the 'State Tax Commissioner' whose 
 term of office is six years, and who is ineligible to succeed himself. 
 The Department began its official existence December 1, 1904, and 
 with the close of November, 1910, will have . completed one full 
 term of six years. The creation of the department called forth 
 a storm of criticism. It began its existence amid a stormy sea 
 
68 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 and with public sentiment divided as to the necessity for such a 
 department of the State government. It was bitterly assailed 
 from some sources as a useless, unnecessary department, created 
 for the purpose of furnishing employment for politicians, and for 
 the further purpose of building up a political machine. The de- 
 partment now has behind it a record of six years, and during that 
 time its work stands out prominently 'before the people of the 
 State. Upon that record it is willing to go before the public. 
 There is no longer talk of abolishing the department. On the 
 other hand, there is a feeling that from the beginning of the state 
 there should have been a head to the tax department. Had the 
 tax department been created when the state was formed, many of 
 the ills of taxation of which we have suffeted, and are now suffer- 
 ing, would have been avoided."^ 
 
 1. Third Biennial Report of the State Tax Commissioner of West Vlr- 
 R-iniai, 1910, p. 5. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN TAXATION. 
 
 In the four preceding chapters, the Commission has endeavored 
 to point out: first, that the revenue system of Iowa has failed 
 completely from the standpoint of practical administration; 
 second, that the logical and necessary remedy for this condition 
 is some efficient plan of county and state supervision of local 
 assessment. The necessity and practical value of state and county 
 supervision of the work of assessment and equalization was shown, 
 first, by a brief historical analysis of the revenue system with 
 special reference to the failure of the administrative machinery; 
 second, by a series of statistical tables dealing with the gross in- 
 equalities of assessment which now exist in every part of the 
 Btate; and third, by. a comparative study of assessment and equali- 
 zation, which investigation shows that more than one-half of the 
 states now have some form of state tax commissions and more 
 than three-fourths of the states some form of county assessment. 
 Moreover, it has been discovered that in states like Kansas and 
 West Virginia, where the work of county and state supervision 
 has been given the fairest test, the greatest uniformity of assess- 
 ment has been secured and therefore the most equitable distribu- 
 tion of the public burdens. 
 
 "While the Special Tax Commission is compelled to recognize the 
 immediate and imperative necessity of some definite plan of state 
 supervision and control of local assessment, it is apparent that 
 numerous other defects exist in the revenue system which should 
 be carefully investigated. In fact, the Commission desires to 
 mention a number of other important tax problems which are 
 worthy of further considei-ation by the General Assembly. 
 
70 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 SEPARATION OP REVENQE SOURCES. 
 
 First of all is the question of a separation of the sources of 
 state and local revenue, which, as commonly understood, means 
 the raising of revenue for general state purposes largely from 
 taxes on public service corporations or public utilities, thus re^ 
 lieving the property of private persons from contributing to such 
 fund, and in turn relieving the public service corporations from 
 contributing to the support of local affairs. The failure of the 
 general property tax, especially during the last quarter of a cen- 
 tury, has resulted in three very distinct tax reform movements: 
 first, the evolution of a more efScient system of county and state 
 supervision of local assessment through the establishment of county 
 machinery of assessment and equalization and permanent state 
 tax boards; second, the separation or segregation of state and 
 local revenue; and third, the introduction of special methods or 
 plans of taxation like the gross earnings tax, net earnings tax, 
 stock and bond tax, franchise tax, stock transfer -tax and a num- 
 ber of others which might be mentioned, the obvious purpose of 
 the same being to create a more equitable plan for taxing the 
 property of large corporations, especially property of an intangible 
 character. Some writers on taxation emphasize the importance of 
 a separation of revenue sources, and others the benefits' which may 
 be derived from special forms of taxation, as already defined. 
 
 The primary advantages of separating the sources of state and 
 local revenue are: first, the fact that it does away with the ten- 
 dency to under valuation of property as between the different 
 counties, an argument which possesses a great deal of merit; and 
 second, the more equitable distribution of taxes received from state- 
 wide public service corporations. Partial or complete segregation 
 now exists in California, Minnesota, "Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, 
 New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and in all of said states 
 these and numerous other advantages have been generally recog- 
 nized. In fact, the conformity of a tax system to the natural 
 divisions of government, greater equality of assessments, the 
 elimination of conflicts between counties and between the city and 
 country, lower tax rates, and the greater flexibility of the revenue 
 systems, have all been advanced from time to time as arguments 
 in favor of separate revenue sources.^ 
 
 1. Report of the Minnesota Tax Commission 1908, p. 204. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 71 
 
 The principle of segregation is now being tested in California 
 where it was made possible by the adoption of a constitutional 
 amendment. The Commission is informed by the State Tax 
 Board of California that the success of the plan is very marked, 
 in fact, that the law "has proved first-class in every respect and 
 is endorsed by the corporations as well as the individual tax- 
 payers." The principal advantage, which it is alleged is being 
 realized, was outlined in an earlier Special Tax Commission Re- 
 port in the following terms: 
 
 "If there were no state tax to be apportioned among the counties, on 
 the basis of the local assessed valuation, there would be no object or in- 
 ducement to the assessor, or to the citizens of the county, to obtain a low 
 valuation. In fact, there would be more inducements to assess the 
 property as nearly as possible at its full market value in order to avoid 
 inequalities between the citizens among his own constituents and to pro- 
 tect himself against the charge of favoritism. The probability is, that 
 in order to enjoy the advertising effect of a low tax rate the general 
 Inclination would be for the assessor to raise the valuation rather than 
 reduce it."' 
 
 On the contrary, a number of arguments have been advanced 
 from time to time against the principle of segregation or at least 
 a complete separation of revenue sources. Along this line may 
 be mentioned, first, the contention frequently urged by some 
 authorities that every taxpayer should contribute something for 
 the support of state, as well as local government, otherwise the 
 people at large, through their chosen representatives, might be in- 
 clined to make needless appropriations in case all state taxes were 
 derived from public service corporations and from other special 
 sources and not out of their own pockets; second, the claim that 
 segregation is only a step toward "local option" in taxation which 
 is quite generally recognized to be a dangerous policy; and third, 
 the argument has been advanced that separate revenue sources 
 frequently result in the exclusive state taxation of a large amount 
 of property which has a definite local situs and should, therefore, 
 bear its share of the local tax burdens. 
 
 Before anything approaching a complete separation of revenue 
 sources in this state is possible, however, it appears that a con- 
 stitutional amendment must be adopted. Article VIII, Section 2, 
 of the Constitution of Iowa, reads as follows: 
 
 2. Report of the Commission on Revenue and Taxation in the State of 
 California, 1906, pp. -62-65. 
 
72 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 The property of all corporations for pecuniary profit, shall be subject 
 to taxation, the same as that of individuals. 
 
 The courts have held that this provision requires that the prop- 
 erty of corporations shall not only be subject to the same burden 
 of taxation but that the tax must be levied for all the various 
 purposes, state, county and municipal, for which other property 
 is taxed. 
 
 While the question of a separation of revenue sources was un- 
 der consideration in connection with the taxation of certain pub- 
 lic service corporations, the Commission presented the following 
 question to Attorney General Cosson : ' ' Would a statute, taxing 
 railroads on their gross earnings in lieu of all other taxes, be in 
 conflict with Article VIII, Section 2 of the Constitution of 
 Iowa?" After reviewing a number of cases,^ the Attorney Gen- 
 eral thus concluded: "Without going into or considering the 
 earlier statutes of our state which have been held to violate this 
 constitutional provision in the cases cited by the court in the two 
 opinions quoted from, it would seem that those opinions are con- 
 cltisive of the question, and that your inquiry should be answered 
 in the affirmative." 
 
 As already stated, however, the Commission with its present 
 light on the subject is strongly impressed with the apparent ad- 
 vantages of at least a partial separation of revenue sources which 
 may be sufficiently great to warrant the adoption of a constitu- 
 tional amendment and we would, therefore, recommend the fur- 
 ther consideration of this question by the General Assembly or 
 by a permanent Tax Commission, in case one is created. 
 
 TAXATION OF STATEWIDE PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORA- 
 TIONS. 
 
 The Commission has considered the desirability of a change 
 in the present system of taxing railroad, telegraph, telephone 
 and express companies and certain other public service corpora- 
 tions. The arguments of the advocates of some from of terminal 
 taxation of railroad property are appreciated and it is admitted 
 that certain inequalities along this line exist which ought to be 
 remedied. In fact, it is recognized that the present railroad tax 
 law, also the law taxing telephone, and telegraph and express 
 
 3. Hawkeye Insurance Company vs. French, 109 Iowa, 585; Layman 
 vs. Iowa Telephone Company, 123 Iowa, 591. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 73 
 
 companies, are defective in some respects including the method 
 or plan of tax distribution which is open to serious criticism 
 from two important standpoints: first, a minority of the rural 
 taxing districts where railroads are located, receive the bulk of 
 the taxes, while a great many townships which contribute to 
 support these corporations, receive no local tax at all ; and second, 
 the distribution of values on mileage basis works some injustice 
 to the cities. Should the law be changed, both of these defects 
 should be remedied so as to require the distribution of such taxes on 
 a fair and equitable basis. 
 
 ■ As already suggested, however, a constitutional amendment 
 must be adopted before any radical change in the present plan 
 of taxing this class of corporations is possible. 
 
 INCOME TAXATION. 
 
 The Commission believes in the principles of the income tax 
 and has watched with considerable interest the recent experience 
 of Wisconsin with this particular form of taxation. Much may be 
 said in favor of an income tax, especially when adequate and ef- 
 ficient revenue machinery has been provided. The fact remains, 
 however, that income taxes have been almost a complete failure 
 in the different states where the same have been adopted, due 
 in a large measure to faulty administration. Needless to say, 
 an income tax could not be administered here in Iowa, with any- 
 thing approaching real success without a radical change in our 
 revenue machinery. In a word, the state of Iowa is at present not 
 ready for the introduction of an income tax, but after the ma- 
 chinery of assessment has been sufficiently improved, this form 
 of taxation will, no doubt, receive thorough and careful considera- 
 tion. 
 
 INHERITANCE TAX. . 
 
 A collateral inheritance tax law has been on our statute books 
 since 1896, the rate being 5 per cent on estates inherited by 
 collateral heirs or strangers to the blood. The 34th General Assem- 
 bly completely redrafted the collateral inheritance tax law on the 
 basis of suggestions made by the State Treasury Department, which 
 has been charged with the duty of collecting this particular tax. 
 This being true, we believe that the present collateral inheritance 
 
74 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 tax law should remain substantially as it is in order to give the 
 new measure a chance to prove its efficiency. 
 
 With reference to a direct inheritance tax, the commission 
 recognizes that there is very little demand at the present time 
 for such a law in this state. The inheritance of property by di- 
 rect heirs, however, is generally regarded as being a legitimate and 
 proper subject for taxation. Indeed, both direct and collateral in- 
 heritance taxes exist in practically all of the older countries and 
 some form of inheritance tax is now employed in every state 
 except Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, Nevada 
 and South Carolina. Approximately half of the states have in- 
 troduced a, direct inheritance tax. At some future time, this form 
 of taxation may likewise be considered a desirable and neces- 
 sary source of state revenue in Iowa. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 In conclusion, the Commission appreciates the fact that there 
 are still other parts of the revenue code which might to advantage 
 be changed, but it is believed that these changes should be 
 brought about gradually and only after a careful investigation 
 by a permanent State tax board. In fact, many suggestions might 
 be made regarding possible changes in the revenue code, such as 
 better pay for local assessors and a more systematic and equita- 
 ble plan of taxing insurance companies. Taxation, however, at 
 best is not an exact science and important changes should be made 
 only on an evolutionary basis and after a thorough and inpartial 
 study of all the facts, by a body of officials giving sufficient 
 time to this important and necessary function of government. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PROPOSED LEGISLATION. 
 
 The Tax Commission appreciates the fact that the bill recom- 
 mended will be criticised both on account of its length and the 
 material contained therein, and anticipation of such criticism 
 and a fear that it may be too hastily administered, leads us to 
 make as a part of our report an explanation of the bill recom- 
 mended and the reasons leading up to its final preparation. 
 
 The Commission had not spent a great deal of time consider- 
 ing the laws of this and othej* states, and the efforts that had been 
 made to effect an equitable distribution of the burden of taxation, 
 until it very clearly reached the conclusion that the chief defect 
 in our revenue law was its failure to provide adequate adminis- 
 trative machinery. 
 
 This is so very apparent that the only wonder is, that the sys- 
 tem has been permitted to stand so long, and the people have 
 borne such gross inequalities with childlike submission. Not 
 only is there very little power or authority bestowed upon any 
 of the officers having to do with taxation, but what little there 
 is, is rather in favor of the lower or inferior officers, and that 
 without any sort of provision whereby one inferior officer may 
 know or be governed by what others of like grade are doing. 
 
 These considerations led the Commission to determine that it 
 would recommend administrative machinery such as would pro- 
 vide for the state as a whole, a permanent tax commission, hav- 
 ing general supervisory powers throughout the state, and an 
 officer of each county to be known as county assessor, who would 
 have general supervision of the work of taxation in the coun- 
 ties, such officer, however, to be under the general control of 
 the state commission. 
 
 The Commission first applied itself to the preparation of two 
 comparatively short bills, one providing for the creation of a 
 
76 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 state tax commission, and defining its powers and duties, the 
 other creating the office of county assessor and defining the pow- 
 ers and duties pertaining to such office. Such bills, the Com- 
 mission at first believed, could be prepared independent of each 
 other with comparative ease, and within a comparatively small 
 compass. 
 
 It was later realized, however, that to be of real value, the 
 administrative machinery must be one complete, harmonious 
 system, with power and authority permeating the whjle, from the 
 highest or superior officer down^ through to the lowest officers 
 participating in the work of taxation. In other words, it was 
 found that the various parts were and must be so interdependent, 
 that a bill providing the necessary administrative machinery 
 must necessarily take in and cover the whole field of state, county 
 and local operations. 
 
 The Commission having reached such conclusion, spent some tinie 
 in considering the construction of a bill that would embrace a 
 complete system of procedure, by a state tax commission and 
 county assessor, which might be applied to our present tax laws 
 with slight changes. It persistently endeavored to formulate 
 such a bill, because its members .all deprecated the idea of re- 
 porting for the consideration of the Legislature a bill of volu- 
 minous proportions and which involved much substantive law. 
 However, after much deliberation and careful . examination of 
 our present tax laws, the Commission reluctantly reached the 
 conclusion that a bill simply providing for administrative ma- 
 chinery could not be practicably applied to the present substan- 
 tive laws, as now arranged in our statute books. 
 
 This must become apparent to any one who will take our 
 present law and eliminate that portion providing for the manner 
 of procedure and undertake to substitute other means of proce- 
 dure. Especially does the impracticability of such a plan become 
 plain when it is proposed to introduce a method of procedure 
 entirely different from that now provided. 
 
 To add to the difficulty, the early tax code was not apparently 
 constructed according to any plan or chronological order. Nu- 
 merous amendments, xjhanges, omissions ahd additions have tend- 
 ed still further to aggravate the disorder until it has reached 
 ^almost a chaotic condition. Matters pertaining to the subject are 
 ;to be. found widely scattered andin saiae' instances amendments 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 77 
 
 have been inserted in such a manner as to break the connection 
 intended to exist between the parts of earlier legislation. 
 
 All these conditions led the Commission to abandon its early 
 idea of brevity and to undertake the preparation of a bill involv- 
 ing substantially a re-codification of the present revenue laws, 
 introducting thereia the proposed new plan of administration. 
 The Commission, however, has not to any great extent attempted 
 to change the intent or meaning of the present law and its appli- 
 cation to specific property, but has endeavored to so arrange 
 the present sections and to introduce the new plan of supervision 
 therewith in such manner that the whole may have the appear- 
 ance of having been constructed according to some definite logical 
 system. 
 
 The Commission does not wish to be understood as claiming 
 that the arrangement adopted by it is. the only arrangement that 
 might be made, or that such arrangement is perfect, but after 
 careful consideration and drafting the bill upon other theories, 
 and by other arrangements, it believes the bill reported is drafted 
 according to the most practicable plan. 
 
 In changing the arrangement of the various sections of the 
 present law, slight alterations were necessarily made to show 
 their connection with each other, but such changes do not alter 
 the meaning. Numerous minor changes were necessary in order 
 that the acts now required to be done by the Executive Council 
 would under the proposed law be done by the state tax com- 
 mission. Also in transferring duties from the County auditor to 
 the county assessor, it will be observed that all such changes per- 
 tain to the officer performing the act, rather than to the act 
 itself. Many of the changes in arrangement were made solely 
 that matters of the same or similar kind might be brought to- 
 gether, or that the provisions of law might be arranged in ac- 
 cordance with the steps taken by the various officers in perform- 
 ing their duties, as a part of the taxing machinery. 
 
 A few important changes have been made, however, the wis- 
 dom of which may be questioned. Perhaps the most radical 
 change in the present law is the dispensing with the local board 
 of review. The members of the Commission are frank to say that 
 it was with great reluctance that they brought their minds to 
 where they were willing to have a board so near to the peoplfe 
 dispensed with. 
 
78 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 However, it became apparent that if the proposed county assess- 
 or was to be of the greatest real service in the taxing scheme as a 
 supervising officer, he must exercise more or less authority over 
 the local assessors of the county, and that he would not be able 
 to obtain uniformity, of valuations in his county, if his authority 
 could be overridden by a score or more of local reviewing boards, 
 each acting independently of the others. In lieu of such local 
 reviewing boards, we believe the bill presents a plan of review 
 by the county assessor with right of appeal to the county board 
 that will amply protect the rights of every taxpayer and at the 
 same time secure uniformity of valuation throughout the county, 
 such as is hardly attainable in any other manner. 
 
 In regard to the present manner of taxing moneys and credits, 
 considered as an original proposition, the Commission has not 
 been agreed. However, in view of the fact that it is a new law 
 and has many able supporters who believe that it will prove of 
 great benefit to the people of the state generally, and especially 
 to borrowers of money, the Commission are unanimously of the 
 opinion that the plan should be given a fair test, and have, 
 therefore, embodied the present law in respect thereto in the pro- 
 posed bill. 
 
 With respect to the taxing of shares of stock of organized 
 banks and loan and trust companies, some changes have been 
 recommended which are in accord with the views of a majority 
 of the Commission. Business men all agree that the ban^s are 
 an important factor in the business life of every community. 
 Their prosperity and stability is desirable. The accumulation 
 of a surplus is desirable because it adds to the security of the 
 interests doing business with such banks. With a slight excep- 
 tion as to national banks, no surplus is required by law to be ac- 
 cumulated or maintained. It is purely voluntary. It belongs to 
 the stockholders and may be distributed at any time. Therefore, 
 it is plain that, if moneys and credits are to be taxed on a flat 
 rate basis, in aU fairness the surplus in banks should be taxed in 
 the same way. We have, therefore, so provided in the bill recom- 
 mended. It must be kept in mind also that if the plan recom- 
 mended is adopted and all general property is listed at its full 
 value, and taxed upon such value, to raise the same amount of 
 revenue as now the rates of levy must be very materially re- 
 duced, and when such proper reduction is made, it will be found 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 79 
 
 in actual operation that the rate on such bank surplus and also 
 on moneys and credits will be more nearly equal to the rate on 
 general property than is now apparent. 
 
 The reasons for some other changes will suggest themselves 
 after a careful reading of the bill. These changes for the most 
 part either concern the arrangement, the bringing together of 
 matters pertaining to the same subject which are now widely 
 scattered, or the separation of subjects where the same are im- 
 _ properly joined. As an illustration of the latter condition, we 
 call attention to section 1313 which purports to state where mon- 
 eys and credits shall be assessed and ends with an exception of 
 an entirely difEerent class of property. In the new bill the first 
 statement is embodied in section 38, while the latter provision 
 is found in section 104. 
 
 The Commission realizes that objection may be made to the new 
 arrangement of the sections of the present law on account of in- 
 convenience of reference and difEicuity in preserving the iden- 
 tity of the several sections, but we feel convinced that such a re- 
 arrangement must come sooner or later, and now is as good' a 
 time as can be selected to make such change. The identity of 
 the sections as re-arranged may readily be preserved by a plan 
 of notation such as has been in use in the state for many years. 
 
 It will be observed that the bill by its provisions takes away 
 from the county auditor certain duties and imposes, the same on 
 the county assessor. The Commission has no reason for making 
 such change, except that it will tend to more efficient work. The 
 county assessor, if he is to be of value as a part of the taxing 
 machinery, must be employed in the work throughout the year. 
 If his business is only to supervise the listing and assessment of 
 property, then his work would not extend over more than four 
 months of the year. On the other hand, there is not a county in 
 the state where the county auditor is not obliged to have one or 
 more deputies or assistants. By relieving the county auditor of 
 the work of making up the tax lists, his office will be relieved to 
 that extent and a corresponding reduction of the help and ex- 
 pense of the office can be made. It will thus be seen that a large 
 portion of the extra expense to the counties in maintaining the 
 office of county assessor will be offset by the saving in main- 
 taining the office of county auditor. The arrangement will tend 
 to a more efficient working out of the taxing laws and eff^ctuaie 
 
80 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 just and equitable distribution of the tax burdens which is of the 
 greatest importance. 
 
 The reader mut always keep in mind that the bill is not the prod- 
 uct of one person ; that, in many instances, the substance and manner 
 of expression is the product of a compromise between the mem- 
 bers of the commission and which was frequently reached, after 
 extended discussion and consideration, and, in some cases, with 
 great reluctance on the part of members of the Commission. If 
 the reader will use the same liberality of thought that was neces- 
 sarily used by the members of the Commission in endeavoring 
 to bring their minds together, many discrepancies will be passed 
 over as not being of sufficient importance to note. 
 
 For the convenience of the members of the Legislature and 
 others who may read the bill, there has been placed, immediately 
 after the number of each section, the number of the correspond- 
 ing section in the code or supplement to the code, as the case may 
 be, such numbers being in parentheses, thus ( ). Sections in 
 the code are indicated with the figures only, but if in the sup- 
 plement to the code, the figures are preceded by the letter "S." 
 In preparing the bill, however, for introduction, it should be 
 re-drafted with all parenthetical numbers omitted. 
 
 In consideriug the bill, if the reader has reached the conclu- 
 sion that a more systematic supervision should be had, and that 
 such supervision can be obtained by providing a state tax com- 
 mission and county assessor, then we feel confident that a patient 
 study of the details of the bill and comparison of its provisions 
 with the present law will show that the several parts of the new 
 and the old provisions are in harmony with each other and that 
 the whole presents a workable system. 
 
 The following cross-reference shows consecutively the number 
 of the sections of our present law as they appear in the Code or 
 Supplement to the Code, 1907, and the corresponding sections 
 of the proposed bill in which is found the identical or similar 
 provisions of law. It also indicates what sections of the present 
 law have no corresponding provision in the new bill and also 
 the sections of the new bill containing provisions having no 
 counterpart in the present law, Sections in the Code are indi- 
 cated by the number only, those in the Supplement to the Code 
 by the number preceded by the letter " S ; " those in the Session 
 laws by the number of the session and chapter : 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 81 
 
 Present Law Proposed Bill Present Law Proposed Bill 
 
 Sec. S-1303 139 S-1334-a 63 
 
 S-1304 35 S-1334-b 64 
 
 S-1304-a 35 1335 68 
 
 S-1305 103 1336 76 
 
 S-1306-1) 141 S-1337 78 
 
 ■ S-1306-C 142 S-1337-a 65 
 
 S-1306-d 143 S-1337-b 66 
 
 S-1306-e 144 1338 79 
 
 S-1306-f 145 1339 80 
 
 1307 36 S-1340 67 
 
 1308 33 S-1340-a 69 
 
 1309 37 S-1340-b 70 
 
 1310 38 S-1340-C 71 
 
 1311 39 S-1340-d 72 
 
 1312 105 S-1340-e 73 
 ! 1313 104 S-1340-f 74 
 
 1314 106 1341 75 
 
 1315 41 1342 77 
 
 1316 107 S-1342-a 89 
 
 1317 108 S-1342-b 90 
 Sec. 1318 43 S-1342-c ■ 91 
 
 1319 44 S-1342-d 92 
 
 1320 109 S-1342-e 93 
 S-1321 45 S-1342-f 94 
 
 * 1323 47 S-1342-g 96 
 
 1324 4& Sec. 1343 51 
 
 1325 49 S-1346-a 81 
 
 1326 50 S-1346-b 82 
 
 1327 101 S-1346-C 83 
 S-1328 52 S-1346-d 84 
 S-1329 53 S-1346-e 85 
 S-1330 56 S-1346-f 86 
 
 .S-1330-a 57 S-1346-g 87 
 
 S-1330-b 58 S-1346-h 88 
 
 S-1330-C 59 S-1346-i 81 
 
 S-1330-d 60 S-1347-a 154 
 
 S-1330-e 61 S-1348 155 
 
 S-1330-f 52 1349 151 
 
 S-1330-g Sub. 11, 35 1350 102 
 
 1332 62 1351 42 
 
 Sec. S-1333 96 1352 113 
 
 S-1333-a 97 1353 111 
 
 S-1333-b 98 1354 114 
 
 S-1333-C 99 1355 116 
 
 S-1333-d 100 1357 118 
 
 S-1334 67 1358 117 
 
82 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Present Law 
 
 Proposed 
 
 BiU 
 
 Present Law 
 
 
 
 Proposed BiU 
 
 1360 
 
 
 
 115 
 
 S-1400-b 
 
 
 
 155 
 
 1363 
 
 
 
 166 
 
 S-1400-C 
 
 
 
 157 
 
 1364 
 
 
 
 112 
 
 S-1400-d 
 
 
 
 158 
 
 1365 
 
 
 
 119 
 
 S-1400-e 
 
 
 
 159 
 
 1366 
 
 120 
 
 and 
 
 127 
 
 S-1400-f 
 
 
 
 160 
 
 1367 
 
 
 
 171 
 
 See. S-1400-g 
 
 
 
 161 
 
 S-1373 
 
 
 
 131 
 
 S-1400-h 
 
 
 
 162 
 
 1375 
 
 
 
 128 
 
 S-1400-i 
 
 
 
 163 
 
 1377 
 
 
 
 132 
 
 S-1400-i 
 
 
 
 164 
 
 S-1378-1379 
 
 
 
 133 
 
 S-1400-k 
 
 
 
 165 
 
 Sec. S-1380-C 
 
 
 
 134 
 
 S-1400-1 
 
 
 
 166 
 
 S-1380-d 
 
 
 
 135 
 
 S-1400-m 
 
 
 
 167 
 
 1381 
 
 
 
 136 
 
 S-1400-n 
 
 
 
 168 
 
 S-1382 
 
 
 
 137 
 
 S-1400-O 
 
 
 
 169 
 
 S-1383 
 
 
 
 149 
 
 S-1400-P 
 
 
 
 170 
 
 S-1384 
 
 
 
 146 
 
 Chap. 63, 34th 
 
 G. 
 
 A. 
 
 40 
 
 1386 
 
 
 
 150 
 
 Chap. 63, 34th 
 
 G. 
 
 A. 
 
 46 
 
 1387 
 
 
 
 151 
 
 Chap. 87, 33rd 
 
 G. 
 
 A. 
 
 120 
 
 1388 
 
 
 152-153 
 
 Chap. 87, 33rd 
 
 G. 
 
 A. 
 
 127 
 
 S-1400-a 
 
 
 
 154 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sections 1-34, 121-126, 129, 130, 138, 147, 148, 172, 173, 174, 
 175, 176, 177 and 178 in the proposed revenue bill are not con- 
 tained in the Code or Code Supplement. On the other hand, 
 S-1306-a, S-1330-h, S-1330-i, S-1331-a, S-1333-e, S-1334-e, 1345, 
 1346, 1346-j, 1347, 1356, 1361, 1362, 1368, 1369, 1370, 1371, 1372, 
 S-1373-a, 1376, S-1380-b, S-1382-a, S-1385-a, S-1385-c, in the Code 
 and Code Supplement are omitted from the revenue hill. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 83 
 
 A Bill for an Act providing for the raising of revenue for state, county, 
 towns, cities and other sub-divisions by taxation, and providing by 
 whom and in what manner assessments, equalizations and levies shall 
 be made, and repealing sections one thousand three hundred and 
 seven (1307), one thousand three hundred and eight (1308), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and nine (1309), one thousand three hundred 
 and ten (1310), one thousand three hundred and eleven (1311), one 
 thousand three hundred and twelve (1312), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and thirteen (1313), one thousand three hundred and fourteen 
 (1314), one thousand three hundred and fifteen (1315), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and sixteen (1316), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and seventeen (1317), one thouasnd three hundred and eigh- 
 teet (1318), one thousand three hundred and nineteen (1319), one 
 thousand three hundred and twenty (1320), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and twenty-three (1323), one thousand three hundred and twenty- 
 four (1324), one thousand tb^ee hundred and twenty-five (1325), 
 one thousand three hundred and twenty-six (1326), one thousand 
 three hundred and twenty-seven (1327), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and thirty-two (1332), one thousand three hundred and thirty- 
 five (1335), one thousand three hundred and thirty-six (1336), one 
 thousand three hundred and thirty-eight (1338), one thousand three 
 hundred and thirty-nine (1339), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-one (1341), one thousand three hundred and forty-two (1432), 
 one thousand three hundred and forty-three (1343), one thousand 
 three hundred and forty-four (1344), one thousand three hundred 
 and forty-five (1345), one thousand three hundred and forty-six 
 (1346), one thousand three hundred and forty-seven (1347), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-nine (1349), one thousand three 
 hundred and fifty (1350), one thousand three hundred and fifty-one 
 (1351), one thousand three hundred and fifty-two (1352), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and fifty-three (1353), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and fifty-four (1354), one thousand three hundred and fifty-five 
 (1355), one thousand three hundred and fifty-six (1356), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and fifty-seven (1357), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and fifty-eight (1358), one thousand three hundred and fifty- 
 nine (1359), one thousand three hundred and sixty-two (1362), one 
 thousand three hundred and sixty-four (1364), one thousand three 
 hundred and sixty-five (1365), one thousand three hundred and 
 sixty-seven (1367), one thousand three hundred and sixty-eight (1368), 
 one thousand three hundred and sixty-nine (1369), one thousand 
 three hundred and seventy (1370), one thousand three hundred and 
 seventy-five (1375), one thousand three hundred and seventy-six 
 (1376), one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven (1377), one 
 thousand three hundred and seventy-nine (1379), one thousand three 
 hundred and eighty-one (1381), one thousand three hundred and 
 eighty-four (1384), one thousand three hundred and eighty-six (1386), 
 one thousand three hundred and eighty-seven (1387), one tljousand 
 three hundred and eighty-eight (1388), of the code as the same are 
 
84 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 amended by the acts of the thirty-third and thirty-fourth General As- 
 semblies and sections one thousand three hundred and three (1303)", 
 one thousand three hundred and four (1304), one thousand three 
 hundred and four-a (1304-a), one thousand three hundred and, five 
 (1305), one thousand three hundred and flve-a (1305-a), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and six-b (1306-b), one thousand three hundred 
 and six-c (1306-c), one thousand three hundred and six-d (1306-d), 
 one thousand three hundred and six-e (1306-e), one thousand three 
 hundred and slx-f (1306-f), one thousand three hundred and twenty- 
 one (1321), one thousand three hundred and twenty-eight (1328), 
 one thousand three hundred and twenty-nine (1329), one thousand 
 three hundred and thirty (1330), one thousand three hundred and 
 thirty-a (1330-a), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-b (1330-b), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty-c (1330-c), one thousand 
 three hundred and thirty-d (1330-d), one thousand three hundred 
 and thirty-e (1330-e), one thousand three hundred and thirty-f 
 (1330-f), one thousand three hundred and thirty-gr (1330-g), one 
 thousand three hundred and thirty-h (1330-h), one thousand three 
 hundred and thirty-i (1330-1), one thousand three hundred and thlrty- 
 one-a (133l-a), one thousand three hundred and thirty-three (1333), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty-three-a (1333-a), one thousand 
 three hundred and thirty-three-b (1333-b), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and thirty-three-c (1333-c), one thousand three hundred and 
 thirty-three-d (1333-d), one thousand three hundred and thirty-three-e 
 (1333-e), one thousand three hundred and thirty-four (1334), one 
 thousand three hundred and thirty-four-a (1334-a), one thousand 
 three hundred and thirty-four-b (1334-b), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and thirty-four-c (1334-c), one thousand three hundred and thirty- 
 seven (1337), one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven-a (1337-a), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven-b (1337-b), one thousand 
 three hundred and forty (1340), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-a (1340-a), one thousand three hundred and forty-b (1340-b), 
 one thousand three hundred and forty-c (1340-c), one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-d (1340-d), one thousand three hundred and forty-e 
 (1340-e), one thousand three hundred and forty-f (1340-f), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and forty-two-a (1342-a), one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-two-b (1342)-b), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-two-c (1342-c), one thousand three hundred and fortw-two-d 
 (1342-d), one thousand three hundred and forty-two-e (1342-e), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-two-f (1342-f), one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-two-g (1342-g), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-six-a (1346-a), one thousand three hundred and forty-six-b 
 (1346-b), one thousand three hundred and forty-six-c (1346-c), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-slx-d (1346-d), one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-six-e (1346-e), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-six-f (1346-f), one thousand three hundred and forty-six-g 
 (1346-g),' one thousand three hundred and forty-six-h (1346-h), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-six-i (1346-i), one thousand three 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 86 
 
 ■ hundred and forty-six-j (1346-j), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-seven-a (1347-a), one thousand three hundred and forty-eight 
 (1348), one thousand three hundred and sixty (1360), one thousand 
 three hundred and sixty-one (1361), one thousand three hundred and 
 seventy-one (1371), one thousand three hundred and seventy-two 
 
 ' (1372), one thousand three hundred and seventy-three (1373), one 
 thousand three hundred and seventy-three-a (1373-a), one thousand 
 three hundred and seventy-eight (1378), one thousand three hundred 
 and eighty-a (1380-a), one thousand three hundred and eighty-b 
 (1380-h), one thousand three hundred and eighty-c (1380-c), one 
 thousand three hundred and eighty-d (1380-d), one thousand three 
 hundred and eighty-two (1382), one thousand three hundred and 
 eighty-two-a (1382-a), one thousand three hundred and eighty-three 
 (1383), one thousand three hundred and eighty-five-a (1385-a), one 
 thousand three hundred and eighty-five-b (1385-b), one thousand 
 three hundred and eighty-flve-c (1385-c), one thousand four hundred-a 
 (1400-a), one thousand four hundred-b (1400-b), one thousand four 
 hundred-c (1400-c), one thousand four hundred-d (1400-d), one thou- 
 sand four hundred-e (1400-e), one thousand four hundred-f (1400-f), 
 one thousand four hundred-g (1400-g), one thousand four hundred-h 
 (l400-h), one thousand four hundred-i (1400-i), one thousand four 
 hundred-j (1400-j), one thousand four hundred-k (1400-li), one thou- 
 sand four hundred-1 (1400-1), one thousand four hundred-m (1400-m), 
 one thousand four hundred-n (1400-n), one thousand four hundred-o 
 (1400-O), one thousand four hundred-p (1400-p), of the supplement 
 to the Code 1907 as the same are amended by the acts of the Thirty- 
 third and Thirty-fourth General Assemblies, and repealing chapter 
 eighty-seven (87) of the acts of the Thirty-third General Assembly 
 and chapter sixty-three (63) of the acts of the Thirty-fourth General 
 Assembly, and amending all other acst and parts of acts inconsistent 
 with the provisions of this act so as to conform with the provisions 
 of this act. 
 
 Be it Enacted iy the General AssemhXy of the State of Iowa: 
 
 Section 1. There is hereby created a commission to be designated and 
 known as the Iowa tax commission to consi«t of three electors of the state 
 to be kaiown as tax commissioners, who shall be appointed by the gover- 
 nor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. 
 
 Sec. 2; The three persons first to compose said commission shall -be 
 appointed within ten days after this act becomes a law, and before the 
 adjournment of the present legislature. Of such three persons, one shall 
 be app9inted and designated to serve for a term ending on the first day 
 of September, 1915, one for a term ending on the first day of September, 
 1917, and one for a term ending on the first day of September, 1919, each 
 of said terms to begin on the first day of September, 1913. TTpon thfe 
 expiration of the respective terms of the three commissioners first to be 
 appointed as aforesaid, each succeeding commissioner shall be appointed 
 and shall hold his office for the term of six years. 
 
86 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Sec. 3. After the appointment of said first three commissioners, and 
 except when appointed to fill a vacancy, each commissioner shall be 
 appointed on or before the last Monday in February, during the biennial 
 session of the legislature next preceding the commencement of the term 
 for which he shall be appointed. 
 
 In case of a vacancy it shall be filled by appointment by the governor 
 for the unexpired portion of the term in which such vacancy shall occur, 
 subject to confirmation by the senate. If such appointment be made when 
 the legislature is not in regular session, the appointee shall hold his 
 office until the first Monday in February, in the next biennial session 
 of the legislature, when, if such appointment is not confirmed by the 
 senate, the office shall become vacant, and on or before the last Monday in 
 the same month the governor, by and with the advice and consent of 
 the senate, shall appoint a suitable person to fill such vacancy for the 
 remainder of such term. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall take 
 his office immediately upon qualifying. 
 
 Sec. 4. The persons to be appointed as members of such commission 
 shall be such as are known to possess knowledge of the subject of taxa- 
 tion and skill in matters pertaining thereto. Said commission shall not 
 be composed wholly of persons who are members of or affiliated with the 
 same political party or organization. No person appointed as such com- 
 missioner shall, while holding such office, hold any other office under 
 the laws of this state, nor any office under the government of the United 
 States or of any other state. Each such commissioner shall devote his 
 entire time to the duties of his office, and shall not hold any position of 
 trust or profit, engage in any occupation or business interfering with 
 or inconsistent with his duties, or serve on or under a committee of 
 any political party or organization. 
 
 Sec. 5. Each commissioner, before entering upon the discharge of the 
 duties of his office, shall take, subscribe, and file with the secretary of 
 state, the oath of office prescribed by section eleven hundred and eighty 
 (1180) of the code, and shall give bond in the amount of ten thousand 
 dollars ($10,000.00) for the faithful performance of his duties. 
 
 Sec. 6. Said commissioners shall each receive as compensation for 
 services the sum of thirty-six hundred dollars ($3,600.00) per annum, to • 
 be paid in the same manner as other state officers are paid.. 
 
 Sec. 7. The commissioner whose term of office expires September 1, 
 1915, shall be chairman of said commissoin during his term of office, and 
 thereafter the member who has remaining the shortest term of service 
 shall be chairman during the rernainder of his term. 
 
 Sec. 8. The commission first appointed under this act, after having 
 duly qualified, shall meet at the capitol in Des Moines on the first secular 
 day in September, 1913. A majority of said commission shall constitute 
 a quorum for the transaction of the business and. the performance of the 
 duties of said commission. The said commission shall be in continuous 
 session and open for the transaction of business every day except Sunday 
 and legal holidays, and the session of said commission shall stand and 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 87 
 
 be deemed to be adjourned from day to day without formal entry thereof 
 on its record. Provided, however, the commission may hold sessions in 
 conducting investigations at any other place within the state than the 
 Capitol when deemed necessary to facilitate and render more thorough 
 the performance of its duties. 
 
 Sec. 9. The commission may appoint a secretary at a salary not to 
 exceed twenty-four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) per annum, and may 
 employ such other experts, assistants and clerks as may be necessary 
 and fix their compensations, which shall be paid as other state em- 
 ployes are paid. The aggregate amount of compensation, however, for 
 such experts and additional assistants shall not exceed five thousand 
 dollars ($5,000.00) per annum without the approval of the executive 
 council. 
 
 The secretary shall keep full and correct minutes of all hearings, tran- 
 sactions and proceedings of said commission, and shall perform such 
 other duties as may be required by the commission. The commission 
 shall have power to establish all needful rules, not inconsistent with law, 
 for the orderly and methodical performance of its duties, and rectuire 
 the observance of such rules by those having business with or appearing 
 before said commission. The commission shall have an official seal, and 
 orders or other papers executed by it may, under its direction, be attested, 
 with its seal affixed, by the secretary. 
 
 Sec. .10. The commission shall keep its office at the capitol and shall 
 be provided, in the same manner as other state officers, with suitable 
 rooms, necessary office furniture, supplies, stationery, postage, books, 
 periodicals and maps, and all other articles necessary for the use of 
 the commission, its secretary and other employes in the performance of 
 their duties, and all necessary expenses shall be audited and paid as 
 other state expenses are audited and paid. 
 
 The commissioners, secretary, clerks, experts and assistants shall be 
 entitled to receive from the state their actual necessary expenses while 
 traveling on the business of the commission; such expenditures to be 
 sworn to by the party who incurred the expense, and approved by the 
 chairman or a majority of the members of the commission, and allowed 
 by the executive council. Provided, however, that no such expense shall 
 be allowed the members, the secretary, clerks or employes of the com- 
 mission while in the city of Des Moines or traveling between their homes 
 and the city of Des Moines. 
 
 Sec. 11. The Iowa tax commission shall succeed and take the place 
 of the present executive council in all matters pertaining to the valuation 
 of property for taxation purposes, the assessment of property therefor, 
 and as a state board of review; and said tax commission, when duly or- 
 ganized, shall have all the powers now possessed by, and assume all 
 the duties now imposed upon, the executive council in relation to the 
 valuation of property, the assessment of taxes thereon and as a state 
 board of review. "When said tax commission is duly organized, the 
 powers and duties hereby transferred to it shall no longer be assumed 
 by or imposed upon the said executive council. 
 
88 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Sec. 12. At the time of the organization of said tax commission, the 
 executive council shall transfer to the said commission all records, books, 
 papers, documents and memoranda in the possession of said executive 
 council, and pertaining to the assessment or equalization of property and 
 taxation thereof, and all proceedings, hearings or other matters then 
 pending before said executive council and pertaining to the assessment, 
 equalization or taxation of property shall be continued, carried on and 
 completed by and before said tax commission. 
 
 Sec. 13. In addition to the powers and duties her,ein transferred from 
 the executive council to the Iowa tax commission, said commission shall 
 have and assume the following powers and duties: 
 
 (1). To have and exercise general supervision over the administration 
 of the essessment and tax laws of the state, over assessors, boards of 
 review, boards of supervisors and all other officers or boards of assess- 
 ment and levy in the performance of their official duties, to the end that 
 all assessments of property and taxes levied thereon be made relatively 
 just and uniform in substantial compliance with law. 
 
 (2). To prepare forms and cause to be printed and bound at the cost 
 of the state, suitable assessment rolls and assessors' books, and furnish 
 to each county assessor, prior to the first day of December in each year, 
 a sufficient supply thereof to make the assessment in his county for the 
 succeeding year. It may also from time to time prepare and furnish, in 
 like manner, any and all other blanks, memoranda or instructions which 
 it deems necessary or expedient for the use or guidance of any of the 
 officers over which it is authorized by law to exercise supervision; pro- 
 vided, however, in the year 1913, such assessment rolls and assessors' 
 books shall be furnished to the county auditor and by him delivered to 
 the county assessor upon his qualifying. 
 
 (3). To confer with, advise and direct assessors, boards of supervisors, 
 boards of review, and others obligated by law to make levies and assess- 
 ments, as to their duties under the laws of the state. 
 
 (4). To direct proceedings, actions and prosecutions to be instituted 
 to enforce the laws relating to the penalties, liabilities and punishment 
 of public officers, persons and officers or agents of corporations for failure 
 or neglect to comply with the provisions of the statutes governing the re- 
 turn, assessment and taxation of property, and to cause complaints to be 
 made against assessors, members of boards of review, boards of super- 
 visors or other assessing, reviewing or taxing officers, in the courts of 
 proper jurisdiction, for their removal from office for official misconduct 
 or neglect of duty. 
 
 (5). To require the attorney general or county attorneys in their 
 respective counties, and it shall be the duty of such attorneys, to assist 
 in the commencement and prosecution of actions and proceedings for 
 penalties, forfeitures, removals, and punishments of violations of the laws 
 of the state in respect to the assessment and taxation of property, or to 
 represent the commission in any litigation in which it may become in- 
 volved in the discharge of its duties. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 89 
 
 (6). To require city, town, township, county, state or other public 
 officers to report information as to the assessment of property, collection 
 of taxes, receipts from licenses, or other sources, the expenditure of public 
 funds for all purposes and such other information as may be needful or 
 desirable in the work of the commission in such form and upon such 
 blanks as the commission may prescribe. 
 
 (7). To summon and compel witnesses to appear and give testimony 
 and to compel said witnesses to produce for examination, records, books, 
 papers and documents relating to any matter which the commission shall 
 have the authority to investigate or determine; provi^ied, however, that 
 no bank, officer or employee thereof, shall be compelled to testify as to 
 the contents of any of the records of such bank, or produce the same for 
 the purpose of examination in any matter relating to assessment or 
 taxation. 
 
 (8). To cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without 
 the state or absent therefrom to be taken upon notice to interested 
 parties, if any, in any like manner that depositions of witnesses are taken 
 in civil actions pending in the district court, in any matter which the 
 commission shall have authority to investigate or determine. 
 
 (9). To investigate the work and methods of assessors, boards of 
 review and boards of supervisors, in the assessment, equalization and 
 taxation of all kinds of property, by visiting the counties or localities 
 when deemed necessary so to do. 
 
 (10). To consider the complaint made by a taxpayer of any county 
 where it is claimed that the assessment in said county is higher than 
 the assessment in other counties and make such change as the commission 
 may deem just and equitable. 
 
 (11). To require any county board of equalization at any time after 
 its adjournment to reconvene and to make such orders as the tax com- 
 mission shall determine are just and necessary, and to direct and order 
 such county board of equalization to raise or lower the valuation of the 
 property, real or personal, in any township or city, and to order and direct 
 any county board of equalization to raise or lower the valuation of any 
 class or classes of property, and generally to do and perform any act 
 or to make any order or direction to any county board of equalization or 
 any assessor as to the valuation of any property, or any class of property 
 in any township, town, city or county, which in the judgment of the com- 
 mission may seem just and necessary, to the end that all property shall 
 be valued and assessed in the manner and according to the real intent of 
 the law. 
 
 (12). To carefully examine into all cases where evasion or violation 
 of the law for assessment and taxation of property is alleged, complained 
 of, or discovered, and to ascertain wherein existing laws are defective or 
 are improperly or negligently administered. 
 
 (13). To investigate the tax system of other states and countries and 
 to formulate and recommend svch legislation as may be deemed expedient 
 
90 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 to prevent evasion of assessment and tax laws, and to secure just and 
 equal taxation and Improvement in the system of taxation in this state. 
 
 (14). To consult and confer with the governor of the state upon the 
 subject of taxation, the administration of the laws in relation thereto, and 
 the progress of the work of the commission, and to furnish the governor 
 from time to time such information as he may require. 
 
 (15). To transmit biennially to the governor and to each member of 
 the legislature, thirty days before the meeting of the legislature, the 
 report of the commission, covering the subject of assessment and tax- 
 ation, the result o^ the investigation of the commission, its recommenda- 
 tions for improvement in the system of taxation in the state, together 
 with such measures as may be formulated for the consideration of the 
 legislature. 
 
 (16). To publish in pamphlet form the revenue laws of the state and 
 distribute them to the county assessors, who shall in turn distribute 
 the same to the local assessors and boards of review of their respective 
 counties. 
 
 (17). To exercise and perform such further powers and duties as may 
 be granted to or imposed upon the commission by law. 
 
 Sec. 14. At the general election In November, 1914, and every four years 
 thereafter, there shall be elected in each county of this state, one county 
 assessor who shall be a qualified elector and taxpayer of the county, and 
 shall hold his office for a term of four years and until hfs successor is 
 duly elected and qualified; provided, however, that for the purpose of 
 filling said office until a general election is held, the board of supervisors, 
 at or before its regular September meeting after this act becomes a law, 
 shall appoint a qualified elector and taxpayer of the county, who shall 
 hold his office from the second secular day in January, 1914, until the 
 second secular day in January, 1915, and until his successor is duly elected 
 and qualified. 
 
 Sec. 15. Before entering upon the duties of his office, the county as- 
 sessor shall give bond in such amount as the board of supervisors may 
 fix, in no case, however, to be less than five thousand dollars ( $5,000.00) , 
 and shall take and subscribe the oath of office in the manner provided 
 by law. 
 
 Sec. 16. In case a vacancy occurs in the office of county assessor, the 
 board of supervisors shall appoint a qualified elector and taxpayer of the 
 county to fill such vacancy at its first, regular, special or adjourned ses- 
 sion thereafter. The person so appointed shall qualify in the manner 
 herein provided for the county assessor and shall hold his office for the 
 unexpired term and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. 
 
 Sec. 17. The county assessor shall receive his actual and necessary 
 expenses while traveling through his county in the discharge of his 
 official duties, and shall receive an annual salary based upon the popula- 
 tion of his county according to the last preceding federal or state cen- 
 sus, to-wit: In counties having a population of fifteen thousand 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 91 
 
 « 
 or less, twelve hundred dollars ($1200.00); In counties hav- 
 ing over fifteen thousand and not exceeding twenty thousand 
 population, fifteen hundred dollars ($1500.00); in counties having over 
 twenty thousand and not exceeding thirty thousand population, eighteen 
 hundred dollars (1800.00) ; in counties having over thirty thousand and 
 not exceeding fifty thousand population, two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) ; 
 in counties having over fifty thousand and not exceeding one hundred 
 thousand popul^ition, twenty-four hundred dollars (2,400.00); and in coun- 
 ties having more than one hundred thousand population, three thousand 
 dollars ($3,000.00). The salaries of county assessors shall he paid in 
 the same manner that the salaries of other county ofiacia\s are paid, and 
 all necessary traveling expenses shall be audited and paid the same as 
 other county expenses are audited and paid. 
 
 Sec. 18. Whenever any county assessor finds that, by devoting his en- 
 tire time and attention to the duties of his office, he cannot perform all 
 the services required under the provisions of this act, he is hereby au- 
 thorized to appoint, with the consent and approval of the tax commission, 
 one or more deputies who shall be subject to the supervision of the 
 county assessor, and for whose malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance 
 in the performance of their duties the c6unty assessor shall be respon- 
 sible. The deputy, in the absence or disability of his principal, may 
 perform all the duties of the principal pertaining to the office. Deputy' 
 county assessors shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the 
 county board of supervisors, not to exceed the sum of four dollars ($4.00) 
 per day for the time actually employed. 
 
 Sec. 19. It shall be the duty of the county assessor, as far as prac- 
 ticable, to make a careful examination of all records and files in the 
 offices of his county, and to co-operate with the tax commission, and 
 through it with the county assessors of other counties, in order to ob- 
 tain all available information which may assist him in listing and assess- 
 ing at its true value, and to the proper persons, any and all taxable 
 property which may have been omitted by the local assessor. In making 
 such examination, particular attention shall be given to all intangible 
 property such as tax certificates, mortgages, debts, judgments, claims, 
 and allowances of courts, legacies, and property in the hands of ad- 
 ministrators, executors, guardians, assignees, receivers, trustees and other 
 fiduciaries. 
 
 Sec. 20. For the purpose of discovering property subject to taxation 
 which may have been omitted or Incorrectly listed or assessed by the 
 local assessor, the county assessor may exercise all the rights given by 
 law to local assessors for the examination of persons and property. 
 
 Sec. 21. The county assessor shall assess against the proper persons 
 and at its true value, any and all property which he may find has been 
 omitted by the local assessor, and shall enter the same on the assess- 
 ment roll of the proper township, town or city. The valuation made by 
 the county assessor on any omitted property and also the valuation made 
 by him in reviewing the assessments of the local assessor, shall be 
 
92 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 entered in a seperate column under the heading "Valuation by county 
 assessor." 
 
 Sec. 22. It shall be the duty of the county assessor to furnish, upon 
 request, to the tax commission, or to the county assessor of any other 
 county, any information pertaining to the discovery of taxable property 
 which may be obtainable from the records of his county. 
 
 Sec. 23'. The county assessor shall have and exercise generlal authority 
 over the local assessors of his county in all matters pertaining to their 
 duties as such local assessors. He shall make such rules for the guidance 
 of the local assessors and give to them such advice, orders and directions, 
 not inconsistent with law or the instructions to the tax commission, as 
 will insure the listing and assessment of all property assessable within 
 his county at its actual value and in strict compliance with all laws and 
 regulations prescribing the duties of local assessors. 
 
 Sec. 24. Between the first and second Mondays in January, the county 
 assessor shall call an annual meeting of the township, town and city 
 assessors in order to direct and instruct them in the duties of their office, 
 furnishing the uniform assessment blanks as prepared and submitted by 
 the tax commission. Each local assessor shall be required to attend said 
 meeting' and for this purpose shall be allowed pay for one day's work 
 together with the necessary traveling expenses. 
 
 Sec. 25. The county assessors shall prepare and keep up to da);e a 
 tabulated list of sales of farm and unplatted lands and town lots in 
 and various townships, towns and cities of their respective counties, the 
 same to be done according to rules and regulations formulated by the 
 tax commission. At the annual meeting of the township, town and 
 city assessors, just prior to the assessment of real estate, said list of 
 sales as prepared and tabulated for the entire county during the pre- 
 ceding biennial period shall be submitted to the assessors in each taxing 
 district to serve as a guide in their work of assessment, and may also, 
 as far as practicable, be made use of by the county assessor, county 
 board of supervisors, and the tax commission, in their work of review, 
 adjustment and equalization. The county assessor shall be required to 
 submit a copy of said list of sales of real estate to the tax commission 
 not less than thirty days prior to the time when said commission acts 
 as a state board of review. 
 
 Sec. 26. The county assessor shall report to the clerk of the district 
 court all estates or property coming to his knowledge, which he believes 
 to be chargeable with a collateral inheritance tax. 
 
 Sec. 27. The county assessor shall file all certificates of levies and as- 
 sessments made to him by the county auditor, and shall record in a book 
 kept for that purpose all such levies. 
 
 Sec. 28. Upon assuming the duties of his office In the year 1914, as 
 provided in section fourteen (14) of this act, the county assessor shall 
 procure from the county auditor all plats, maps, forms and other data 
 relative to the assessment and equalization of property which may be 
 
•TAX COMMISSION REPORT 93 
 
 in the oiEce of the county auditor and necessary to the proper perform- 
 ance of his duties as county assessor. Nothing herein contained shall 
 be held to require the plat books, transfer books and Index thereto to 
 be turned over to the county assessor. 
 
 Sec. 29. When the county assessor has qualified and entered upon the 
 duties of his office, and has received |rom the county auditor the plats, 
 maps and memoranda as comtemplated and provided in the preceding 
 section, the county auditor shall thereupon and thereafter be relieved from 
 the performance of all acts now and heretofore required of him and 
 which are by this act transferred to and required to be performed by the 
 county assessor. 
 
 Sec. 30. The county assessor shall be provided by the county board of 
 supervisors with a suitable office at the county seat, which may be in 
 conjunction with any other county officer If the said board deem It ex- 
 pedient, together with the necessary furniture, fixtures and supplies, and 
 all necessary expenses relative thereto shall be audited and paid as the 
 expenses of other county officers are audited and paid. 
 
 Sec. 31. The term "tax oomniission," as used in this act, shall be held 
 to refer to and mean the "Iowa tax commission." 
 
 Sec. 32. The term "local assessor", as used in this act, shall be held 
 to refer to and mean the assessors elected or appointed to make assess- 
 ments in townships, towns, cities or other assessment districts, including 
 cities acting under special charters. 
 
 Sec. 33. (1308) All property, real and personal, tangible and intang- 
 ible, not specifically exempt, is subject to taxation in the manner pro- 
 vided in this act; and such property embraces lands, tenaments, heredita- 
 ments; horses, cattle, mules and asses over one year of age; sheep, goats 
 and swine over six months of age; moneys in possession or on deposit, in- 
 cluding gold and silver coin, circulating notes of national banking associa- 
 tions. United States legal tender notes and other notes and certificates of 
 the United States payable on demand, and circulating or intended to 
 circulate as money; credits including accounts, property or labor due 
 from solvent debtors on contracts or judgments, bonds not exempted, 
 notes, mortgages, or other like securities; property situated in this state 
 belonging to any bank or company, incorporated or otherwise, whether 
 incorporated in this or any other state; household furniture, beds and 
 bedding made use of in hotels and boarding houses, household furniture 
 made use of in private families in excess of three hundred dollars 
 ($300.00); private libraries, corporation shares or stocks, not otherwise 
 taxed or excepted; gold and silver plate, precious stones, jewelry and 
 musical instruments, vehicles, thrashing machines, corn shredders, corn 
 shellers, traction engines and hay presses; grain and hay, coal, lumber 
 and merchandise of every description; boats and vessels of every dis- 
 scription, whether registered or licensed, and whether navigating the 
 waters of the state or not, if owned either wholly or in part by inhabitants 
 of this state, to the amount owned in this state; all other property or 
 
94 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 things of value of every nature and dlscription including franchises 
 whether owned by an individual, company, partnership, association or 
 corporation. 
 
 Sec. 34. Except as otherwise provided, all taxes levied upon the prop- 
 erty within an assessment district shall be uniform according to value, 
 upon all the taxable property within such district for each of the purposes 
 for which the levies are made. 
 
 Sec. 35. (S. 1304) The following classes of property are not to be 
 taxed : 
 
 1. The property of the United States and this state, including univer- 
 sity, agricultural college and school lands, and all property leased to 
 the state; the property of a county, township, city, town or school dis- 
 trict or militia company, when devoted entirely to public use, and not 
 held for pecuniary, profit; public grounds, including all places for the 
 burial of the dead, crematoriums, the land on which they are built and 
 appurtenant thereto, not exceeding one acre, so long as no dividends or 
 profits are derived therefrom; fire engines and all implements for ex- 
 tinguishing fires, with the grounds used exclusively for their buildings 
 and meetings of the fire companies. 
 
 2. All grounds and buildings used for public libraries, including lib- 
 raries owned and kept up by private individuals, associations or cor- 
 porations for public use and not for pecuniary profit, and for literary, 
 scientific, charitable, benevolent, agricultural and religious institutions, 
 and societies devoted solely to the appropriate objects of these institu- 
 tions, not exceeding one hundred and sixty (160) acres in extent, and 
 not leased or otherwise used with a view to pecuniary profit, but all 
 deeds or leases by which such property is held shall be filed for record 
 before the property above described shall be omitted from the assess- 
 ment; the books, papers and apparatus belonging to said institutions, 
 used solely for the purposes above contemplated, and the like property 
 of students in any such institution used for their education; moneys 
 and credits belonging exclusively to such institutions, and devoted solely 
 to sustaining them, but not exceeding in amount or income the amount 
 previously specified by their charters or articles of incorporation; 
 real estate to the extent of not to exceed one hundred sixty (160) acres 
 in any civil township owned by any educational institution of this state, 
 as a part of its endowment fund. 
 
 3. The real estate occupied as a public .road or highway, and the same 
 shall not be taxed as a part of the adjacent land. 
 
 4. Government lands entered and located, or lands purchased from this 
 state, for the year in which the entry, location or purchase is made. 
 
 5. The farm produce of the person assessed, harvested by him," and 
 all wool shorn from his sheep, within one year previous to the listing; 
 all poultry, ten stands of bees, all swine, goats and sheep under six 
 months of age; and all other domestic animals under one year of age not 
 hereinbefore exempt; obligations for rent not yet due, in the hands of 
 the original payees, private libraries, professional libraries to the actual 
 
TAX COMMISSION HEPORT 95 
 
 value of three hundred dollars ($300.00); family pictures, household 
 furniture to the value of three hundred dollars ($300.00), and kitchen 
 furniture, beds and bedding requisite for each family; all wearing apparel 
 in actual use; and all food provided for the family; but the exemptions 
 allowed in this subdivision shall not be held to apply to hotels and 
 boarding houses except so far as exempted classes of property shall be 
 for the actual use of the family managing the same. 
 
 6. The farming utensils of any person who makes his livelihood by 
 farming, the team, wagon and harness of the teamster or drayman who 
 makes his living by their use in hauling for others, and the tools of 
 any mechanic, not in any case to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) 
 in actual value. 
 
 7. The accumulations and funds held or possessed by fraternal bene- 
 ficiary associations for the purpose of paying the benefits contemplated 
 by section one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two (1822) of the 
 code, or for the payment of the expenses of such association. 
 
 8. United States bonds, municipal, school and drainage bonds or drain- 
 age certificates issued In this state subsequent to July 4, 1909, and special 
 assessment certificates issued in this state hereafter, provided, however, 
 that no deduction from the assessment of the stock of any bank or trust 
 company shall be permitted because of such bank or trust company 
 holding such bonds and certificates. 
 
 9. . Motor vehicles, other than those of manufacturers and dealers, upon 
 which the registration fee provided by law has been paid. 
 
 10. The pensions of the United States or of any state, and payments 
 expected for services to be rendered. 
 
 11. The shares of capital stock of the following named corporations 
 are exempt from taxation, to-wit: 
 
 Telegraph and telephone companies, frieght lines and equipment com- 
 panies, express companies, corporations engaged in merchandising; 
 domestic , corporations engaged in manufacturing, and corporations not 
 organized for pecuniary profit. 
 
 12. (S. 1304-a) The following named property is exempt from taxation 
 until January 1, 1917, viz.: All mills, buildings, machinery, tools, ap- 
 paratus and appliances for the manufacture of sugar, the land upon which 
 said mill is situated not to exceed ten (10) acres; the capital invested in 
 the business of the manufacture of sugar from beets raised in the state 
 of Iowa, all personal property used in connection with said business, also 
 the stock, shares and certificates of any company or corporation actually 
 engaged in said business. 
 
 13. The polls or estates, or both, of persons who by reason of age or 
 infirmity may in the opinion of the local assessor be unable to contribute 
 to the public revenue, such opinion and the fact upon which it is based 
 being in all cases entered on the assessment roll, and subject to reversal 
 by the county board of review; provided, also, that if the cause for 
 exemption ceases by reason of a sale of the property, or otherwise, the 
 property shall be taxed for subsequent years. 
 
96 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 14. The property not to exceed twelve hundred dollars in actual value 
 of any honorably, discharged union soldier or sailor of the Mexican war 
 or war of the rebellion, or of the widow remaining unmarried of such 
 soldier or sailor. It shall be the duty of every local assessor, annually, 
 to make a list of such soldiers, sailors and widows, and to return such 
 list to the county assessor upon forms to be furnished by such assessor 
 for that purpose, but the failure so to do shall not effect the validity of 
 any such exemption. All soldiers, sailors or widows thereof, referred to 
 herein, shall receive a reduction of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) at 
 the time such assessment is made by the assessor, unless waiver thereof 
 is voluntarily made of such exemption at said time; provided, however, if 
 the right of such exemption shall terminate by the sale of the property 
 or otherwise, the property thus exempt shall be taxed for subsequent 
 years. 
 
 Sec. 36. (1307) The board of supervisors shall have power to remit 
 in whole or in part the taxes of any person whose buildings, crops, stock 
 or other property has been destroyed by fire, tornado or other unavoid- 
 able casualty, it said property has not been sold for taxes, or if said taxes 
 have not been delinquent for thirty days at the time of the destruction, 
 but the loss for which such remission is allowed shall be such only as 
 is not covered by insurance. 
 
 Sec. 37. (1309) The term "credit", as used in this act, includes every 
 claim or demand due or to become due for money, labor or other valuable 
 thing; every annuity or sum of money receivable at stated periods, and 
 all money or property of any kind secured by a deed, title bond, mort- 
 gage or otherwise. 
 
 Sec. 38. (1310) Except as otherwise provided, moneys, credits and 
 corporation shares or stock shall be assessed and taxed upon the uniform 
 basis throughout the state of five mills on the dollar, of actual valuation, 
 same to be assessed and collected where the owner resides. The millage 
 tax herein provided for shall be in lieu of all other taxes upon such 
 moneys and credits and corporation shares or stocks, and shall be levied 
 by the board of supervisors, placed upon the tax list, and collected by 
 the county treasurer, and the amount collected in the various taxing 
 districts of the state shall be divided between the various funds upon 
 the same pro rata basis as other taxes collected in such taxing district 
 are proportioned. 
 
 Sec. 39. (1311) In making up the amount of money or credits which 
 any person is required to list, or to have listed or assessed, including 
 ■ actual value of any building and loan shares, he will be entitled to 
 deduct from the actual value thereof the gross amount of all debts in 
 good faith owing by him, but no acknowledgment of indebtedness not 
 founded on actual consideration, and no such acknowledgment made for 
 the purpose of being so deducted, shall be considered a debt within the 
 intent of this section, and so much only of any liability of such person 
 as security for another shall be deducted as he believes he will be com- 
 pelled to pay on account of the inability of the principal debtor, and if 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 97 
 
 there are other sureties able to contribute, then so much only as he In 
 whose name the list Is made will be bound to contribute; but no person 
 will be entitled, to any deduction on account of any deposit or security 
 note given in aid of the organization of a mutual insurance company for 
 the premiums of insurance, nor on account of any unpaid subscription to 
 any institution, society, corporation or company; and no person shall be 
 entitled to any deduction on account of any indebtedness contracted for 
 the purchase of United States bonds or other non-taxable property. 
 
 Sec. 40. (34th G. A., Ch. 63). All moneyed capital within the meaning 
 of section five thousand two hundred and nineteen (5219) of the revised 
 statutes of the United States used in competition with national, state 
 and savings banks and loan and trust companies, shall be listed and 
 assessed against the owner thereof at his place of business, and if a cori 
 poration at its principal place of business, at the same rate as state, 
 savings and national bank and loan and trust company stock is taxed, in 
 the same taxing district and at the actual value of the moneyed capital 
 so invested. All persons or corporations using moneyed capital in com- 
 petition with bank capital shall furnish the assessor upon demand a full 
 and complete itemized sworn statement, showing the amount of moneyed 
 capital so used. 
 
 Sec. 41. (1315) Each grain, ice or coal dealer shall be assessed upon 
 the average amount of capital used by him in conducting his business. 
 In estimating the amount of capital so used, there shall be taken into 
 consideration the increase and decrease of the value of grain held in 
 store, and upon the value of his warehouses, ice houses, granaries or cribs 
 situated upon lands leased from railway companies or other persona, 
 and upon the value, if any, of such leasehold interest. 
 
 Sec. 42. (1351) In all cases where land belonging to any state institu- 
 tion has been leased and the leases renewed, containing an option of pur- 
 chase, the interest of the lessees therein shall be subject to assessment 
 and taxation as real estate. The value of such interest shall be fixed 
 by deducting, from the value of the Irfnds and improvements the amount 
 required by the lease to acquire the title thereto, which leasehold interest 
 so assessed and taxed may be sold for delinquent taxes, and deeds issued 
 thereunder as in other cases of tax sales, and the same rights shall ac- 
 crue to the grantee therein as were held and owned by the tenant. 
 
 Sec. 43. (1318) Any person, firm or corporation, owning or having 
 in his possession or under his control within the state, with authority to 
 sell the same, any personal property purchased with a view of its being 
 sold, or which has been consigned to him from any place out of this 
 state to be sold within the same, or to be delivered or shipped by him 
 within or without this state, shall be held to be a merchant for the pur- 
 xioses of this act. In assessing such stocks of merchandise, the assessoi 
 shall require the production of the last inventory taken, and in the assess- 
 ment roll shall state the date thereof, and if in the judgment of the 
 assessor such is not correct, or if such time has elapsed since the time 
 7 
 
98 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 the Inventory was taken that it shall have ceased to be reliable as to 
 the value thereof, he shall appraise the same by personal examination. 
 The assessment shall be made at the average value of the stock during 
 the year next preceding the time of assessment, and, if the merchant has 
 not been in business so long, then the average value during such time 
 as he shall have been so engaged, and if commencing, then the value at 
 the time for assessment, and the provisions of this section shall apply 
 and constitute the method of taxation of a corporation whose business or 
 principal business is of a like character, and shall be in lieu of any tax 
 on the corporate shares. 
 
 Sec. 44. (1319) Any person, firm or corporation who purchases, re- 
 ceives or holds personal property of any description for the purpose of 
 adding to the value thereof by any process of manufacturing, packing of 
 meats, refining, purifying, or by the combination of different materials, 
 with a view to making gain or profit by so doing, and selling the same, 
 shall be held a manufacturer for the purposes of this act, and he shall 
 list for taxation such property in his hands; but the average value therof 
 to be ascertained as in the preceding section, whether manufactured or 
 unmanufactured, shall be estimated upon those materials only which 
 enter into its combination or manufacture. Machinery used in manu- 
 facturing establishments shall for the purpose of taxation be regarded 
 as real estate. Corporations organized under the laws of this state for 
 pecuniary profit and engaged in manufacturing as defined by this sec- 
 tion, and which have their capital represented by shares of stock, shall, 
 through their principal accounting officers, list their real estate, personal 
 property and moneys and credits in the same manner as is required of 
 Individuals. 
 
 Sec. 45. (S. 1321). Private banks or bankers, or any persons other 
 than corporations, a part of whose business is tbe receiving of deposits 
 subject to check, on certificates, receipts or otherwise, or tbe selling of 
 exchange, shall prepare and furnish to the assessor a sworn statement, 
 showing the assets, aside from real estate, and liabilities of such bank 
 or banker on January first of the' current year, as follows : 
 
 1. The amount of moneys, specifying separately the amount of moneys 
 on hand or in transit, the funds in the hands of other banks, bankers, 
 brokers or other persons or corporations, and the amount of checks or 
 other cash items not included in either of the preceding items. 
 
 2. The actual value of credits consisting of bills receivable owned by 
 them, and other credits due or to become due. 
 
 3. The amount of all deposits made with them by others, and also 
 the amount of bills payable. 
 
 4. The actual value of bonds and stocks of every kind, and shares of 
 capital stock, or Joint stock of other corporations or companies held as 
 an investment, or in any way representing assets, and the specific kinds 
 and description thereof exempt from taxation. 
 
 5. All other property pertaining to said business, including real estate 
 which shall be separately listed and valued by the usual description 
 
TAX CCPMISSION REPORT 99 
 
 thereof; the aggregate actual value of moneys and credits after deducting 
 therefrom the amount of deposits, and the aggregate actual value of 
 bonds and stocks after deducting the portion thereof otherwise taxed in 
 this state, and also the other property pertaining to the business shall 
 be assessed as provided by section one hundred and three (103) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 46. (34th G. A., Ch. 63) The real estate owned by national banks 
 and state and savings banks and loan and trust companies located in 
 this state shall be assessed to the bank or loan and trust company own- 
 ing the same at the place where such real estate is located, and on the 
 same basis as other real estate is assessed. The shares of stock of 
 national banks and state and savings banks and loan and trust com- 
 panies located in this state shall be assessed to the individual stock- 
 holders at the place where the bank or loan and trust company is located 
 in the manner herein provided. At the time the assessment is made, the 
 officers of national banks and state and savings banks and loan and trust 
 companies shall furnish the assessor with lists of all the stockholders and 
 the number of shares owned by each, and the assessor shall list to each 
 stockholder under the head of corporation stock the number of shares 
 owned by each. In determining the amount at which the said shares of 
 capital stock shall be asesssed, the assessor shall deduct from the total 
 capital stock the amount of the capital actually invested in real estate 
 owned by such bank or loan and trust company, and in the shares of stock 
 of corporations owning only the real estate (inclusive of leasehold in- 
 terests, if any), on or in which the bank or trust company is located. The 
 balance remaining shall be the taxable value of the total capital stock 
 and the proper proportion thereof shall be assessed to the respective 
 owners of the shares of stock, and shall be taxed at the same rate as 
 the general property of individuals is taxed^ 
 
 The surplus and undivided profits of such banks and loan and trust 
 companies shall be assessed to the several stockholders at the place 
 where such bank or loan and trust company is located, in proportion to 
 the number of shares owned by each stockholder, and shall be taxed upon 
 the uniform basis throughout the state of five (5) mills on the dollar; 
 and the same shall be levied, collected and distributed the same as is 
 provided for the taxation of moneys and credits of private individuals, 
 excepting that there shall be no deduction allowed for debts. 
 
 To aid the assessor in making the assessment, the said corporations 
 shall furnish him a verified statement of all the matters provided in 
 section forty-fiv4 (45) of this act, which shall also show separately thfe 
 amount of the capital stock and the surplus and undivided earnings. 
 
 The property of such banks and loan and trust companies and the 
 shares of stock shall not be taxed in any other manner than as herein 
 provided. 
 
 Sec. 47. (1323). The shares of stock of any corporation organized 
 under the laws of this state, except those which are not organized for 
 pecuniary profit and except corporations otherwise provided for in thi6 
 act, shall be assessed to the owners thereof at the place where its prin- 
 cipal business is transacted, the assessment to be on the value of sucii 
 
100 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 shares on the first day of January in each year, but in arriving at the 
 total value of the shares of stock of such corporations, the amount of 
 their capital actually Invested in real estate owned by them, either in 
 this state or elsewhere, shall be deducted from the real value of such 
 shares, and such real estate shall be assessed as other real estate; and 
 the property of such corporation, except real estate situated within the 
 state, shall not be otherwise assessed. Every such corporation, annually, 
 on or before the twenty-fifth day of January, shall furnish to the as- 
 sessor of the assessment district in which its principal place of business 
 is located, a verified statement showing specially, with reference to the 
 year next preceding the first day of January then last past: 
 
 1. Total authorized capital stock and the number of shares thereof; 
 
 2. Number of shares of stock Issued and par value of each; 
 
 3. Amount paid into the treasury on each share and the total capital 
 paid in; 
 
 4. Description and value of each tract of real estate owned by said 
 corporation; 
 
 5. Date, rater per cent and amount of each dividend declared, and the 
 amount of capital on which each such dividend was declared; 
 
 6. Gross and net earnings respectively, during the year, and amount 
 of surplus; 
 
 7. Amount of profit added to sinking fund; 
 
 8. Highest price of sales of stock betweeli the first and tenth days of 
 January of the current year; 
 
 9. Highest price of sales of stock during the preceding year, and aver- 
 age price of such sales. 
 
 Sec. 48. (1324). If the assessor is not satisfied with the appraisement 
 and valuation furnished, as provided in the preceding sections, he may 
 make a valuation of the shares of stock based upon the facts contained 
 In the statements above required, or upon any information within his 
 possession or that shall come to him, and shall in each case assess to the 
 owners the stock at the valuation made by him. If the officers of any 
 corporation refuse or neglect to make the statement required, the assessor 
 shall make a valuation of the capital stock of the defaulting corporation 
 from the* best information obtainable. In deducting, under the provisions 
 of the preceding section, the value of the real estate from the actual value 
 of the properties, shares or capital stock of any person, firm, association or 
 corporation, the actual value at which said real estate is valued by the 
 assessor or other taxing officer or body where the same is assessed shall 
 be the value thereof. 
 
 Sec. 49. (1325) The corporations described in the preceding sections 
 shall be liable for the payment of the taxes assessed to the stockholders 
 of such corporations, and such tax shall be payable by the corporation in 
 the same manner and under the same penalties as in case of taxes due 
 from an individual taxpayer, and may be collected in the same manner 
 as other taxes, or by action in the name of the county. 
 
 Such corporations may recover from each stockholder his proportion of 
 the taxes so paid, and shall have a lien on his stock and unpaid dividends 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 therefor. If the unpaid dividends are not sufficient to pay such t^^^e^^^^^ 
 ■corporation may enforce such lien on the stock by public sale of the saS 
 to be made by the sheriff, at the principal office of such corporation 
 in this state, after giving the stockholders thirty days' notice of the 
 amount of such tax, and the time and place of sale; such notices to be 
 by registered letter addressed to the stockholder at his postoffice address 
 as the same appears upon the books of the company or is known by its 
 secretary. 
 
 Sec. 50. (1326) The shares of stock of mutual building and loan, or 
 savings and loan associations, exclusively engaged in such business shall 
 be assessed and taxed to the individual holders thereof at their place of 
 residence. When such association maintains a reserve, expense or other 
 fund, or its equivalent, the total amount of such fund or funds shall be sub- 
 ject to taxation at the principal place of business of the association and 
 shall be assessed against the association as other personal property, the 
 tax of the same to be paid by the association. It shall be the duty of such 
 association to keep a correct list of the owners of the stock thereof with 
 their postoffice addresses, and on or before the thirty-first day of January 
 of each year the officers of all domestic and domestic local associations 
 shall make the same verified statement as other corporations are required 
 to make, and furnish the assessors, and in addition thereto shall state the 
 total amount of their reserve, expense or other fund, or its equivalent, and 
 the actual value of its shares of stock, and funish the same to the assessor 
 of the assessment district in which its principal place of business is located, 
 and on or before the fifteenth day of February of each year the secretary 
 or president of such domestic or domestic local association shall make, by 
 mailing to them, postage prepaid, a verified statement to the county as- 
 sessor of the name and postoffice address of every stockholder of said as- 
 sociation residing in their respective counties, together with the number of 
 shares owned by each person, and the actual value of each share of said 
 stock on the first day of January preceding. The tax commission shall, 
 on or before the tenth day of February of each year, send to the county 
 assessor of each county a statement of the name and postoffice address 
 of each stockholder of a foreign building and loan or savings and loan 
 association residing in their respective counties, together with the number 
 of shares owned by each person on the first day of January preceding, and 
 the actual value of each share of stock on said first day of January, which 
 facts shall be as reported to the tax commission by such associations under 
 the law governing building and loan or savings and loan associations. It 
 shall be the duty of the county assessor to immediately furnish to each 
 local assessor in his county the name of each stockholder in any such asso- 
 ■ciation residing in such assessor's district, together with the number of 
 shares held by each person, and the actual value of each share on the 
 first day of January preceding. 
 
 Sec. 51. (1343) The lands, buildings, machinery and mains belonging 
 to individuals or corporations operating waterworks or gas works; the 
 lands, buildings, machinery, tracks, poles and wires belonging to individ- 
 uals or corporations furnishing electric light or power; the lands, build- 
 
102 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 ings, machinery, poles, wires, overhead construction, tracks, cables, con- 
 duits and fixtures belonging to individuals or corporations operating rail- 
 ways by cable or electricity or operating elevated street railways; and 
 the lands, buildings, tracks and fixtures of street railways operated by ani- 
 mal power, shall be listed and assessed in the assessment district where- 
 the same are situated, but where any such property except the capital 
 stock is situated partly within and partly without the limits of a city 
 or town, such portions of the said plant shall be assessed separately, and 
 the portion within the said city or town shall be assessed as above pro- 
 vided, and the portion without the said city or town shall be assessed in 
 the district or districts in which it is located. All the personal property 
 of such individuals and corporations used or purchased by them for the 
 purposes of such gas or water works, electric light plants, electric or cable 
 railways, elevated street railways, or street railways operated by animal 
 power, including the rolling stock of such railways and street railways, and 
 the animals belonging to such street railways operated by animal power, 
 shall be listed and assessed in the assessment district where usually 
 housed or kept. The actual value of the capital stock over and above that 
 of the above listed property shall be listed and assessed as provided in 
 section forty-seven (47) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 52. (S. 1328) (S. 1330-f) Every person, co-partnership, associa- 
 tion, corporation or syndicate that shall own or operate or be engaged 
 in operating any telegraph or telephone line whether formed or organized 
 under the laws of this state or elsewhere, shall on or before the first 
 day of May in each year furnish to the tax commission a statement veri- 
 fied by the owner, or if a company or a corporation by its president or 
 secretary, showing: 
 
 1. The total number of miles owned, operated or leased within the 
 state, with a separate showing of the number leased; 
 
 2. The average number, size and kind of poles per mile, and the 
 whole number of poles on their lines in this state; 
 
 3. The total number of miles in each separate line or division thereof, 
 also the average number, size, kind and quality of separate wires thereon; 
 
 4. The whole number of stations on each line, and the value of the 
 same, including furniture; 
 
 5. The whole number of Instruments on each separate line, and the 
 gross rental charges per instrument, where the same are rented to pat- 
 rons of the company making the return, together with the number of 
 stations maintained other tkan railroad stations. 
 
 6. The gross receipts and operating expenses of said company for 
 the year ending December thirty-first next preceding, on business origi- 
 nating and terminating in this state. 
 
 7. The gross receipts and operating expenses of said company for 
 the year ending December thirty-first next preceding, and not included 
 in the statement made under sub-section six hereof. 
 
 8. The total capital stock of said company. 
 
 9. The number of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding, and 
 the par or face value of each share. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 103 
 
 10. The market value of such shares of stock on the first day ol 
 January next preceding, and If such shares have no market value, the 
 actual value thereof. 
 
 11. All real estate and other property owned by such company, and 
 the location thereof, subject to local taxation within this state. 
 
 12. The specific real estate, together with the permanent Improve- 
 ments thereon, owned by such company and situated outside this state and 
 taxed as other real estate in the state where located, with a specific de- 
 scription of each piece, where located and the purpose for which the same 
 is used, and the actual value thereof in the locality where situated. 
 
 13. All mortgages upon the whole or any part of its property, to- 
 gether with the dates and amounts thereof. 
 
 14. (a) The total length of the lines of said company. 
 
 (b) The total length of the lines of said company outside this state. 
 
 Sec. 53. (S. 1329) Upon the receipt of said statements from the 
 several companies, the tax commission shall examine said statements and 
 if it shall deem the same insuflicient, and that further information Is 
 requisite, it shall require the ofiBcer making same to make such other 
 or further statement as it may desire. In case of failure or refusal of 
 any company to make out or deliver to the tax commission the state- 
 ments required in this act, such company shall forfeit and pay to the 
 State of Iowa, one hundred dollars for each day such report Is delayed, 
 beyond the first day of May, to be sued and recovered in any proper form 
 of action in the name of the state, and on the relation of the tax commis- 
 sion, and such penalty, when collected, shall be paid into the general 
 fund of the state. 
 
 Sec. 54. (S. 1400-a) That on or before the first day of August, 1914, 
 each telephone or telegraph company owning or operating a telephone 
 or telegraph line, any part of which lies within the state of Iowa, shall 
 file with the several county auditors of the counties within which any 
 part of its line is located, a map of all its lines within said county, ex- 
 cept its line within any platted city or town, drawn to a scale of not 
 less than one (1) inch to four (4) miles, on which the location of the 
 line or lines of said company is correctly shown. The map of any line 
 situated upon any highway or street which is the dividing line between 
 taxing districts, shall show on which side of said street or highway said 
 line is situated, and shall locate all points at which said line may cross 
 said street or highway. A statement showing the length of pole line in 
 each taxing district, of each company, shall be filed when no map of 
 the pole lines of such company is required under the terms of this 
 act. A telephone or telegraph company whose line is situated upon 
 the right of way of a railway, may file in lieu of the map required to 
 be filed by the provisions of this section, a certificate setting forth along 
 what lines of railway said company's telephone or telegraph line ex- 
 tends. On or before the first day of March, 1913, and annually there- 
 after, like maps, statements or certificates shall be filed with the several 
 county auditors of counties in which any part of said lines may have 
 been extended, constructed, relocated or taken down entirely, during the 
 
104 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 preceding calendar year, showing the correct location of all such new or 
 relocated lines, and the location of any part abandoned or taken down, 
 as the same existed on the thirty-first day of December preceding. Pro- 
 vided county auditors of the several counties shall, upon application of 
 any company owning or operating a telephone or telegraph line in their 
 respective counties, furnish a map or maps, accurately showing the 
 boundaries of all taxing districts in said county, and the public high- 
 ways located within such taxing district. Provided further that where 
 any telegraph or telephone company has prior to the taking effect of 
 this act filed such map, statement or certificate of its lines with the 
 several county auditors as in this section provided, sucH company shall 
 be required to file only map, statement or certificate as to the exten- 
 sions, relocations or correction as herein provided, made subsequent ta 
 such filing. 
 
 Sec. 55 > (S. 1400-b) In the event of the failure or refusal of any 
 telephone or telegraph company, owning or operating any telephone or 
 telegraph line not situated upon the right of way of a railway, to file 
 the map required under the provisions of section fifty-four (54) of this 
 act, at the time and according to the conditions named, then the county 
 auditor may cause the same to be prepared by a competent surveyor and 
 the cost thereof shall, in the first place, be audited and paid by the 
 board of supervisors of the county, out of the county fund, and the 
 amount thereof shall be by said board levied as a special tax against 
 said company and the property of said company, which shall be collected 
 in the same manner as county taxes and become a part of the county 
 fund. 
 
 Sec. 56. (S. 1330) The tax commission shall, at its meeting on the 
 second Monday in July in each year, proceed to find the actual value 
 of the property of such telephone and telegraph companies in this state, 
 taking into consideration the information obtained from the statements 
 above required, and any further information it can obtain, using the 
 same as a means for determining the actual cash value of the property of 
 such companies within this state; also taking into consideration the 
 valuation of all property of such companies including franchises and the 
 use of the property in connection with lines outside the state, and making 
 such deductions as may be necessary on account of extra value of prop- 
 erty outside the state as compared with the value of property in the 
 state in order that the actual cash value of the property of the company 
 within this state may be ascertained. Said assessment shall include all 
 property of every kind and character whatsoever, real, personal or mixed, 
 used by said companies in the transaction of telegraph and telephone 
 business; and the property so included in said assessment shall not be 
 taxed in any other manner than as provided In this act. 
 
 Sec. 57. (S. 1330-a) The tax commission shall ascertain the value per 
 mile of the property of each of said companies within this state by 
 dividing the total value, as above ascertained, by the number of miles 
 of line of such company within the state, and the result shall be deemed 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 105 
 
 and held to be the actual value per mile of line of the property of such 
 company within this state. The value thus found shall be the taxable 
 value. At such meeting In July any company interested shall have the 
 right to appear by its oflacers or agents before the tax commission and be 
 heard on the question of the valuation of its property for taxation. 
 
 Sec. 58. (S. 1330-b) The tax commission shall, for the purpose of 
 ■determining what amount shall be assessed to any one of said companies 
 in each county of the state into which the line of said company extends, 
 multiply the assessed or taxable value per mile of line of said company, 
 as above ascertained, by the number of miles In each of said counties, 
 and the result thereof shall, on or before the first Monday in August, 
 be by said tax commission certified to the several county auditors of the 
 respective counties into, over or through which said line extends. 
 
 Sec. 59. (S. 1330-c) At the first meeting of the board of supervisors 
 held after such statement is received by the county auditor, it shall 
 cause such statement to be entered in Its minute book, and make and 
 enter therein an order stating the length of the lines and the assessed 
 value of the property of each of the said companies situated In each city, 
 town, township or lesser taxing district In its county, as fixed by the 
 tax commission, which shall constitute the taxable value of said prop- 
 erty for taxing purposes, and the taxes of said property, when collected by 
 the county treasurer, shall be disposed of as other taxes on real estate. 
 The county auditor shall transmit a copy of said order to the county 
 assessor and to the council or trustees of each city, town or township 
 into which the lines of said company extend. 
 
 Sec. 60. (S. 1330-d) All telegraph and telephone property shall be 
 taxable upon said assessment at the same rates, by the same officers and 
 for the same purposes as the property of Individuals within such counties, 
 cities, towns, townships or lesser taxing districts, and the county treasurer 
 shall collect such taxes at the same time and in the same manner as other 
 taxes; and the same penalties for the non-payment shall be due and col- 
 lectible as for the non-payment of individual taxes. 
 
 Sec. 61. (S. 1330-e) Land, lots and other real estate and personal 
 property belonging to any telegraph company or telephone company not 
 used exclusively In Its telegraph or telephone business, shall be subject 
 to assessment and taxation on the same basis as other property of Indi- 
 viduals in the several counties where situated. 
 
 Sec. 62. (S. 1332) No telegraph or telephone line shall be assessed 
 which is owned or operated by any railroad company exclusively for the 
 transaction of its business, and which has been duly reported as such 
 In Its annual report under the laws providing for the taxation of railroad 
 property. 
 
 Sec. 63. (S. 1334-a) Each railway or other corporation or person 
 owning or operating a railroad within this state shall, on or before the 
 first day of April, 1914, make to the tax commission a detailed statement 
 showing the amount of real estate owned or used by it on December 
 
106 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 thirty-first preceding, for railway purposes, In each county in the state 
 in which said real estate is situated, including the right of way, road 
 bed, bridges, culverts, depot grounds, station buildings, yards, section and 
 tool houses, round houses, machine and repair shops, water tanks, turn- 
 tables, gravel beds and stone quarries, and for all other purposes, with the 
 estimated value thereof, in such manner as may be required by the tax 
 commission. Only one such detailed statement by any corporation shall 
 be necessary, and when received by the tax commission, it shall become 
 the record of railway lands of such corporation and be deemed as an- 
 nually thereafter reported for valuation and assessment by the tax com- 
 mission. On or before the first day of April of each subsequent year, such 
 corporation or person shall in like manner report all real estate or other 
 property acquired for any of the railway purposes above named during 
 the preceding calendar year; and also a list of any real estate or other 
 property previously reported disposed of during the same period, which 
 disposition shall be noted by the tax commission in an appropriate 
 column opposite to the description of said tract in the original report 
 of the same in the record of railway land. Provided, however, where- 
 any such railway companies have, previous to the taking effect of this 
 act, made to the executive council a report which the tax commission 
 finds to be substantially as is required by the provisions of this section, 
 such railway, corporation or person shall not be required to report the- 
 property embraced in a previous report to the executive council. 
 
 Sec. 64. (S. 1334-b) The tax commission shall, by some convenient 
 method of binding, arrange the statements required to be made under 
 the provisions of the preceding section, so as to form a consolidated list 
 of all real estate reported to it, as being owned or used for railway pur- 
 poses within the state of Iowa, which list shall be known as the record- 
 of railway lands. Provided, however, that the record of such railwar 
 lands made and kept by the executive council prior to the taking effect 
 of this act shall be deemed the record of the tax commission as from time 
 to time reported by the railway companies. 
 
 Sec. 65. (S. 1337-a) Every railway company owning or operating a 
 line of railroad in this state shall, on or before the first day of August, 
 1914, place on file in the office of the county auditor of each county in the 
 state, in which any- part of the lines of said company lies, a plat of the 
 lines of said companies within said county, showing the length of their 
 said lines and the area of the land owned or occupied by said companies 
 in each government subdivision of land not included within the platted 
 portion of any town or city, within each of said counties, and the length 
 of the said lines within the platted portion of cities and towns. Com- 
 panies having on file such plats of part or all of their lands, in any of 
 said counties, shall be required to file plats only of that part of their lines 
 not fully shown as above required on the plats now on file. On the first 
 day of January of each year, hereafter, like plats shall be filed of all new 
 lines or extensions of existing lines, built or completed within the cal- 
 endar year preceding. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 107 
 
 Sec. 66. (S. 1337-b) In the event of the failure or refusal of any 
 railroad company to file the plats under the provisions of the preceding 
 section, at the time or in accordance to the conditions named, then the 
 county auditor may cause the same to be prepared by a competent en- 
 gineer, and the cost thereof shall, in the first place, be audited and paid 
 tj the board of supervisors out of the county fund, and the amount 
 thereof shall be by said board levied as a special tax against said com- 
 pany and the property of said company, which shall be collected as county 
 taxes and when collected be paid into the county fund. 
 
 Sec. 67. (S. 1334) (S. 1340) On the second Monday of July of each 
 year, the tax commission shall assess all the property of each corpora- 
 tion, company or person owning or operating a railroad in the state, 
 except the lands, lots and other real estate belonging thereto not used 
 in the operation of any railway, and excepting railway bridges across 
 the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and excepting grain elevators; and 
 for the purpose of making such assessment, its president, vice president, 
 general manager, general superintendent, receiver, or such other oflScer 
 as the tax commission may designate, shall, on or before the first day of 
 April in each year, furnish It a verified statement showing In detail for 
 "the year ending December thirty-first next preceding: 
 
 1. The total number of miles of railway owned, operated or leased by 
 «uch corporation, company or person within and without the state; 
 
 2. The total number of miles of railway owned, operated or leased 
 within the state. Including double tracks and side tracks, the mileage of 
 the main line and branch lines to be stated separately, and showing 
 the number of miles of track in each county; 
 
 3. A full and complete statement of the cost and actual present value 
 of all buildings of every description owned by said railway company 
 within the state not otherwise assessed; 
 
 4. The total number of ties per mile used on all its tracks within the 
 state; 
 
 5. The weight of rails per yard in main line, double tracks and side 
 tracks ; 
 
 6. The number of miles of telegraph and telephone lines owned and 
 used within the state; 
 
 7. The total number of engines and passenger, chair, dining, official, 
 express, mall, baggage, freight and other cars. Including hand cars and 
 boarding cars used in constructing and repairing such railway, in use on 
 its whole line, and the sleeping cars owned by it, and the number of each 
 class on its line within the state, each class to be valued separately; 
 
 8. Ahy and all other property owned by said railway within the state, 
 classified and scheduled in such manner as may be required by such tax 
 commission; 
 
 9. The gross earnings of the entire road, and the gross earnings in this 
 state; 
 
 10. The operating expenses of the entire road, and the operating ex- 
 penses within this state; 
 
108 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 11. The net earnings of the entire road, and the net earnings within 
 this state. 
 
 Such statement shall also shew: 
 
 1. The number of sleeping and dining cars not owned by such cor- 
 poration, but used by it in operating Its railway in this state during eacb 
 month of the year for which the return is made. 
 
 2. The value of each car so used and also the number of miles each 
 month said cars have been operated or run on such railway within the 
 state. 
 
 3. The total number of miles said cars have been run or operated each 
 month within and without the state. 
 
 4. The average daily sleeping car and dining car service or wheelage- 
 operated on each part or division of the line or system within the state, 
 designating the points on the line where variations occur, with the mileage- 
 of that part having the same daily service or wheelage. 
 
 Sec. 68. (1335) There shall not be included in said operating expenses^ 
 any payments for interest or discount, or construction of new tracks ex- 
 cept needed sidings, for raising or lowering tracks above or below cross- 
 ings at grade in cities or towns, for new equipmept except replacements, 
 for reducing any bonded or permanent debt, nor for any other item of 
 operating expenses not fairly and reasonably chargeable as such In ralK 
 way accounts. The tax commission may demand, in writing, detailed, ex- 
 planatory and amended statements of any of the items deemed by it 
 important to be furnished it by such railway corporation within thirty 
 days from such demand, in such form as it may designate, which shall be 
 verified as required for the original statement. The returns, both original 
 and amended, shall show such other facts as the tax commission in writ- 
 ing shall require. 
 
 Sec. 69. (S. 1340-a) For the purpose of making reports to the tax com- 
 mission, the gross earning of railway companies, owning or operating a 
 line or lines of railway partly within this state, and partly within 
 another state, or other states or territory, or territories, upon heir line 
 or lines within this state, shall be ascertained and reported by said rail- 
 way companies as follows: to-wit: The aggregate of the earnings upon 
 business originating and terminating within this state, upon business orig- 
 inating in this, state and terminating elsewhere, upon business originating 
 elsewhere and terminating in this state; and upon business neither orig- 
 inating or terminating in this state but carried on or done over the line 
 or lines in this state or over some part thereof, shall be reported; and 
 with respect to all such interstate business the earnings in this state for 
 the purpose of report shall be actually computed upon the basis of the 
 length of haul or carriage in this state as compared with the length of 
 haul or carriage elsewhere. It being hereby declared that for the purpose 
 of making reports looking -to the assessment of railway property for taxa- 
 tion, the gross earnings or business done or carried partly within this state 
 and partly in another state, or other states, or territories, shall be that pro- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 109 
 
 portion of the entire earnings of such business that the haul or carriage 
 in this state bears to the entire haul or carriage. 
 
 Sec. 70. (S. 1340-b) The tax commission shall have the power to 
 prescribe such rules and regulations with respect to the keeping of ac- 
 counts by the railway companies doing business in this state, as will 
 insure the accurate division of earnings as aforesaid, and uniformity in 
 reporting the same to the tax commission. 
 
 Sec. 71. (S. 1340-c) The tax commission shall have the power to 
 prescribe a method for all railway companies doing business in this state, 
 together with the rules and regulations for the ascertainment of the net 
 earnings of the railway lines in this state, to the end that all such rail- 
 way companies in ascertaining and making report of net earnings shall 
 proceed upon the same basis and in a uniform manner. 
 
 Sec. 72. (S. 1340-d) The reports authorized and provided for in the 
 two preceding sections shall be made at the same time and as a part of 
 the report required by section sixty seven (67) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 73. (S. 1340-e) The rules, regulations, method and requirements 
 herein provided to be made by the tax commission, shall be made and 
 communicated in writirlg or print to the said several railway companies,, 
 and shall become binding upon said railway companies from the time 
 they are so communicated; provided, however, that the tax commission 
 shall have the power to prescribe supplemental or additional rules, regula- 
 tions and requirements at any time, and communicate them to the several 
 railway companies in the manner aforesaid, and with respect to such ad- 
 ditional or supplemental rules, regulations and requirements, they shall be 
 and become binding upon said railway companies within thirty days after 
 they are so communicated. 
 
 Sec. 74. (S. 1340-f ) If any railway company shall fail or refuse to obey 
 or conform to the rules, regulations, method and requirements so made or 
 prescribed by the tax commission under the provisions of this act, or to 
 make the reports as herein provided for, the tax commission shall proceed 
 and assess the property of such railway company so failing or refusing 
 according to the best information obtainable, and shall then add to the 
 taxable valuation of such railway company twenty five per centum thereof, 
 as penalty, and together shall constitute the assessment for that year. 
 
 Sec. 75. (1341) The tax commission shall, at the time of the assess- 
 ment of other railway property for taxation, assess for taxation the average 
 number of sleeping and dining cars now owned but used by such corpora- 
 tion each month, and the assessed value of said cars shall bear the same 
 proportion to the entire value thereof that the monthly average number 
 of miles such cars have been run or operated within the state shall 
 bear to the monthly average number of miles such cars have been used 
 or operated within and without the state. Such valuation shall be added 
 to the assessed valuation of the property of the railways so using such 
 cars. 
 
HP TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Sec. 76. (1336) All railway property subject to taxation under the 
 preceding sections shall be valued at its actual value, and the asessments 
 shall be made upon the actual value of the entire railway within the state, 
 except as otherwise provided, and shall include the right of way, road 
 bed, bridges, culverts, rolling stock, depots, station grounds, shops, build- 
 ings, gravel beds, and all other property, real and personal, exclusively 
 used in the operation of such railway. In assessing saiij railway and its 
 equipments, said commission shall take into consi4eration the gross earn- 
 ings per mile for the year ending January first preceding, and any and all 
 other matters necessary to enable said commission to make a just and 
 equitable assessment of said railway property. • If a part of any railway 
 Is without this state, then in estimating the value of its rolling stock and 
 movable property, it shall take into consideration the proportion which 
 tie business of that part of the railway lying within this state bears to 
 the business of the railway without this state. 
 
 Sec. 77. (1342) Lands, lots and other real estate belonging to any 
 
 railway company, not used exclusively in the operation of the same, and 
 
 all railway bridges across the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and grain 
 
 elevators, shall be subject to assessment and taxation on the same basis 
 
 as property of individuals in the different counties where the same is 
 
 situated. 
 
 « 
 
 Sec. 78. (S. 1337) On or before the first Monday in August, the tax 
 commission shall transmit to the county auditor of each county, through 
 and into which any railway may extend, a statement showing the length 
 of the main track within the county, and the assessed value per mile of 
 the same, as fixed by a ratable distribution per mile of the assessed valua- 
 tion of the whole property. 
 
 Sec. 79. (1338) At the first meeting of the board of supervisors held 
 after said statement is received by the county auditor, it shall cause the 
 same to be entered on its minute book, and make and enter therein an 
 order stating the length of the main track and the assessed value of each 
 railway lying in each city, town, township or lesser taxing district in its 
 county, through or into which said railway extends, as fixed by the tax 
 commission, which shall constitute the taxable value of said property for 
 taxing • purposes, and the taxes on said property, when collected by the 
 county treasurer, shall be disposed of as other taxes. The county auditor 
 shall transmit a copy of said order to the county assessor and to the 
 council or trustees of the city, town or township. 
 
 Sec. 80. (1339) All such railway property shall be taxable upon said 
 assessment at the same rates, by the same officers and for the same pur- 
 pose as the property of individuals within such counties, cities, towns, 
 townships and lesser taxing districts. 
 
 Sec. 81. (S. 134p-a) (S. 1346-i) Every person, co-partnership, asso- 
 ciation, corporation or syndicate engaged in conveying to, from, through, 
 in or across this state, or any part thereof, money, packages, gold, silver, 
 plate, merchandise, or any other article, by express, under a contract, 
 express or implied, with any railroad company, or the managers, lessees. 
 
TAX COMMISSION BBPORT 111 
 
 agents or receivers thereof, provided such company is not a railroad 
 company, a freight line company nor an equipment company, shall be 
 deemed and held to be an express company within the meaning of this 
 act, and every such express company shall, on or before the first Mon- 
 day in May, 1914, and annually thereafter, between the first day of Feb- 
 ruary and the first day of March, make out and deliver to the tax com- 
 mission a statement verified by the oath of an officer or agent of said com- 
 pany making such statement, with reference to the first day of January 
 preceding, showing: 
 
 First. The name of the company, and whether a corporation, partner- 
 ship or person, and under the laws of what state or county organized. 
 
 Second. The principal place of business, and the location of its princi- 
 pal office, and the name and postoffice address of its president, secretary 
 and superintendent or general manager, and the name and postoffice 
 address of its principal officers or managing agent in Iowa. 
 
 Third. The total capital stock of said company; (a) authorized; (b) 
 issued. 
 
 Fourth. The number of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding, 
 and the par face value of each share, and in case shares of stock are 
 issued, in what manner the capital stock thereof is divided, and in what 
 manner such holdings are evidenced. 
 
 Fifth. The market value of said shares of stock on the first day of 
 January next preceding, and if such shares have no market value, then 
 the actual value thereof; and in case no shares of stock have been issued, 
 state the market value, or the actual value in case there is no market 
 value of the capital thereof, and the manner in which the same is di- 
 vided. 
 
 Sixth. The real estate, buildings, machinery, fixtures, appliances, and 
 personal property owned by said company and subject to local taxation 
 within the state of Iowa, and the location and actual value thereof. In 
 the county, township or district where the same is assessed for local 
 taxation. 
 
 Seventh. The specific real estate, together with the improvements 
 thereon, and all bonds, mortgages and other personal property owned 
 by said company, situated outside of the state of Iowa, and used ex- 
 clusively outside the conduct of the business, with a specific description of 
 all bonds, mortgages and other personal property, and the cash value 
 thereof, the purposes for which the same are used, and where the same 
 are kept or deposited, and eash piece of real estate, where located, the 
 purpose for which the same is used, and the actual value thereof in the 
 locality where situated. 
 
 Eighth. All mortgages upon the whole or any part of its property, to- 
 gether with the dates and amounts thereof. 
 
112 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Ninth, (a) The total length of lines or routes over which the company 
 transports such merchandise, freight or express. 
 
 (b) The total length of such lines or routes as are outside 
 
 of the state of Iowa. 
 
 (c) The length of such lines or routes within each of the 
 
 counties, townships and assessment districts within the 
 state of Iowa. 
 
 Sec. 82. (S. 1346-b) Upon the filing of such statements, the tax com- 
 mission shall examine each of them, and if it shall deem the same insuf- 
 ficient, or in case it shall deem that other information is requisite, it 
 shall require such officer or agent to make such other and further state- 
 ments as the tax commission may call for. In the case of the failure 
 or refusal of any company to make out and deliver to the tax commission 
 any statement or statements required by this act, such company shall 
 forfeit and pay to the state of Iowa one hundred dollars for each day 
 such report is delayed beyond the first Monday in March of that year, 
 to be sued and recovered in any proper form of action in the name of 
 the state of Iowa, on the relation of the tax commission, and such penalty, 
 when collected, shall be paid into the general fund of the state. 
 
 Sec. 83. (S. 1346-c) The tax commission on the second Monday in 
 July in each year, shall proceed to value and assess the property of such 
 company, in the manner hereinafter set forth, after examining such state- 
 ments, and after ascertaining the actual value of the property of such 
 company therefrom, and from such other information as it may have or 
 obtain. For that purpose the tax commission may require such com- 
 pany, by its agents or officers, to appear before said tax commission with 
 such books, papers or statements as the tax commission may require, 
 or it may require additional statements to be made by such company and 
 may compel the attendance of witnesses, in case said tax commission shall 
 deem it necessary, to- enable it to ascertain the actual value of such prop- 
 erty; any such company interested may, upon written application, appear 
 before the tax commission and be heard in the matter of the valuation 
 of the property of such company for taxation. 
 
 Sec. 84. (S. 1346-d) The tax commission shall first ascertain the actual 
 value of the entire property owned by said company, from said state- 
 ments or otherwise, for that purpose taking the aggregate market value 
 of all shares of capital stock, in case said shares have a market value; 
 and in case they have none, taking the actual value thereof or of the 
 capital of said company, in whatever manner the same is divided, in 
 case no shares of capital stock have been issued; provided, however, 
 that in case the whole or any portion of the property of said company 
 shall be encumbered by a mortgage or mortgages, such tax commission 
 shall ascertain the actual value of such property by adding to the market 
 value or the aggregate shares of stock or to the value of the capital, in 
 case there shall be no such shares, the aggregate amount of the market 
 or cash value of such mortgage or mortgages, and the result shall be 
 deemed and treated as the actual value of the property of such com- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 113 
 
 pany. The tax commission shall, for the purpose of ascertaining the actual 
 value of the property within the state of Iowa, next ascertain from such 
 statements or otherwise the actual value of the property, both real and 
 personal, owned by the company, and which is used exclusively outside 
 the general business of the company, and also the actual value of that part 
 of its property, If any, without the state which cannot lawfully be consid- 
 ered in determining the mileage value of its routes; and the aggregate 
 of such values shall be deducted from the entire actual value of the prop- 
 erty as above ascertained. The tax commission shall next ascertain qpd 
 deduct the actual value of the sea or ocean routes of any such company 
 and in ascertaining the same may take into consideration the earnings, 
 both gross and net per mile, of such sea or ocean routes, as compared 
 with the earnings, gross and net, of the land routes of such company, 
 or may ascertain their value in any other practical manner, and may 
 require that the reports heretofore provided for shall show such earn- 
 ings. Thereupon the tax commission shall ascertain the actual value of 
 the property of such company within the state of Iowa, and for that 
 purpose may take into consideration the proportional value of the com- 
 pany's property without and within the state, and shall take as a basis 
 of valuation of the company's property in this state the proportion of 
 the whole aggregate value of the property of said company as above ascer- 
 tained, after making the deductions above provided for, which the length 
 of the routes within the state of Iowa bears to the whole length of the 
 routes of such company other than sea or ocean routes, and such amount 
 so ascertained shall be considered and taken to be the entire actual value 
 of the property of such company within the state of Iowa. Prom the 
 entire actual value of the property within the state so ascertained, there 
 shall be deducted by the said tax commission the actual value of all 
 the real estate, buildings, machinery, appliances and personal property 
 not used exclusively in the conduct of the business within the state that 
 are subject 4.0 local taxation within the counties, townships, and other 
 assessment districts, as hereinbefore described in the sixth item of section 
 eighty one (81) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 85. (S. 1346-e) The tax commission shall thereupon ascertain the 
 value per mile of the property within the state by dividing the total 
 value as above ascertained after deducting the specific properties locally 
 assessed within the state, by the number of miles within the state, and the 
 result shall be deemed and held to be the actual value per mile of the 
 property of such company within the state of Iowa. 
 
 Sec. 86. (S. 1346-f) The tax commission shall thereupon, for the 
 purpose of determining what amount shall be assessed by it to said com- 
 pany, in each county of the state, through, across, into or over which 
 the route of said company extends, multiply the value per mile, as above 
 ascertained, by the number of miles in each of said counties, as reported 
 in said statements or as otherwise ascertained, and the result thereof, 
 with the mileage and the rate of assessment per mile, shall, on or before 
 the first Monday in August, be by said tax commission certified to the 
 8 
 
114 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 county auditors respectively of the several counties through, into, over 
 and across which the routes of said company extend. 
 
 Sec. 87. (S. 1346-g) At the first meeting of the board of supervisors 
 held after such certificate is received by the county auditor, it shall 
 cause the same to be entered in its minute book and make and enter 
 therein an order stating the length of the routes and the assessed value 
 of each in each city, town, township, or other taxing district in its 
 coiinty, through or into which said routes extend, which shall consti- 
 tute the taxable value of said property for taxing purposes, and the 
 taxes on said property, when collected by the county treasurer, shall be 
 disposed of as other taxes. The county auditor shall immediately there- 
 after transmit a copy of said order to the county assessor and to the 
 councils of cities, or towns, and to the trustees of each township, in the 
 county. The county assessor shall add to the value so apportioned the 
 assessed value of the real estate, buildings, machinery, fixtures, ap- 
 pliances, and personal property not used exclusively in the conduct of 
 the business situated in any township or taxing district as returned by 
 the assessor thereof, and extend the taxes thereon upon the tax list as 
 in other cases. All such property shall be taxable upon said assessment 
 at the same rates, by the same officers and for the same purposes as the 
 property of individuals within such counties, townships or taxing- dis- 
 tricts. The property so included in said assessment and the shares of 
 stock in such companies so assessed shall not be taxed In this state, 
 except as provided in this act. 
 
 Sec. 88. (S. 1346-h) In case any such company shall fall or refuse 
 to pay any taxes assessed against it in any county, township or assess- 
 ment district in the state, in addition to other remedies provided by law 
 for the collection of taxes, an action may be prosecuted in the name of 
 the state of Iowa by the county attorneys of the different counties of the 
 state, on the relation of the treasurers of the different counties of the 
 state, and judgment in such action shall include a penalty of fifty per 
 cent of the amount of the taxes so assessed and unpaid, together with 
 r-easonable attorney's fees for the prosecution of such action, which 
 action may be prosecuted in any county into, through, over or across 
 which the routes of any such company shall extend, or in any county 
 where such company shall have an officer or agent for the transaction of 
 business. 
 
 Sec. 89. (S.1342-a) Every company engaged in the business of operat- 
 ing cars, not otherwise listed for taxation in Iowa, for the transpor- 
 tation of freight, whether such freight be owned by such company or 
 any other person or company, over any railway line or lines, in whole 
 or in part within this state, such line or lines, not being owned, leased 
 or operated by such company, whether such cars be termed box, flat, 
 coal, ore, tank, stock, gondola, furnitJre or refrigerator cars, or by 
 some other name, shall be deemed to be a freight line company. Every 
 eompany engaged in the business of furnishing or leasing cars of what- 
 soever kind of description, to be used in the operation of any railway 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 115 
 
 line or lines, wholly or partially within this state, such line or lines not 
 Jjeing owned, leased or operated by such company, and such cars not 
 being otherwise " listed for taxation in Iowa, shall be deemed to be an 
 equipment company. 
 
 Sec. 90. (S. 1342-b) Every freight line and every equipment company, 
 as designated in the preceding section, doing business or owning cars 
 which are operated in this state, shall annually, on or before the first 
 Monday in June in each year, commencing with the year 1914, make 
 out and deliver to the tax commission a statement, verified by oath of 
 an officer or agent of such company making such statement, with refer- 
 ence to the first day of January, next preceding, showing: 
 
 First. The name of the company; 
 
 Second. The nature of the company, whether a person or persons, an 
 association, co-partnership, corporation or syndicate, and under the laws 
 of what state or county organized. 
 
 Third. The location of its principal office or place of business. 
 
 Fourth. The name and postoffice address of the president, secretary, 
 auditor, treasurer and superintendent or general manager. 
 
 Fifth. The name and postoffice address of the chief officer or managing 
 agent or the company in Iowa. 
 
 Sixth. The aggregate number of miles traveled within the state of 
 Iowa by its cars during the preceding calendar year. 
 
 Seventh. The average number of miles traveled by the cars of each 
 class of its cars during the preceding calendar year. The number of cars 
 necessary for the mileage traveled within the state of Iowa, under the 
 circumstances that ordinarily attend the use of such cars and where 
 different classes of cars are used by said company, as to the matters 
 embraced in this and the ■ preceding paragraph, it shall furnish the re- 
 quired information as to each class of said cars, in the form prescribed 
 by blanks to be furnished by the tax commission. 
 
 Eighth. The actual cash value on the first day of January next pre- 
 ceding of the said number of cars necessary to provide for the mileage, 
 to be reported as required by paragraph six of this section. 
 
 Ninth. The real estate, personal property, structure, machinery, fixtures 
 and appliances,owned by said company, subject to local taxation within 
 the state, and the location and the actual value thereof in the county, 
 township or district where the same is assessed for local taxation. 
 
 Sec. 91. (S. 1342-c) Upon the filing of such statements, the tax com- 
 mission shall examine each of them, and if it shall deem the same insuf- 
 ficient, or if they fail to fully set out the matters required to be re- 
 ported, it shall require such officer or agent to make such other and fur- 
 ther statements as to such matters as it may deem proper. In case of the 
 failure or refusal of any company to make and deliver to the tax com- 
 mission any statement or statements required by this act, such com- 
 pany shall forfeit any pay to the state of Iowa, one hundred dollars for 
 each day such report is delayed beyond the first Monday in June, to be 
 
116 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 sued and recovered In any proper form of action In the name of the 
 state of Iowa, and such penalty when collected shall be paid into the 
 general fund of the state. 
 
 Sec. 92. (S. 1342-d) The tax commission, on the second Monday of 
 July in each year, shall proceed to value and assess, as the property of 
 said company within this state, the cars of the said company necessary 
 under the circumstances ordinarily attending the use of such cars, for 
 the mileage to be reported under paragraphs six and seven of section 
 ninety (90) of this act, after examining such statements and after ascer- 
 taining the actual value of said property of such company therefrom, 
 and from such other information as it may have or obtain. For that 
 purpose the tax commission may require such' company by Its agents or 
 o£3cers to appear before said tax commission with such books, papers or 
 additional statements as the tax commission may require, and may compel 
 the attendance of witnesses in case said tax commission shall deem it 
 necessary to enable it to ascertain the actual value of such property. From 
 the entire actual value of the property within the state so ascertained, 
 there shall be deducted by the said tax commission the actual value of 
 all cars locally assessed, and the residue of such actual value so ascer- 
 tained shall be by the tax commission assessed to said company. 
 
 Sec. 93. (S. 1342-e) The tax commission shall also determine the rate 
 of tax to be levied and collected upon said assessments, which shall be 
 equal, as nearly as may be, to the average rate of taxes, state, county, 
 municipal and local, levied throughout the state during the previous year, 
 which rate shall be ascertained from the records and files in the tax com- 
 mission's office, and said tax shall be in full of all taxes, except on real 
 estate, personal property locally assessed and special assessments, and 
 shall become due and payable at the state treasury on the first day of 
 February following the levy thereof, and if not so paid, the state treas- 
 urer shall collect the same by distress and sale of any property belong- 
 ing to such company in the state in the same manner as is required of 
 county treasurers in like cases, and the order of the tax commission in 
 such cases shall be sufficient authority therefor. 
 
 Sec. 94. (S. 1342-f) The word "company", as used In the five pre- 
 ceding sections shall be deemed and construed to mean any person, co- 
 partnership, association, corporation or syndicate that may own or 
 operate, or be engaged in operating, furnishing or leasing cars, as defined 
 and described in sectin eighty nine (89) of this act, whether formed or or- 
 ganized under the laws of this state or any other state or territory or 
 any foreign country. 
 
 Sec. 95. (S. 1342-g) The individual stockholders or owners of interests 
 of said companies shall not be required to list their shares or interests in 
 such companies so long as the companies pay the taxes on their prop- 
 erty as herein provided. 
 
 Sec. 96. (S. 1333) Every insurance company or association organized 
 or Incorporated under the laws of any state or nation other than the 
 
TAX COMMISSION EEPORT 117 
 
 United States, and every other insurance company whose charter may be 
 owned, or a majority of whose stock may be controlled, or whose busi- 
 ness shall be carried on In the interest or for the benefit of any insurance 
 company or association incorporated under the laws of any state or 
 nation other than the United States, shall at the time of making the 
 annual statements as required by law, pay into the state treasury, as 
 taxes, two and one-half per cent of the gross amount of premiums re- 
 ceived by it or its agents in cash, promissory obligation or other form 
 of settlement, for business done in this state, including all Insurance 
 upon property situated in this state, and v«)on the lives of persons resi- 
 dent in this state during the preceding year. Every Insurance company 
 incorporated under the laws of any state of the United States other than 
 the state of Iowa, not including associations operating under the provi- 
 sions of chapter seven (7), title nine (IX), of the code, or fraternal 
 beneficiary associations doing business in the United States, shall, at the 
 time of making the annual statements as required by law, pay into the 
 state treasury, as taxes, two and one-half per cent of the gross amount of 
 premiums received by it for business done in this state, including all 
 insurance upon property situated in this state, and upon the lives of 
 persons resident in this state during the preceding year. At the time 
 of paying said taxes, said companies and associations shall take dupli- 
 cate receipts therefor, one of which shall be filed with the auditor of 
 state, and upon filing of said receipt, and not until then, the auditor shall 
 issue the annual certificate as provided by law. No deduction or exemp- 
 tion from the taxes herein provided shall be allowed for or on account of 
 any indebtedness owing by any such insurance company or association. 
 Provided, however, that companies doing a fire insurance business may 
 deduct from the gross amount of premiums received, the amount of 
 premiums returned upon cancelled policies issued upon property situated 
 in this state. 
 
 Sec. 97. (S. 1333-a) The shares of stock of every insurance corpora- 
 tion or association having capital stock, organized under the laws of this 
 state, shall be assessed for taxation in the manner provided for the assess- 
 ment of the shares of corporate stock in sections forty-seven (47), forty- 
 eight (48) and forty-nine (49) of this act, and said shares of stock shall 
 not be otherwise assessed. In addition to the statement required in sec- 
 tion forty-seven (47) of this act, the corporation shall furnish to the 
 local assessor a copy of its annual report made to the auditor of state. 
 
 Sec. 98. (S. 1333-b) Every insurance corporation or association or- 
 ganized under the laws of this state, not including corporations with 
 capital stock, county mutuals and fraternal beneficiary associations, which 
 county mutuals and fraternal beneficiary associations are not organized 
 for pecuniary profit, shall, on or before the 26th day of January in each 
 year, for the purpose of assessment of its property, furnish to the as- 
 sessor of the assessment district in which its principal place of business 
 is located, a statement verified by its president, showing specifically with 
 reference to the year next preceding the first day of January then last 
 past: 
 
118 T4X COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 1. A duplicate of the statement required by Jaw to be made to the 
 auditor of state for the said year last past. 
 
 2. A detailed statement of all its property and assets of every kind 
 and nature whatsoever, and the value of each item thereof, including 
 surplus, guaranty and reserve fund and the amount of each. It shall be 
 the duty of the assessor, upon receipt of said statements and from other 
 information acquired by him, to assess against every corporation or asso- 
 ciation, referred to in this section, the value of all personal property 
 owned by such corporation or association, together with the actual value 
 of each parcel of real estate sitiuated in the assessment district of such 
 assessor, and all the said property shall be assessed at the same rate 
 and for the same purposes as the property of private individuals as 
 provided in section one hundred and three (103) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 99. (S. 1333-c) In assessing for taxation the moneys and credits 
 of every insurance corporation, company or association organized under 
 the laws of this state, except county mutuals and fraternal beneficiary 
 associations, which county mutuals and fraternal beneficiary associations 
 are not organized for pecuniary profit, the assessor shall ascertain the 
 debts or liabilities, if any, of such corporation, company or association, 
 to its shareholders or other persons, which debts and liabilities shall be 
 deducted as provided in section thirty-nine (39) of this act, but in ascer- 
 taining the indebtedness or liability of such corporation, company or 
 association, a debt shall be deemed to exist on account of its liability 
 on the policies, certificates or other contracts of insurance issued by it 
 equal to the amount of the surplus or other funds accumulated by any 
 such corporation or association, pursuant to the law, its contracts of 
 insurance or its articles of incorporation for the purpose of fulfilling its 
 policies, certificates or other contracts of insurance, and which can be 
 used for no other purpose. 
 
 Sec. 100. (S. 1333-d) Every insurance corporation or association of 
 whatever kind or character, organized under the laws of the state ol 
 Iowa, not including county mutuals or fraternal beneficiary associations, 
 which county mutuals and fraternal beneficiary associations are not or- 
 ganized for pecuniary profit, shall, on or before the first day of March of 
 each year, pay to the treasurer of state a sum equivalent to one per centum 
 of the gross receipts from premiums, assessments, fees and promissory 
 obligations required by insurance contracts which are received during the 
 next year preceding the first day of January last past, after deducting 
 the amounts actually paid for losses, matured endowments, dividends to 
 policyholders and the increase in the amount of the reserve as certified 
 by the department actuary in his official statement to the auditor of state 
 on the thirty-first day of December previous, based on the actuaries' table 
 of mortality and four per cent, and the amounts returned to members 
 upon concelled policies, certificates and rejected applications, during said 
 year, and not until such payment shall the auditor of state Issue the 
 annual certificate, as provided by law. Provided that fire insurance com- 
 panies organized under the provisions of chapter four (4) of title nine 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 119 
 
 (IX) of the code shall only be required to pay to the treasurer of state 
 a sum equivalent to one per centum upon the gross receipts from prem- 
 iums, assessments, fees and promissory obligations for business done 
 within this state, including all insurance upon property situated in the 
 state, after deducting the amount actually paid for losses on property 
 located within the state and the amount returned upon cancelled policies 
 and rejected applications covering property situated within this state. 
 
 Sec. 101. (1337) All real estate owned by corporations, returned in 
 their statements as part of their assets for purposes of taxation, shall 
 be valued therein for such assessment as other real estate, except as 
 otherwise provided, and shall not be otherwise assessed. 
 
 Sec. 102. (1350) Property shall be taxed each year. Personal prop- 
 erty shall be listed and assessed each year in the name of the owner 
 thereof on the first day of January. Real estate shall be listed and 
 valued in the year 1914, and each even numbered year thereafter, and 
 in each year In which real estate Is not regularly assessed the assessor 
 shall list and assess any real property not included in the previous 
 assessment, and also any buildings erected since the previous assessment, 
 with a minute of the tract or lot of land whereon the same are situated, 
 and the county assessor shall thereupon enter the taxable value of such 
 buildings on the tax list as a part of the real estate to be taxed, but if 
 such buildings are owned by another than the owner of the real estate, 
 they ghall be listed and assessed to the owner as personal property. 
 
 Sec. 103. (S. 1305) All property subject to taxation, except as other- 
 wise provided, shall be valued at its actual value, which shall be entered 
 opposite each item, and the assessment shall be made on such valuation. 
 In the assessment of real estate upon which there are buildings or other 
 structural improvements, the valuation shall be stated in two items; 
 one representing the ground and the other the improvements. Actual 
 value of property as used in this act shall mean its value in the market 
 in the ordinary course of trade. 
 
 Sec. 104. (1313) Except as otherwise provided, all real estate 'shall 
 be listed and assessed where situated, and personal property shall be 
 listed and assessed where the owner resides, except that If personal 
 property not consisting of moneys and credits, corporation or other shares 
 of stock or bonds has been kept in another assessment district during 
 the greater part of the year preceding the first day of January, or of 
 the portion of that period during which it was owned by the person 
 subject to taxation therefor, it shall be taxed where it has been so kept. 
 
 Sec. 105. (1312) Every Inhabitant of this state, of full age and sound 
 mind, shall list for the assessor all property subject to taxation In the 
 state, of which he is the owner or has the control or management, in 
 the manner herein directed: The property of one under disability, by 
 the person having charge thereof; that of a married woman, by herself or 
 husband that of a beneficiary for whom the property is held in trust, by the 
 trustee, and the personal property of a decedent by the executor or 
 administrator, or if there Is none, by any person interested therein; 
 
120 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 that of a body corporate, company, society or partnership, by its prin- 
 cipal accountaEt, officer, agent or partner, as the assessor may demand. 
 Property under mortgage or lease is to be listed by and taxed to the 
 mortgagor or lessor, unless listed by the mortgagee or lessee. In listing 
 moneys and credits as herein provided, any administrator, executor, 
 trustee or agent shall be entitled to deductions, as prescribed in section 
 thirty-nine (39) of this act, of debts owing by the legatee, devisee, bene- 
 ficiary or principal to the same extent as such fund might be reduced 
 if it were held by such legatee, devisee, beneficiary or principal who may 
 be entitled to the income on such trust or fiduciary fund. 
 
 Sec. 106. (1314) Commission merchants, and all persons trading and 
 dealing on commission, and assignees authorized to sell, and persons 
 having in their possession property belonging to another subject to taxa- 
 tion in the assessment district where said property is found, when the 
 owner of the goods does not reside in the county, are, for the purpose 
 of taxation, to be deemed the owners of the property in their possession. 
 
 Sec. 107. (1316) Any person required to list property belonging to 
 another shall list it in the same county in which he would be required 
 to list it. if it were his own, except as herein otherwise directed; but 
 he shall list it separately from his own, giving the assessor the name of 
 the person or estate to which it belongs. 
 
 Sec. 108. (1317) When a person, firm or corporation is doing busi- 
 ness in more than one assessment district, the property and credits exist- 
 ing in any one of such districts, or arising from business done in such 
 district, shall be listed and taxed in that district, and the credits not 
 existing in or pertaining especially to the business in any district shall 
 be listed and taxed in that district where the principal place of business 
 may be. The personalty, moneys and credits connected with or growing 
 out of all business transacted directly or indirectly by or through the 
 servants, employes or agents of any person, firm or corporation engaged 
 in the banking business, having an office or agency in more than one 
 assessment district for the transaction of business, shall be taxable as 
 provided in this act for the taxing of private banks and bankers, in the 
 assessment district where said branch business is done. An assessment 
 made in such district shall be considered and proper deduction made in 
 determining the taxable property of such person or firm, or shares of 
 stock of such corporation, at its principal place of business. The stipula- 
 tion for the payment of obligations growing out of the business of such 
 agency, in another district than the place where such agency is located, 
 shall not determine where the property or credits of such parties shall 
 be taxed. Any individual of a partnership is liable for the taxes due from 
 the firm. 
 
 Sec. 109. (1320) Any person acting as the agent of another, and 
 having in his possession or under his control or management, any money, 
 notes and credits, or personal property belonging to such other person, 
 with a view to investing or loaning or in any other manner using or 
 holding the same for pecuniary profit, for himself or the owner, shall be 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 121 
 
 required to list the same at the real value, and such agent shall be per- 
 sonally liable for the tax on the same; and If he refuse to render the 
 list or to swear to the same, the amount of such money, property, notes 
 or credits may be listed and valued according to the best knowledge and 
 judgment of the assessor. 
 
 Sec. 110. (1308) All lands in this state which are owned or held 
 by any other county or counties claiming title under locations with 
 swamp land indemnity scrip, or otherwise, shall be taxed the same as 
 other real' estate within the limits of the county where situated. 
 
 Sec. 111. (1353) When the name of the owner of any real estate Is 
 unknown, it shall be assessed without connecting therewith any name, 
 but inscribing opposite the description of the tract the words "owner 
 unknown," and such property, whether lands or town lots, shall be listed 
 as nearly as practicable in the order of the numbers thereof. No one 
 description shall comprise more than one town lot, or more than the 
 sixteenth part of a section or other smallest subdivision of the land 
 according to the government surveys, except in cases where the boun- 
 daries are so 'irregular that it cannot be described in the usual manner 
 in accordance therewith. The real estate of persons deceased may be 
 listed as belonging to his estate or his heirs without enumerating them. 
 
 Sec. 112. (1364) The county assessor shall furnish each local asses- 
 sor a plat book, or other data, in which shall be platted, or described, 
 the lands and lots in his assessment district, showing on each subdivision 
 or part thereof, written in ink or pencil, the name of the owner, the 
 number of acres, or the boundary lines and distances in each, and show- 
 ing as to each tract the number of acres after deducting railroad right 
 of ways, roads, cemeteries, school property, or any property otherwise 
 assessed or exempt. 
 
 Sec. 113. (1352) Each local assessor shall enter upon the discharge 
 of the duties of his office immediately after the second Monday in Janu- 
 ary in each year, and shall, with the assistance of each person assessed, or 
 who may be required by law to list property belonging to another, enter 
 upon the assessment rolls furnished him for that purpose the several 
 items of property required to be entered for assessment. He shall per- 
 sonally affix values to all property assessed by him. 
 
 Sec 114. (1354) The local assessor shall list every person in his as- 
 sessment district, and assess all the property, personal and real, therein, 
 except such as is heretofore exempted or otherwise assessed, and any 
 person who shall refuse to assist in making out a list of his property, 
 or of any property which he is by law required to assist in listing, or 
 who shall refuse to make the oaths or affirmations required by section 
 one hundred and fifteen (115) of this act, shall be guilty of a misde- 
 meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in a sum not to ex- 
 ceed five hundred dollars. 
 
 Sec. 115. (S. 1360) The county assessor shall procure and furnish to 
 each local assessor a supply of blank assessment rolls as furnished by 
 
122 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 the tax commission, on which to enter, separately, the names of all per- 
 sons, partnerships, corporations or associations assessed, which rolls 
 shall be made in duplicate, except that the oath form, in the original, 
 may be omitted and the following inserted in lieu thereof: "If you are 
 not satisfied that the foregoing assessment is correct, you may apply in 
 writing to the county assessor not later than the first Monday in April 
 next, for a review of such assessment." The oath in the original shall 
 be in the following form: 
 
 .} 
 
 STATE OF IOWA, 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 I, , do solemnly swear, or affirm, 
 
 that I am the person assessed above; that I have read the foregoing as- 
 sessment roll of property listed or assessed to me; and that the same is 
 a full, true and correct list of my taxable property, both real and personal 
 property, subject to taxation within this district, and all property which 
 should be listed on this assessment roll to me or by me. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn to (or affirmed) this day of 
 
 , A. D.. before me. 
 
 ASSESSOR. 
 
 Sec. 116. (1355) The local assessor shall administer the oath or affir- 
 mation printed on the assessment roll to each person assessed, and re- 
 quire the person taking such oath to subscribe the same; and in case 
 anyone refuses so to do, he shall note the fact in the column of remarks 
 opposite each person's name. 
 
 Sec. 117. (1358) Any person making any verified statement or return, 
 or taking any oath required by this act, who knowingly makes a false 
 statement therein, shall be guilty of perjury. 
 
 Sec. 118. (1357) If any corporation or person refuse to furnish the 
 verified statements in this act required, or to list his property or to take 
 or subscribe the oath in this act required, the tax commission, or asses- 
 sor, as the case may be, shall proceed to list and assess such property 
 according to the best information obtainable, and shall add to the taxable 
 valuation one hundred per cent thereof, which valuation and penalty 
 shall be separately shown, and shall constitute the assessment, and if 
 the valuation of such property shall be changed by any officer or board of 
 review or on appeal therefrom, a like penalty shall be added to the 
 valuation thus fixed. 
 
 Sec. 119 (1365) The assessment shall be completed by the first day 
 of April, and the local assessor shall attach to the assessment rolls his 
 oath in the following form: 
 
 I, (A B .) local assessor 
 
 of township (town or city), county of 
 
 and state of Iowa, do solemnly swear (or 
 
 affirm) ^hat the actual values of all property, money and credits, of 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 123 
 
 which a statement has beea made and verified by the oath of the person 
 required to list the same, is herein truly set forth in such statement; 
 that in every case where I have been required to ascertain the amount or 
 value of any property, I have diligently, and by the best means in my 
 power, endeavored to ascertain the true amount and value, and as I verily 
 believe the actual values thereof are set forth in the annexed return. In 
 no case have I knowingly omitted to demand of any person of whom I 
 was required to do so, a statement of the items of his property which he 
 was required by law to list, nor to administer the oath to him unless he 
 refused to take it, nor in any way connived at any violation or evasion of 
 any of the requirements of the law In relation to the assessment of prop- 
 erty for taxation. 
 
 Subscribed and sworn (or affirmed) to this day of 
 
 , A. D before me. 
 
 Sec. 120. (33rd G. A., CH. 87) The local assessor shall, on or before 
 the first Monday in April, return to the county assessor all assessment 
 rolls, together with all plat books, blanks, instructions and other papers 
 which have been furnished to him in connection with the assessment. 
 
 Sec. 121. The county assessor shall review the assessments made by 
 the local assessors in the several assessing districts of his county, as 
 shown by the assessment rolls returned to him, and shall equalize the 
 same in such manner that all items, classes and kinds of property shall 
 be listed and assessed at their true and actual amounts and values. For 
 the purpose of equalizing the valuation of the property as herein pro- 
 vided, the couity assessor is authorized and required to raise or lower 
 the assessment of any item, class or kind of property by him found to be 
 incorrectly valued or assessed. He may also make such clerical or other 
 corrections in the assessment rolls as may be found necessary to a just 
 and equitable equalization of all property assessed. 
 
 Sec. 122. In case the value of any specific property or the entire as- 
 sessment of any person, corporation, partnership or association is raised, 
 or new property is added by the county assessor, he shall give immediate 
 notice thereof by mail to each owner at the postoffice address shown on 
 the assesment rolls, or otherwise ascertained, which notice shall state the 
 owner's name, the description of the property, the increase in the amount 
 of the assessment, including the valuation of omitted property, if any, 
 and shall inform such owner of his right to appear before him and show 
 cause why his assessment should not be so made or increased, fixing 
 the date and place for such hearing not sooner than ten days from the 
 date of such notice; he shall also enter upon a record kept for that pur- 
 pose a statement that such notice has been given and the date thereof, 
 which entry shall be conclusive evidence of the giving of the notice re- 
 quired. 
 
 Sec. 123. Any owner who is dissatisfied with the assessment of his 
 property or any part thereof, as made by the local assessor or as the sariie 
 has been assessed or changed by the county assessor, may make complaint 
 
124 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 and apply to him in writing for a review of such assessment. Any of- 
 ficer of the county or of any city, town, township or school district therein, 
 or any interested taxpayer, may likewise make complaint in respect to 
 the assessment of any property in such city, town, township or school 
 district. 
 
 If such application concerns the assessment made by a local assessor, 
 it shall be presented to the county assessor on or before April first, and 
 if made concerning the acts of the county assessor, it shall be presented 
 within ten days after the county assessor has given notice of his action in 
 the matter. 
 
 Sec. 124. The county assessor shall, prior to the third Monday in May, 
 hear and determine the complaint of any owner, his agent or attorney, 
 concerning the assessment or valuation of any property of such owner, 
 within his county, by a local assessor, or as changed or added by the. 
 county assessor, and after due consideration of such complaint to make 
 any change in such assessment or valuation that in his judgment the 
 owner is entitled to. If the county assessor declines to make the change 
 demanded by the owner, or any part thereof, he shall give to such owner, 
 upon request, a written statement, describing the complaint made, the 
 relief granted and the part thereof refused. He shall in like manner hear 
 and determine the complaint of any officer of a county, city, town, town- 
 ship or school district interested, or a taxpayer thereof, in respect to the 
 assessment of any property in the township, city, town or school district. 
 For the convenience of the public, the county assessor may, and shall 
 when the other duties of his office will permit, grant hearings on com- 
 plaints at suitable places other than the county seat, giving reasonable 
 notice by publication or otherwise of the time and place of such hearing. 
 
 Sec. 125. Any person or officer having made complaint to the county 
 assessor in respect to the assessment of his property or the assessment 
 of the property of others in any township, city or town within the county, 
 and who is dissatisfied with the action of the county assessor in respect 
 thereto, may appeal to the county board of review for a review of the 
 action of the county assessor. The application for review shall be filed 
 with the county auditor on or before the first Monday in June and shall 
 be written upon or attached to the statement made by the county asses- 
 sor as provided in section one hundred and twenty-four (124) of this act. 
 
 Sec. 126. The county auditor shall file all applications for review pre- 
 sented to him, and when the board of supervisors meets as a county board 
 of review he shall deliver all such applications to the chairman of such 
 board. 
 
 Sec. 127. (33rd G. A., Ch. 87) When the assessment rolls have been 
 corrected by the county assessor as in this act provided, he shall make 
 up books from the assessment rolls of each assessment district, to be 
 known as assessment books, in which shall be entered in some uniform 
 regular order the names of the persons assessed and the amount of their 
 assessment. He shall foot up each column of numbers and values on each 
 page and enter such footings in recapitulation sheets for each assess- 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 125 
 
 ment district. He shall make a duplicate of such books for each town- 
 ship having two or more road districts and deliver such duplicate to the 
 •clerk of such township. 
 
 Sec. 128. (1375) The board of supervisors shall constitute a county board 
 of review, and shall, at its regular June meeting, hear and determine all 
 •complaints filed with the county auditor wherein interested persons or 
 officers claim to be aggrieved by the action of the county assessor in 
 respect to the assessment of any property in any assessment district 
 as shown by the complaints filed, and shall order such changes with 
 respect thereto in the assessment books as may be found necessary. It 
 shall also adjust the assessments of the several townships, cities and 
 towns of its county, and add to or deduct from the assessed value of the 
 property substantially as the tax commission adjusts assessments of the 
 several counties of the state. 
 
 Sec. 129. The county assessor shall meet with the board of supervisors 
 while sitting as a county board of review; and shall submit to said board 
 of review the completed assessor's books, together with the assessment 
 rolls returned by the local assessors. He shall also lay before such board 
 of review the tabulated lists of sales of real estate as prepared by him, 
 together with such other information he may possess, which will aid the 
 board of review in performing its duties in equalizing and adjusting the 
 assessments of the several townships, towns and cities, and determining 
 the rights of individuals where appeals have been taken to said board of 
 review. The county assessor shall make such changes in the assessor's 
 books as may be ordered by said board of review. 
 
 Sec. 130. When the county assessor has completed the assessment books 
 and has made the changes ordered by the board of supervisors, he shall 
 certify to the council of each city and town, and the trustees of each 
 township, within the county, the total assessed valuation of the respective 
 •city, town or township as shown in said assessment books. 
 
 Sec. 131. (S. 1373) An appeal may be taken from the action of the 
 county board of review to the district court of the county by the aggrieved 
 party, upon decision rendered by said board, with reference to matters 
 brought before it from the county assessor; such appeal shall be taken 
 within twenty days after the final adjournment of the meeting of the 
 board at which the action complained of was taken, and shall be taken 
 by a, written notice to that effect to the chairman of the board of super- 
 visors, and specifying the particular action or decision appealed from; 
 such notice shall be signed by the party appealing or his attorney and 
 served as an original notice. The court shall hear the appeal in equity 
 and determine anew all questions arising before the board in matters 
 covered by the appeal, and may increase, decrease or affirm the amount 
 of the assessment appealed from. The decision of the court shall be certi- 
 fied by its clerk to the county assessor, who shall correct the assessment 
 books in his office accordingly, or if the tax list at the time of receiving 
 such certificate has been delivered to the county treasurer, the county as- 
 sessor shall make the corrections on such tax list and certify the amount 
 
126 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 thereof te the county auditor who shall charge or credit the county treas- 
 urer, as the case may be, therefor, and report the same to the board of 
 supervisors. In like manner appeals may be taken and disposed of fromi 
 any action of the county board of review acting on its own initiative or 
 otherwise in equalizing and adjusting the assessments of the several town- 
 ships, cities and towns of their county. Any officer of a county, city, 
 town, township or school district interested, or any taxpayer thereof, may 
 take such appeal in the manner and within the time herein provided. 
 
 Sec. 132. (1377) Each county assessor shall, on or before the first 
 day of July, make and transriiit to the tax commission, and to the auditor 
 of state a duplicate thereof, an abstract of the real and personal property 
 in his county in which he shall set forth: 
 
 (a) The number of acres of land and the true cash value of the same, 
 exclusive of town lots, returned by the local assessors as corrected by 
 the county board of review. 
 
 (b) The true cash value of real estate, stating the value of the ground 
 and the structural improvements thereon separately, in such township, 
 town and city in the county returned by the assessors as corrected by the 
 county board of review. 
 
 (c) The number of each kind or class of personal property (except 
 moneys and credits) with the actual value of each kind or class assessed 
 as corrected by the county board of review, and such other facts as may 
 be required by the tax commission. 
 
 (d) The actual value of all moneys and credits returned by the local' 
 assessors as corrected by the county board of review. 
 
 Sec. 133. (S. 1378) (1379) The tax commission shall constitute the 
 state board of review and on the second Monday of July in each year 
 proceed to adjust the valuation of the property of the several counties, 
 adding to or deducting from the valuation of each kind or class of prop- 
 erty such percentage in each case as will bring the same to its true value 
 as fixed in this act, and make all valuations relatively equal throughout 
 the state. 
 
 Sec. 134. (S. 1380-c) In the year 1914, and each subsequent year, 
 the tax commission shall fix the rate per centum to be levied upon the 
 valuation of the taxable property of the state, necessary to raise such 
 amount for general state purposes, as shall be designated by the general 
 assembly, either by statute or joint resolution. 
 
 Sec. 135. (S. 1380-d) The tax commission shall certify the rate so 
 fixed to the county auditor of each county. It shall also certify the rate 
 to be levied for any millage or special tax levy which Is uniform through- 
 out the state. 
 
 Sec. 136. (1381) Whenever any municipal corporation, board or tribu- 
 nal is charged with the duty of levying a tax to pay any bonds or interest 
 thereon, and fails to make such levy, the holder thereof may after obtain- 
 ing final judgment thereon, in addition to any other remedies he may 
 have, file a transcript thereof with the auditor of state, taking his receipt 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT ;37 
 
 therefor, and the same shall be registered in his office, and the auditor of 
 state shall transmit to the tax commission a certificate of the amount of 
 such judgment and the tax commission shall levy upon the taxable prop- 
 erty of the county, city, town or school district for which such bonds 
 were issued, a sufficient rate of taxation to realize the amount of Interest, 
 or principal and Interest, due or to become due on the bonds so filed, prior 
 to the next levy, and the money arising from such levy shall be known as 
 the bond fund and collected as a part of the state tax, paid into the state 
 treasury and placed to the credit of such county, city, town or school dis- 
 trict for the payment of said bonds and interest, and shall be paid out as 
 the interest installments or the principal may mature, by warrants drawn 
 by the auditor of state in favor of the holder of such bonds, as shown by 
 the register in his office, until the same shall be paid, and when paid the 
 bonds and coupons shall be cancelled and returned to the treasurer of the 
 county, city, town or school district issuing the same, who shall receipt 
 therefor. 
 
 Sec. 137. (S. 1382) The tax commission shall keep a record of its 
 proceedings, and finish its review and adjustment on or before the first 
 Monday of August, and shall thereupon transmit to each county assessor 
 a statement of the percentage to be added to or deducted from the valua- 
 tion of each kind or class of property in his county. The county assessor 
 shall thereupon add to or deduct from the valuation of each kind or class 
 of property in his county the required percentage, rejecting all fractions 
 of fifty cents or less in the result, and counting all over fifty cents as 
 one dollar. 
 
 Sec. 138. After the first Monday in August and before the first Monday 
 in September, the county assessor shall certify to the board of supervisors 
 the total equalised valuation of all property within each taxing district 
 in the county. 
 
 Sec. 139. (S. 1303) The board of supervisors of each county shall, an- 
 nually, at its September session, levy the following taxes upon the assessed 
 value of the taxable property in the county: 
 
 1. For state revenue, such rate of tax as shall be fixed by the tax com- 
 mission as provided in this act. 
 
 2. For ordinary county revenue, not more than one and a half mills on 
 a dollar in counties having a population of less than twenty thousand, and 
 In counties having a population of twenty thousand or more, one mill, 
 with a poll tax in either case of one dollar on each male resident over 
 twenty-one years of age. But In any cquntyin which the levy Is limited to 
 one mill, the board of supervisors may, at any general election, submit the 
 question of increasing such levy to one and one-half mills or less, to a 
 vote of the electors, and If such proposition is adopted, the board of super- 
 visors may make the next general levy at the proposed rate. 
 
 Provided, however, that in any county, where by reason of extraordinary 
 or unusual litigation, the rates herein fixed for ordinary county revenue 
 are found to be insufficient to pay the same, the board of supervisors may 
 create an additional fund to be known as "court expense fund," and may 
 
128 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 levy for such fund such rate of taxes as shall be necessary to pay all 
 court expenses chargeable to the county. Such fund shall be used for no 
 other purpose, and the levy therefor shall be dispensed with when the 
 authorized levy for the ordinary county revenue is sufficient to meet the 
 necessary county expenditures including such court expenses. Provided, 
 further, that the levy for the purpose of providing an additional fund 
 shall not exceed three-fourths of a mill on a dollar. 
 
 3. For support of schools, not less than one-fourth nor more than 
 three-fourths of a mill on the dollar. 
 
 4. For mak-ing and repairing bridges, not more than one and one-fourth 
 mills on a dollar, but such tax shall not be levied upon any property as- 
 sessable within the limits of any city of the first class, and none of such 
 bridge tax shall be used in the construction or repair of bridges within 
 the limits of such city. 
 
 5. For the grading and building of roads, not more than one-half mill 
 on a dollar, to be known as the county road building fund, but such tax 
 shall not be levied upon any property assessable within the limits of any 
 city or incorporated town, and none of such road tax shall be used in the 
 grading or building of any roads within the limits of such cities or in- 
 corporated towns. 
 
 6. For such other general or special purposes as may be authorized by 
 law. 
 
 Sec. 140. (1306) Should ,the assessed valuation of the property of 
 the state, or any county, township, city, town, district or other political 
 or municipal corporation, for the year 1914 or subsequent years, ex- 
 ceed the average assessed valuation for the years 1912 and 1913, the 
 maximum rates of levy for the state, or for any county,- township, city, 
 town, district or other political or municipal corporation, for each of 
 the various purposes for which taxes are levied, shall, until otherwise 
 provided by law, be so reduced that the amount of taxes raised for each 
 of said purposes shall not exceed the amount which might have been 
 raised on the average assessed valuation for the years 1912 and 1913 
 under the maximum rates of levy existing, and the percentage limita- 
 tion of indebtedness of such corporation shall be so reduced that such 
 indebtedness shall not exceed the amount which by law might have 
 been incurred on the assessed valuation for the year 1913; the county 
 auditor shall prepare an abstract of the average valuation for the years 
 1912 and 1913 for the entire county and for each township, city, town 
 or district in the county for the use of the board of supervisors, city and 
 town councils for the year 1914 and subsequent year«, and said board, 
 city or town council shall, in making levies for county, city or town 
 purposes, or other levies certified to them by the officers or boards of 
 the several local districts, carefully examine and reduce any such levies 
 or estimates of the required funds in such an amount as may be neces- 
 sat-y to prevent a greater rate of levy than the maximum herein pro- 
 vided for. Where boundaries shall be changed after the assessment in 
 the year 1913, and before the assessment in the year 1914, the county 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 130 
 
 auditor shall make up said valuation from the separate real estate em- 
 braced in the assessment districts created by said change of boundaries, 
 and from the personal property therein, so far as may be practicable. It 
 shall be unlawful for any officers or boards charged with the duty of 
 levying taxes or issuing bonds in any county, township, city, town, dis- 
 trict or other political or municipal corporation, to levy a higher rate of 
 taxes for any one year than the maximum rate provided for above, or 
 to incur indebtedness in excess of the amount herein allowed. 
 
 Sec. 141. (S. 1306-b) No county or other political or municipal cor- 
 poration shall be allowed to become Indebted in any manner or for any 
 purpose to an amount exceeding in the aggregate the amount of one and 
 one-fourth per centum of the actual value of the taxable property within 
 such county or corporation, except that cities and incorporated towns 
 may, for the purpose of purchasing, erecting, extending or maintaining 
 and operating waterworks, electric light and power plants, gas works 
 and heating plants, or of building and constructing sewers, incur an In- 
 debtedness not exceeding in the aggregate, added to all other indebted- 
 ness, five per centum of the actual value of the taxable property within 
 such city or incorporated town. The amount of such taxable property 
 shall be ascertained by the last state and county tax list previous to 
 the incurring of such indebtedness. 
 
 Sec. 142. (S. 1306-c) Before such indebtedness can be contracted 
 in excess of one and one-quarter per centum of the actual value of the 
 taxable property ascertained as above provided in this act, a petition 
 signed by a majority of the qualified electors of such city or town shall 
 be filed with the council of such city or town, asking that an election 
 shall be called, stating the purposes for which the money is to be used, 
 and that the necessary waterworks, electric light and power plants, 
 gas works, heating plants or sewers, cannot be purchased, erected, built 
 or furnished within the limit of one and one-quarter per centum of the 
 valuation. And provided that in cities having a population of more than 
 ten thousand, the petition need not be signed by more than two hundred 
 qualified electors. 
 
 Sec. 143. (S. 1306-d) The council of such city or town, on the re- 
 ceipt of such petition, shall, at the next regular meeting, call such elec- 
 tion, fixing the time and place thereof, and give four weeks' notice 
 thereof, by publication once each week, in some newspaper published 
 in the said town or city, or if none be published there, then in the 
 next nearest town or city in the county. At such election the ballots 
 shall be prepared, and used in substantially the following form: 
 
 For the issuance of bonds in the sum of ? 
 
 for waterworks, electric light and power plants, gas 
 works, heating plants, or sewer purposes. 
 
 Against the issuance of bonds in the sum of ? 
 
 for waterworks, electric light and power plants, gas 
 works, heating plants, or sewer purposes. 
 
130 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 Sec. 144. (S. 1306-e) If a majority, in cities having more than ten 
 thousand population, or, if, in cities and towns having a population of 
 ten thousand or less, two-thirds or more, of all the electors voting at such 
 election, vote in favor of the issuance of such bonds, the council of 
 such city or town shall issue the same as provided by section seven hun- 
 dred twenty-six (726) of the code and make provision for the payment 
 of the bonds and interest thereon as provided by title five (V) of the 
 code. 
 
 This act shall be held to apply to any city or town whose qualified 
 electors have heretofore authorized the issuance of such bonds by such 
 election. 
 
 Sec. 145. (S. 1306-f) Nothing in this act contained shall be con- 
 strued to repeal the provisions of chapter one hundred and eighty-four 
 (184) of the acts of the thirty-third general assembly as the same Is 
 amended by chapter one hundred and forty-five (145) of the acts of the 
 thirty-fourth general assembly, nor shall anything in this act contained 
 be construed as being applicable to bonds issued under section seven 
 hundred and forty-five (745) of the supplement to the code 1907. 
 
 Sec. 146. (1384) The board of supervisors shall not in any one year 
 levy a tax of more than three-fourths of one mill on the dollar for the 
 payment of any bonded indebtedness or judgments rendered therefor, ex- 
 cept as provided in chapter one (1) of title four (IV) of the code, unless 
 the vote authorizing the issuance of the bonds fixes a higher rate. 
 
 Sec. 147. Upon the levy of taxes being made by the board of super- 
 visors, the county auditor shall forthwith certify to the county assessor 
 'the several items of tax levied by said board and the rate thereof. He 
 shall also promptly certify to the county assessor any and all special 
 levies or assessments made by the board of supervisors, or by him, or 
 certified to him by the ofllcers of any city, town or township in the 
 county. He shall also certify all credits for road tax worked out as 
 certified to him by the township clerks. Provided, however, that when, 
 on account of any irregularity or omission, a special assessment is 
 required to be relevled by the board and placed on the tax list by the 
 county treasurer, the certifying of such relevy may be made by the county 
 auditor direct to the county treasurer. 
 
 Sec. 148. When the county auditor has certified such levies and credits, 
 or either of them, to the county assessor, as provided in the preceding 
 section, his duties with respect thereto will cease, and it will be the 
 duty of the county assessor to place such levies upon the tax list and 
 to show thereon all credits for road work as certified to him. 
 
 Sec. 149. (S. 1383) All taxes, except road taxes, which are uniform 
 throughout any township or school district, shall be formed into a single 
 tax, and entered upon the tax list in a single column to be known as a 
 consolidated tax, and each receipt shall show the percentage levied for 
 each separate fund. Before the first day of January in each year, the 
 county assessor shall transcribe the assessments of the several townships. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 181 
 
 towns or cities into a book, to be provided at the expense of the county 
 for that purpose, to be known as the tax list, properly ruled and headed, 
 with distinct columns in which shall be entered the names of taxpayers, 
 descriptions of lands, number of acres and value, number of town lots 
 and value, value of personal property, and each description of tax, with 
 a column for polls and one for payjnents, and shall complete the same 
 by carrying out the totals and footings of columns. At the end of the 
 list for each township, town or city, he shall make an abstract thereof 
 and apportion the consolidated tax among the respective funds to which 
 it belongs, according to the number of mills levied for each. 
 
 . Sec. 150. (1386) The county assessor, when .making up the tax list, 
 and before it is placed in the hands of the county treasurer, shall procure 
 from the county auditor's office the necessary data and designate each 
 piece or parcel of real estate sold for taxes and not redeemed, by writing 
 opposite the same the year in which it was sold in a column made for 
 that purpose and headed, "Sold in." 
 
 Sec. 151. (1387) The county assessor shall make a certificate on the 
 tax list, showing what it is, for what county and year, and deliver it to 
 the county treasurer on or before the thirty-first day of December, tak- 
 ing his receipt therefor; and such list shall be a sufficient authority for 
 the treasurer to collect the taxes therein levied. But no informality 
 therein and no delay in delivering the same after the time above speci- 
 fied shall effect the validity of any taxes, sales or other proceedings for 
 the collection of such taxes. 
 
 Sec. 152. (1388) At the time of delivering the list to the treasurer, 
 the county assessor shall file with the county auditor, a report setting 
 forth the amount of tax carried out on the tax list furnished to the county 
 treasurer in each fund levied as provided by law; and the county auditor 
 shall charge said amounts as shown thereon to the county treasurer in 
 the proper records in his office. 
 
 Sec. 153. (1388) At the time of delivering the list to the treasurer, 
 the county assessor shall furnish to the auditor of state a certified state- 
 ment, showing separately the aggregate full and actual valuations of all 
 real and personal property in the county, and also the aggregate amount 
 of each separate tax as shown by the tax list. 
 
 Sec. 154. (S. 1347-a) Peddlers plying their vocation in this state 
 outside of a city or incorporated town, shall pay an annual county tax 
 of twenty-five dollars for each pack peddler or hawker on foot, fifty 
 dollars for each one-horse conveyance, and seventy-five dollars for each 
 two-horse conveyance. Such tax shall be paid to the county treasurer, 
 who shall issue to the person making such payment duplicate receipts 
 therefor, and upon presentation of one of same to the county auditor, 
 he shall issue to the person presenting such receipt a license which shall 
 not be transferable, authorizing such person to ply the vocation of a 
 peddler in such county for the term of one year from the date thereof. 
 The word "peddlers," under the provisions of this act, wherever found 
 in the code, shall be held to include and apply to all transient merchants 
 
133 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 and itinerant vendors selling by sample or by taking orders, whether for 
 immediate or future delivery. The provisions of this act shall not be 
 construed to apply to persons selling at wholesale to merchants, nor to 
 transient vendors of drugs, nor to persons running a huckster wagon, or 
 selling and distributing fresh meats, fish, fruit or vegetables, nor to 
 persons selling their own work or. production either by themselves or 
 employes. 
 
 Sec. 155. (S. 1348) Any person peddling outside the limits of a city 
 or town without such license, or after the expiration thereof, shall be 
 guilty of a misdemeanor; whether he be the owner of the goods sold or 
 carried by him or not, and on conviction thereof, shall forfeit and pay 
 into the county treasury, in addition to the penalty imposed therefor, 
 double the amount of the tax for one year as fixed in the preceding 
 section. The license shall be good only in the county in which issued, 
 and shall not authorize peddling in cities and towns. 
 
 Sec. 156. (1349) No person shall exhibit any traveling show or cir- 
 cus, nor show any natural or artificial curiosity, or exhibition of horse- 
 manship in a circus or otherwise, for any price, gain or reward, in any 
 county outside the limits of a city or town, unless he shall have obtained 
 a license therefore from the county auditor, upon the payment to the 
 county treasurer of such sum as may be fixed by the board of supervisors, 
 not to exceed one hundred dollars for each place in the county at which 
 such show or circus may exhibit, and any person exhibiting any such 
 show without first having obtained such license shall be guilty of a mis- 
 demeanor, and shall forfeit and pay to the county treasurer double the 
 amount fixed for such license, for the benefit of the school fund. 
 
 Sec. 157. (S. 1400-c) That on any tract of land in the state of Iowa, 
 the owner or owners may select a permanent forest reservation not less 
 than two acres in continuous area, or a fruit tree reservation not less 
 than one nor more than five acres in area, or both, and that upon com- 
 pliance with the provisions of this act, such owner or owners shall be 
 entitled to the benefits hereinafter set forth. 
 
 Sec. 158. (S. 1400-d) A forest reservation shall contain not less than 
 two hundred growing forest trees on each acre. If the area selected is 
 an original forest containing the required number of growing forest 
 trees, it shall be accepted as a forest reservation under the provisions of 
 this act. If the area selected is an original forest containing less than 
 two hundred forest trees to the acre, or if it is an artificial grove, the 
 owner or owners thereof shall have planted, cultivated and otherwise 
 properly cared for the number of forest trees necessary to bring the total 
 number of growing trees to not less than two hundred on each acre, 
 during a period of not less than two years, before it can be accepted as 
 a forest reservation within the meaning of this act, provided that no 
 ground upon which any farm buildings stand shall be recognized as part 
 of any such reservation. 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 133 
 
 Sec. 159. (S. 1400-e) Not more than. one-fifth of the total number of 
 trees in any forest reservation may be removed in any one year, except- 
 ing in cases where the trees die naturally. 
 
 • Seo. 160. (S. 1400-f) The ash, black cherry, black walnut, butternut, 
 catalpa, coffee tree, the elms, hackberry,, the hickories, honey locust, 
 "Norway and Carolina poplars," mulberry, the oaks, sugar maple, Euro- 
 pean larch and other coniferous trees, and all other forest trees intro- 
 duced into the state for experimental purposes, shall be considered forest 
 trees within the meaning of this act. In forest reservations which are 
 artificial groves, the willows, box-elder, soft maple, cottonwood and other 
 poplars shall be included among the forest trees for the purposes of this 
 act when they are used as protecting borders not exceeding two rows in 
 width around a forest reservation, or when they are used as nurse- 
 trees for forest trees in such forest reservation, the number of such 
 nurse-trees not to exceed one hundred on each acre; provided that only 
 box-elder and soft maple shall be used as nurse-trees. 
 
 Sec. 161. (S. 1400-g) The trees of a forest reservation shall be in 
 groves not less than four rods wide. 
 
 Sec. 162. (S. 1400-h) A fruit-tree reservation shall contain not less 
 than seventy fruit trees on each acre, growing under proper care, and 
 may be claimed as such for a period of eight years after planting. 
 
 Sec. 163. (S. 1400-1) The cultivated varieties of apples, crabs, plums, 
 cherries, peaches and pears shall be considered fruit trees within the 
 meaning of this act. 
 
 Sec. 164. (S. 1400-j) Whenever any tree or trees on a fruit-tree or 
 forest reservation shall be removed or die, the owner or owners of such 
 reservation shall, within one year, plant and care for other fruit or forest 
 trees, in order that the number of such trees may not fall below that 
 required by this act. 
 
 Sec. 165. (S. 1400-k) Cattle, horses, mules, sheep, goats and hogs 
 shall not be permitted upon a fruit tree or forest reservation. 
 
 Sec. 166. (S. 1400-1) Forest reservations fulfilling the conditions of 
 this act shall be assessed on a taxable valuation of sixteen dollars per 
 acre. Fruit-tree reservations shall be assessed on a taxable valuation 
 of four dollars per acre for a period of eight years from the time of 
 planting. In all other cases where trees are planted upon any tract of 
 land, without regard to area, for forest, fruit, shade or ornamental pur- 
 poses, or for windbreaks, the assessor shall not increase the valuation 
 of such property because of such improvements. 
 
 Sec. 167. (S. 1400-m) If the owner or owners of a fruit or forest 
 reservation violate any provision of this act within the two years pre- 
 ceding the making of an assessment, the assessor shall not list any tract 
 belonging to such owner or owners as a reservation within the meaning 
 of this act for the ensuing two years. 
 
iU TAX COMMISSION EEPOBT 
 
 Sec. 168. (S. liOO-n) It sh%ll be the duty of the assessor to secure 
 the facts relative to fruit aad forest reservations by ta^kig Oie sworn 
 statement or affirmation of the owner or owners making application under 
 this act, and to make special report to the county assessor of all reserva- 
 tions made In the county under the provisions of this act. 
 
 Sec. Ifi9. (S. 1400-o) It shall be the duty of the county assessor lo 
 evjery county to keep a record of all forest and fruit-tree reservations 
 within Ws ^M>^nty; and to make report of the same to the secretary 
 ot the state borticiiltural society on or before November fifteenth of each 
 
 Sec. 170. <S. 1400-p) The secretary of the Iowa state horticultural 
 society sha.ll be state forestry commissioner without salary. It shall be 
 his duty to promote the objects of this act, and he shall have power to 
 ai^oint deputies without salary for each county or group of counties, 
 who shall assist him and who shall make an annual report to him of 
 forestry matters and of the operations of this act, within tiheir respective 
 territories, for the use of the state horticultural society. 
 
 Sec. 171. (1367) If any local assessor, county assessor or member of 
 any board of review shall knowingly fail or neglect to make or require 
 the assessment of property for taxation to be of and for its actual value 
 as in this act provided, or to perform any of the duties required of him 
 by this act, at the time and in the manner specified, he shall forfeit and 
 pay the sum of five hundred dollars, ta be recovered in an action in the 
 district court in the name of the county and for its use, and the action 
 against the assessor or other officer shall be against him and his bonds- 
 men. 
 
 Sec. 172. The provisions of this act are intended to provide a complete 
 pystejn of ta;sation and to supercede the present laws of state and local 
 taxation; provided, however, that all moneys now due the state or any 
 subdivision thereof on account of any assessment or charge made against 
 any of such persons, co-partnerships, associations, corporations or syndl- 
 ^tes, and aJl penalties and charges therein originating under or growing 
 out of any section by this act repealed, shall be paid and collected under 
 the provisions of said repealed sections, the same as if said sections were 
 not repealed, and it is hereby expressly provided that all rights of the 
 state now accrued under said sections are hereby saved from the opera- 
 tion of the repealing clause in this act provided. 
 
 Sec. 175. TJie provisions of this act shall not apply to the listing, 
 assessment and taxatiou for the year 1913, which shall be mad« under 
 the pr«es^nt law, but this act shall be in effect and govern the assessment 
 and taxation made in the year 1914, and subsequent years. 
 
 Sep. 174. Tbe provisions of this act shall be held to apply also to cities 
 acting under special charters. 
 
 Sbc. 175. There is hereby appropriated from any funds In the state 
 treasury not otherwise appropriated, sufficient amount thereof to pa.y tbe 
 salaries of the commissioners, and the secretary and all other assistants 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 1«8 
 
 and employes authorized to be appointed or employed by the ta* com- 
 mission, and to pay the expenses authorized by this act to Be ifldurred 
 by the commission, its members, appointees or employes. 
 
 Sec. 176. This act shall be construed as giving legal authority to the 
 Iowa tax commission to obtain all the necessary printing and binding 
 for the performance of their duties as required by law, and to impose 
 upon the state printer and state binder the duty of furnishing the same, 
 in the same manner as the printing and binding are provided for other 
 state officers. 
 
 Seg. 177. Sections one thousand three hundred and seVen (1307), (Jfler 
 thousand three hundred and eight (1308), one thousand three hundred 
 and nine (1309), one thousand three hundred and ten (1310), one thoa- 
 sand three hundred and eleven (1311), one thousand three hundred and 
 twelve (1312), one thousand three hundred and thirteen (1313), one 
 thousand three hundred and fourteen (1314), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and fifteen (1315), one thousand three hundred and sixteen (1316), 
 one thousand three hundred and seventeen (1317), one thousand three 
 hundred and eighteen (1318), one thousand three hundred and nineteen 
 (1319), one thousand three hundred and twenty (1320), one thousafid 
 three hundred an.d twenty4hree (1323), one thousand three hundred afld 
 twenty-four (1324), one thousand three hundred and twenty-five (1326), 
 one thousand three hundred and twenty-six (1326), one thousand three 
 hundred and twenty-seven (1327), one thousand three hundred and thirty- 
 two (1332), one thousand three hundred and thirty-five (1335), one thott^ 
 sand three hundred and thirty-six (1336), one thousand three hundred 
 and thirty-eight (1338), one thousand three hundred and thirty-iilfls 
 (1339), one thousand three hundred and forty-one (1341), one thousand 
 three hundred and forty-two (1342), one thousand three hundred and fofty- 
 three (1343), one thousand three hundred and forty-four (1344), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-five (1345), one thousand three htifl- 
 dred and forty-six (1346), one thousand three hundred and forty-seven 
 (1347), one thousand thre hundred and forty-nine (1349), one thousand 
 three hundred and fifty (1350), one thousand three hundred and fifty-one 
 (1351), One thousand three hundred and fifty-two (1352), one thousand 
 three hundred and fifty-three (1353), one thousand three hundred and 
 fifty-four (1354), one thousand three hundred and fifty-five (1355), one 
 thousand three hundred and fifty-six (1356), one thousand three hundred 
 and fifty-seven (1357), one thousand three hundred and fifty-eight (1358), 
 one thousand three hundred and fifty-nine (1359), one thousand three 
 hundred and sixty-two (1362), one thousand three hundred and sixtyj 
 four (1364), one thousand three hundred and sixty-five (1365), one tbott'' 
 sand three hundred and sixty-seven (1367), one thousand three hundred 
 and sixty-eight (1368), one thousand three hundred and sixty-nine (1369), 
 one thousand three hundred and seventy (1370), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and seventy-five (1375), one thousand three hundred and seventy- 
 six (1376), one thousand three hundred and seventy-seven (1377), one 
 thousand three hundred and seventy-nine (1379), one thousand three 
 kundred and eighty-oiie (1381), one thousand three hundred and eighty- 
 
138 TAX COMMISSION REPORT 
 
 four; (1384), one thousand three hundred and eighty-six (1386), one 
 thousa,nd three hundred and eighty-seven (1387), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and eighty-eight (1388), of the Code as the same are amended by 
 the acts of the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth General Assemblies and 
 sections one thousand three hundred and three (1303), one thousand 
 three hundred and four (1304), one thousand three hundred and four-a 
 (1304-a), one thousand three hundred and five (1305), one thousand 
 three hundred and five-a (1305-a), one thousand three hundred and slx-b 
 (1306-b), one thousand three hundred and six-o (1306-c), one thousand 
 three hundred and slx-d (1306-d), one thousand three hundred and six-e 
 (1306-e), one thousand three hundred and slx-f (1306-f), one thousand 
 three hundred and twenty-one (1321), one thousand three hundred and 
 twenty-eight (1328), one thousand three hundred and twenty-nine (1329), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty (1330), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and thirty-a (1330-a), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-b 
 (1330-b), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-c (1330-c) one thou- 
 sand three hundred and thlrty-d (1330-d), one thousand three hundred 
 and thlrty-e (1330-e), one thousand three hundred and thirty-f (1330-f), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty-g (1330-g), one thousand three 
 hundred and thirty-h (1330-h), one thousand three hundred and thirty-i 
 (1330-1), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-one-a (1331-a), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and thirty-three (1333), one thousand three hundred 
 and thlrty-three-a (1333-a), one thousand three hundred and thlrty- 
 three-b (1333-b), one thousand three hundred and thirty-three-c (1333-c), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty three-d (1333-d), one thousand three 
 hundred and thlrty-three-e (1333-e), one thousand three hundred and 
 thirty-four (1334), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-four-a (1334-a), 
 one thousand three hundred and thirty-four-b (1334-b), one thousand three 
 hundred and thirty-four-c (1334-c), one thousand three hundred and 
 thirty-seven (1337), one thousand three hundred and thlrty-seven-a 
 (1337-a), one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven-b (1337-b), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty (1340), one thousand three hundred 
 and forty-a (1340-a), one thousand three hundred and forty-b (1340-b), 
 one thousand three hundred and forty-c (1340-c) one thousand three hun- 
 dred and forty-d (1340-d), one thousand three hundred and forty-e 
 (1340-e), one thousand three hundred and forty-f (1340-f), one thousand 
 three hundred and forty-two-a (1342-a), one thousand three hundred and 
 forty-two-b (1342-b), one thousand three hundred and forty-two-c (1342-c), 
 one thousand three hundred and forty-two-d (1342-d) one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-two-e (1342-e), one thousand three hundred and forty- 
 two-f (1342-f), one thousand three hundred and forty-two-g (1342-g), 
 one thousand three hundred and forty-six-a (1346-a), one thousand three 
 hundred and forty-six-b (1346-b), one thousand three hundred and forty- 
 six-c (1346-c), one thousand three hundred and forty-slx-d (1346-d), one 
 thousand three hundred and forty-slx-e (1346-e), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and forty-six-f (1346-f), one thousand three hundred and forty-six-g 
 (1346-g), one thousand three hundred and forty-six-h (1346-h), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and forty-six-i (1346-1), one thousand three hundred 
 and' forty-slx-j (1346-j), one thousand three hundred and forty-seven-a 
 
TAX COMMISSION REPORT 137 
 
 (1347-a), one thousand three hundred and forty-eight (1348), one thou- 
 sand three hundred and sixty (1360), one thousand three hundred and 
 sixty-one (1361), one thousand three hundred and seventy-one (1371), 
 one thousand three hundred and seventy-two (1372), one thousand three 
 hundred and seventy-three (1373), one thousand three hundred and sev- 
 enty-three-a (1373-a), one thousand three hundred and seventy-eight 
 (1378), one thousand three hundred and eighty-a (1380-a), one thousand 
 three hundred and eighty-b (1380-b), one thousand three hundred and 
 eighty-c (1380-c), one thousand three hundred and eighty-d (1380-d), one 
 thousand three hundred and eighty-two (1382), one thousand three hun- 
 dred and eighty-two-a (1382-a), one thousand three hundred and eighty- 
 three (1383), one thousand three hundred and eighty-five-a (1385-a), one 
 thousand three hundred and eighty-flve-b (1385-b), one thousand three 
 hundred and eighty-five-c (1385-c), one thousand four hundred-a (1400-a), 
 one thousand four hundred-b (1400-b), one thousand four hundred-c 
 (1400-c), one thousand four hundred-d (1400-d), one thousand four hun- 
 dred-e (1400-e), one thousand four hundred-f (1400-f), one thousand four 
 hundred-g (1400-g), one thousand four hundred-h (1400-h), one thousand 
 four hundred-i (1400-1), one thousand four hundred-] (1400-j), one thou- 
 sand four hundred-k (1400-k), one thousand four hundred-! (1400-1), one 
 thousand four hundred-m (1400-m), one thousand four hundred-n (1400-n), 
 one thousand four hundred-o (1400-O), one thousand four hundred-p 
 (1400-p), of the supplement to the code 1907 as the same are amended by 
 the acts of the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth General Assemblies, are here- 
 by repealed. That chapter eighty-seven (87) of the acts of the Thirty- 
 third General Assembly and chapter sixty-three (63) of the acts of the 
 Thirty-fourth General Assembly are hereby repealed, and that all other 
 acts or parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are 
 hereby amended to conform to the provisions of this act. 
 
 Sec. 178. This act, beiug deemed of immediate importance, shall take 
 effect and be in force according to its terms from and after its publication 
 
 in the and , newspapers 
 
 published in the city of Des Moines, Iowa. 
 
INDEX TO SPECIAL TAX COMMISSION'S 
 
 REPORT 
 
 Page 
 
 Accounts, tax on • .^..... 93 
 
 Acts, legislative, proposed repeal and amendment of ,...83-85 
 
 A<feir County 34 
 
 taxable and sale values of realty in , S*, 40, 41 
 
 Administration, fiscal, need of efficiency of, in Iowa revenue sys'tem. 6, 10, 67 
 
 history of 11 
 
 county forms of, in taxation ^.... 12 
 
 unit of 12, 16 
 
 machinery of, for general property 17, 22-24 
 
 defects of present system of 29, 46 
 
 reforms in aid of ■••• 5ft 
 
 ex officio character of 62 
 
 inefficiency of, in Iowa 8* 
 
 . failure of machinery of, in Iowa '^5 
 
 need of harmonious system of. 76 
 
 proposed plan of 77, 79 
 
 tax commission propt^sed as part of 85-90 
 
 county assessor proposed as part of 90-93 
 
 Adittinlstrators, property in hands of 91 
 
 duty of 119, 120 
 
 Agents, tax on property in- bands of 120 
 
 liability of 120 
 
 Agricultural College, lands of 9'* 
 
 Alabama, valuation in 19, 69 
 
 basis of property valuation in 47, 48 
 
 assessment system of 51, 67 
 
 refefence to t . . . 74 
 
 Alton 35 
 
 Appanoose County 34 
 
 Appa'rel, wearing 95 
 
 Arizona, meaning of "cash value" in 47 
 
 assessment system of 51, 52, 53, 67 
 
 Arkansas, assessment system of 51, 67 
 
 county board of review In 55 
 
 ArlMBon, J. C, address by ■ 64, 65, 66 
 
 A'S'hton 35 
 
 AsEes, tax on 93 
 
 AsslgKees, tax on property in hands of 91, 120 
 
 Assessment, ma,chinery of, In Iowa 6, 7, 8, 10 
 
 complex question of ... 9 
 
 history of method of, in Iowa 9, 10-12, 14 
 
 demand for county supervision of 12 
 
 principles of, in revenue history of Iowa .^.. 16 
 
 basis and method of 17, 19-21 
 
 administrative machinery of, for general property 17, 22-24 
 
 of public service corporations 17, 22 
 
 need of uniformity of 24, 25, 26,. 59?, 60, 62 
 
 study of, by counties, with reference to actual and sale' values of 
 
 lands .29-46 
 
 (139) 
 
140 INDEX 
 
 Assessment, machinery of, in Iowa— Continued Page 
 
 county basis of review of. In Iowa 31, 32-34 
 
 need of efficient system of 46 
 
 comparative study of 47-53 
 
 methods or plans of. In various states 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 
 
 fractional 48 
 
 actual value basis for 48 
 
 failure of township system of 49, 50, 57, 62 
 
 statei systems of review of 53-58 
 
 equalization of, by county board of review 56 
 
 reasons for need of state and county supervision of 59-68, 69, 70 
 
 low, Inequality of taxation In Iowa due to 59, 60 
 
 proposed change in machinery of. In Iowa 60 
 
 proposed prevention of inequalities of 60-62 
 
 proposed action in regard to documents pertaining to 88, 92 
 
 provision as to information on 89 
 
 evasion of law for 89, 90, 123 
 
 duty of county assessor in matter of 91, 92 
 
 uniformity of, according to value 94 
 
 provision as to 119 
 
 proposed plan of review of 123 
 
 hearing of complaints concerning 124, 125 
 
 Assessment boolcs, entries to be made on 124, 125 
 
 . alteration of 125 
 
 Assessment districts, listing of property for taxation in 120, 121, 124 
 
 Assessment rolls, requirement as to 23 
 
 preparation of 88, 91 
 
 entries on 95, 121, 122 
 
 supply of, to be furnished 121, 122 
 
 completion of 122 
 
 oath attached to 122, 123 
 
 return of 123 
 
 review and corrections of 123, 124 
 
 use of 125 
 
 Assessor, county, work of, in Kansas 5 
 
 effect of establishment of office of 7 
 
 provision for office of, in Iowa 10 
 
 work of 11 
 
 need, of, in Iowa 24, 46, 50 
 
 . proposed duties of 
 
 39, 57, 78, 79, 114, 119, 121, 123, 124, 125, 127, 130, 131, 134 
 
 . system of, in various states 48, 49, 50, 51 
 
 need of state supervision over 51, 52, 53, 88 
 
 creation of office of, favored 57, 58, 75, 76 
 
 need of supervision of assessment by 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64 
 
 . shot bill providing, for ; 76 
 
 sections of bill providing for creatioUj duties, and powers of.... 90-93 
 
 qualifications of 90 
 
 compensation of 91 
 
 orders to be given to 105, 110, 114 
 
 : application to 122 
 
 . returns of local assessors to 123 
 
 . work of review by 123 
 
 ;. . complaints presented to 123, 124 
 
 . court decision certified to 125 
 
 r . - return of abstract to be made by 126 
 
 change of valuation made by 127 
 
 ,'taxi levy certified to , 130 
 
 . tax list made up by , 131 
 
 certificate made by , ,.., 131 
 
 reservations report(!>d tfi... . . r ,..,(.... , , 134 
 
INDEX 141 
 
 Assessor, county work of, in Kansas— Continued Page 
 
 penalty for failure of, to do duty 12* 
 
 suit against 1^* 
 
 Assessors, local, function of 8, 16 
 
 creation of office of. In Iowa 10 
 
 property listed by 19-21, 22 
 
 number of 22 
 
 work of 23, 24 
 
 system of, in various states *8, 49 
 
 proposed supervision over 78, 88, 89, 91 
 
 power of county assessor over 92 
 
 duty of 92, 96, 119, 120 
 
 statutory definition of 93 
 
 duty of, in case of corporation stock 100 
 
 duty owed to, by Insurance companies 117, 118 
 
 duty of, with regard to Insurance companies , 118 
 
 plat books to be furnished to 121 
 
 work of listing and assessment by 121, 122, 123 
 
 oath administered by 122 
 
 oath siubscribed by 123 
 
 returns made by 123 
 
 complaints against work of 123, 124 
 
 rolls returned by 125, 126 
 
 reservations listed and reported by 133, 134 
 
 penalty for failure of, to do duty 131 
 
 Associations, tax on property of i 101 
 
 duty of 101 
 
 names of 122 
 
 Attorney, county, proposed duty of 88 
 
 authority of 114 
 
 Attorney General, proposed duty of 88 
 
 Auditor, county, reports and tax lists of 23, 24 
 
 letter sent to 33, 34 
 
 proposed transfer of duties of 77, 79, 93 
 
 proposed reduction of expense of office of 79 
 
 blanks and rolls to be sent to 88 
 
 filing of certificates with 92 
 
 map to be filed with 103, 104 
 
 duty of 104, 105, 107, 110, 114, 128, 129, 130, 131 
 
 certificate to be made to 105, 114, 126 
 
 plat to be filed with 106, 107 
 
 statement to be made to IIP 
 
 filing of application for review with 124, 125 
 
 tax rate to be certified to 126 
 
 report filed with 131 
 
 licenses issued by 131, 132 
 
 Auditor, state, county reports to 23 
 
 report of, in 1885 27 
 
 duty of 117 
 
 return of abstract to be made to 126 
 
 dtity of, in case of unpaid municipal bonds 127 
 
 certified statement furnished to 131 
 
 Baltimore, taxation of moneys and credits in 67 
 
 Banks, taxation of stock of 9, 14, 78, 97 
 
 assessment of 20, 21 
 
 tax on property of 93, 95, 99 
 
 duty of 98, 99 
 
 Bankers, private, duties of 98 
 
 Beds and bedding 93, 95 
 
 Bees 94 
 
 Beets, mamufacture of sugar from 95 
 
142 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Beneficiary •• 119 
 
 Bills, listing of 19 
 
 Binder, state, duty of 135 
 
 Blanks, supply of, to be furnished 121, 123 
 
 Boarding houses, tax on beds in 93. 95 
 
 Boards of assessors, state 49, 54 
 
 Boards of revie'w, systems of 53-58 
 
 state and county, in efficiency of (see Review) 62 
 
 Boats, tax on 93 
 
 Bond fund, provision for 127 
 
 Bonds, tax exemption of certain 18 
 
 listing of 19, 20 
 
 tax on 70, 93 
 
 United States 95, 97 
 
 municipal '. 95, 126, 127 
 
 school J 95 
 
 drainage 95 
 
 issuance of 129, 130 
 
 Boone County, taxable and sale values of realty in 39, 41, 42 
 
 Bridges, railway 107, 110 
 
 'tax levy for 128 
 
 Brindley, John B., appointment of, as secretary of Tax Commission 5 
 
 acknowledgements to 8 
 
 Building and loan associations, mutual, tax on property of 101 
 
 California, revenue system of 6, 51, 67 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70, 71 
 
 Capital, moneyed, tax on 97 
 
 Carroll 35 
 
 Carroll, B. P., members of Tax Commission appointed by 5 
 
 Carroll County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Cattle, tax on 93 
 
 Cemeteries 94, 121 
 
 Census Board 11 
 
 Cerro Gordo, taxable and sale values of realty in 39, 42, 43 
 
 Certificates, exemption of 18 
 
 tax on 95 
 
 Circus, licensing of 132 
 
 Cities, special charter 12, 134 
 
 duty of councils of 23 
 
 ratio of assessed to sale values in 35, 36 
 
 assessment of property in 39, 46 
 
 assessors in 49 
 
 assessment rolls of 88, 91 
 
 sale of lots in 92 
 
 property of 94 
 
 adjustment of assessments of 125 
 
 assessed valuation of property of 128 
 
 tax levy and bond issue of 129 
 
 peddling in 132 
 
 Claims ■ 91 
 
 Clear Lake 35 
 
 Clerk, county 11 
 
 report to 92 
 
 Coal dealers 20, 93, 97 
 
 Code, tax, chaotic condition of 76 
 
 proposed re-arrangement of 77 
 
 Code of 1851, provision of, as to equalization 11 
 
 explanation of term "value" in 13 
 
 reference to 14 
 
 Code of 1873, term "value" explained in 13 
 
 reference to 14 
 
INDEX 148 
 
 } ^ Page 
 
 Code of 1897, property assessment required by : ' 13 
 
 provision of, as to taxation of corporations 1'4 
 
 references to taxation sections of, in proposed bill 80, 81, 82 
 
 proposed repeal of sections of 83, 84, 135, 136 
 
 proposed repeal of sections of Supplement to 84, 85, 136, 137 
 
 Cohen, M. H 3,5 
 
 Collection, 'tax, method of 7, 17 
 
 administrative machinery of 10, 11, 12, 16 
 
 information as to 39 
 
 Colorado, revenue system of 6, 51, 53, 67 
 
 Commission, Tax (see Tax Commission) 
 
 Commission merchants, tax on property in hands of 20, 120 
 
 Commissioners, county, board of 10, 12, 49 
 
 review by 55, 56 
 
 Company, statutory definition of 1-16 
 
 Complaints, hearing of, concerning assessments 89, 124, 125 
 
 Connecticut, local boards of review in 56 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 Consolidated tax 130 
 
 apportionment of....^ ,.,131 
 
 Constitution, state, need of amendment of, to obtain separation of revenue 
 
 sources in Iowa. 7, 71, 72, 73 
 
 Contracts, property or labor due on 93 
 
 Converse, A • 18 
 
 Corn shellers, tax on 93 
 
 Corn shredders, tax on 93 
 
 Corporations, taxation of 13-16, 70, 93 
 
 listing of shares of 19, 20, 21 
 
 industrial, assessment of property of 46, 120 
 
 inequality of assessment of .60, 61 
 
 listing of stocks of, in Iowa 64 
 
 exemption of 95 
 
 tax on shares of stock of 96 
 
 tax on moneyed capital of 97 
 
 tax on merchandise of 97, 98 
 
 manufacturing, taxi on property of 98 
 
 tax on property of and duty of 99 
 
 taxation of and duties of 99, 100 
 
 right of 101 
 
 names of 122 
 
 Corporations, piublic service, assessment of proporety of 
 
 9, 17, 21, 22, 25, 39, 46 
 
 taxation of 15, 16, 70, 72, 73 
 
 value of property of 62 
 
 Cosson, Attorney General, tax question answered by 72 
 
 Councils, town and city, adjustments of assessments by 23 
 
 reduction of levies by 128 
 
 election petitions filed with 129 
 
 notice of special election given by 129 
 
 issuance of bonds by 130 
 
 Counties, fiscal administration by, in Iowa 10, 11, 12, 16 
 
 administrative machinery of, in taxation 12 
 
 assessment of, by state 23 
 
 need of uniforhiity of assessment in 24 
 
 study of assessment by 29, 30, 31 
 
 actual and assessed value of farm lands in 31 
 
 abstract of land valuations and transfers in 32, 33 
 
 ratios of assessed to actual and sale values In 34 
 
 land values in certain, in 1911 34, 35 
 
 increase of assessments in 36-38 
 
114 INDEX 
 
 Counties, fiscal administrrtion by, in Iowa— Continued Page 
 
 • taxable and sSile values of tracts of land in 39-46, 60 
 
 assessment rolls of 91 
 
 list of sales of realty in 92 
 
 property of 94 
 
 revenue of 127 
 
 assessed valuation of property of 128 
 
 tax levy and bond issue of 129 
 
 County assessor (See Assessor, county). 
 
 County assessor bill 6 
 
 Court, county, review by 55 
 
 Court expense fund, provision for 127 
 
 Courts, allowance of 91 
 
 Crawford county, assessed value in 31 
 
 Credits, doubt as to nature of 14 
 
 listing of 18, 19; 20, 21, 120, 121 
 
 taxation of 63-67, 78, 79, 93, 96, 98 
 
 listing of, in Iowa and Minnesota 64, 65, 66 
 
 definition of 96 
 
 Insurance 118 
 
 actual value of 126 
 
 Crematoriums 94 
 
 Davenport, Iowa 5, 6 
 
 Debts, deduction of 14, 18, 21, 91, 96, 99, 118 
 
 definition of 96, 97 
 
 Decatur cojunty, assessed value In 31 
 
 Deductions, allowance of, for debts 14, 18, 21, 96, 120 
 
 Delaware, review of assessment In 55 
 
 Depositions, provision for 89 
 
 Deposits 99 
 
 Deputies, provision for, in office of county assessor 91 
 
 Des Moines, meetings of Tax Commission at 5 
 
 Dining cars 108, 109 
 
 Disability 119 
 
 District, taxing, assessed valuation of property of 128 
 
 'tax levy and bond issue of 129 
 
 District court, appeal from assessment to 125 
 
 Doon 35 
 
 Drainage bonds, exemption of 18, 94 
 
 Draymen 95 
 
 Drugs, vendors of 132 
 
 Election, general, county assessors to be chosen at 90 
 
 Elections, municipal, to vote bonds 129, 130 
 
 Electric light plants, assessment of 20, 101 
 
 erection of, by city.... 129 
 
 Elevators, grain 107, 110 
 
 Emmetsburg 35 
 
 Engines, traction, taxi on 93 
 
 equalization, machinery of, in Iowa 7, 8, 10-12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24 
 
 history of problem of 9 
 
 basis of 31, 32-34 
 
 work of, by Executive Council 37 
 
 criticism of system of 38, 39 
 
 systems of, in various states ,. 47, 53-58 
 
 state boards of 53, 54, 58 
 
 county boards of 55, 56, 58 
 
 local or township board of 56, 67,. 58 
 
 proposed change in machinery of, in Iowa 60, 123, 124, 125 
 
 ex officio character of present system of, in Iowa 62 
 
 need of county and state supervision of 69, 70 
 
 documents pertaining to 88, 92 
 
 proposed supervision over 88, 90 
 
INDEX 145 
 
 Page 
 
 Equipment companies, assessment of 21, 22, 116 
 
 exemption of shares of 95 
 
 statutory definition of 115 
 
 duties of 115 
 
 Estates, exemption of 18, 95 
 
 Executive Council, power of, as board of review 11, 23, 24 
 
 assessment of property by 21, 22 
 
 blanlcs sent out by 31 
 
 letter sent out by secretary of 33, 34 
 
 table submitted to 35 
 
 Increase of county assessments by, in 1911 36, 37, 38, 61 
 
 criticism of equalization by 38, 39, 54, 67 
 
 assessment of public service corporations by 62 
 
 proposed abolition of tax powers of 77, 87 
 
 railroad reports to 106 
 
 Executors, taxation of property in hands of 91 
 
 duty of 119, 120 
 
 Exemptions, tax, in Iowa 17, 18, 19 
 
 recommendation as to law concerning 19 
 
 property subject to 94-96 
 
 Expenditures, public, need of more rigid economy in 7 
 
 increase of 25 
 
 Express companies, assessment and taxation of. .15, 16, 21, 22, 63, 72, 112-114 
 
 exemption of shares of 95 
 
 statutory definition of 110, 111 
 
 duties of Ill 
 
 Farm animals, exiemption of 18 
 
 Farm lands, sale value of, by counties 29-31 
 
 actual and assessed value of, by counties 31 
 
 abstract of valuations and transfers of, by counties 32, 33 
 
 low assessment of 35, 36, 37 
 
 Farm produce, exemption of 18 
 
 Farmers 95 
 
 Farming utensils, exemption of 18, 95 
 
 Fiduciaries 91 
 
 Fire companies, property of 94 
 
 Fire engines 94 
 
 Fire insurance companies, deduction allowed to 117, 118 
 
 Firms, tax on merchandise of 97, 98, 120 
 
 Fish, sale of 132 
 
 Florida 74 
 
 Food 95 
 
 Forest reservation, nature of 132 
 
 assessment of 133 
 
 record of 134 
 
 Forestry Commissioner, state, duty of 134 
 
 Franchises, tax on 70, 94 
 
 Freight line companies, assessment and taxation of 21, 22, 24, 116 
 
 exemption of shares of 95 
 
 statutory definition of 114 
 
 duties of 115 
 
 Fraternal beneficiary associations, exemption of 95, 117, 118 
 
 Fruit, sale of : ' 132 
 
 Fruit tree reservation, nature of 132, 133 
 
 assessment of I33 
 
 record of I34 
 
 Funds, public, expenditure of gg 
 
 Furniture, household, tax on 93 95 
 
 Gas works, assessment of 20 101 
 
 construction of, by city I29 
 
 10 
 
146 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 General Assembly, Thirty-fourth, provision of, for special tax commission 5 
 General Assembly, tax commission reports to be sent to members of. ... 90 
 
 Georgia, assessment system of 53, 74 
 
 review of assessment in 55 
 
 Goats, tax on 93, 94 
 
 Gold coin, tax on - 93 
 
 Government, state and local, taxation for 17 
 
 amount of revenue for 25 
 
 Governor, Special Tax^ Commission appointed by 5 
 
 proposed appointment of tax commission by 85, 86 
 
 duty of proposed tax commission 90 
 
 Grain dealers 20, 93, 97 
 
 Gross earnings, tax on 70, 72, 108 
 
 Guardians 91 
 
 Hancock county, taxable and sale values of realty in 39, 43, 44 
 
 Hay, tax on 93 
 
 Hay presses, tax on 93 
 
 Hawkers, tax on 131 
 
 Heating plants, city 129 
 
 Hereditaments, tax on 93 
 
 Highway 94 
 
 Homestead exemption bills 18 
 
 Horses, tax on 93 
 
 Horticultural society, state, report to 134 
 
 duty of secretary of 134 
 
 Hospers '. 35 
 
 Hotels, taxi on beds In 93,95 
 
 Huckster wagon 132 
 
 Ice dealers 20, 97 
 
 Idaho, valuation in 19 
 
 assessment in 48, S3 
 
 Illinois, valuation in 19 
 
 abolition of local board in 57 
 
 assessment in 48, 49, 53, 67 
 
 Income tax, advisability of providing for, in Iowa 73 
 
 Indebtedness, municipal 128, 129 
 
 maximum amount of 129 
 
 Indiana, assessment in 48 
 
 reference to 74 
 
 Inheritance tax 24 
 
 collateral, redraft of, in Iowa 73 
 
 direct, advisability of providing for 74 
 
 collateral, report of property subject to 92 
 
 Institutions, certain, exemption of property of 18, 94 
 
 Instructions, local assessor furnished with 123 
 
 Insurance, property not covered by 96 
 
 Insurance companies, taxation of 9, 24, 117, 118 
 
 need of better plan of taxation of 74 
 
 duty of 116, 117, 118 
 
 fire, deduction allowed to 117 
 
 Insurance company, mutual 97 
 
 Iowa, territory of. taxation in 9 
 
 Iowa, revenue laws of 5 
 
 views of taxpayers in 6 
 
 demand for county supervision of assessment In 12 
 
 revenue history of 9-16 
 
 defects of revenue system of 17-25 
 
 valuation in 19 
 
 increase of population and wealth in 28 
 
 study of assessment of lands in 29-46 
 
 basis of property valuation in 47 
 
INDEX J*" 
 
 Iowa, revenne laws of— Continuea Page 
 
 township assessor system In ^ *8, 49, 50 
 
 need of reform in 50, 5& 
 
 state review of local assessment 54 
 
 local review in 56, 57, 58 
 
 taxation of moneys and credits in 63-67 
 
 failure of flat mill rate in 6'* 
 
 property of state of < 9* 
 
 Jewelry, tax on 9* 
 
 Judge, county 10> 1^ 
 
 abolition of office H 
 
 Judgments -• . -91» 93 
 
 Kansas, revenue system of 5, 48, 49, 51, 5-2, 67 
 
 Tax commission of ^^ 
 
 ©inctlons of Tax Commission in • • 55 
 
 local board of review in 5ft 
 
 success of county and state supervision of assessment in ^.. 69 
 
 Labor, tax on ^... . 93 
 
 Land, amount of, exempt from taxiation 18 
 
 liands, farm, assessed and sale value of, by counties 29-31 
 
 actual and assessed value of, by counties 31 
 
 abstract of valuations and transfers of, by counties 32, 33^ 
 
 low assessment of 34, 35, 36, 37 
 
 increase of assessed value of, in 1911 36, 37, 38, 61 
 
 assessment of 39 
 
 taxable and sale values of 39-46, 60, 61 
 
 share of taxation borne by 62 
 
 list of sales of 92 
 
 tax on ,. 93 
 
 government, exempt from taxation ^ 94 
 
 assessment of, "owner unknown" 121 
 
 Laws, revenue, code of, in Iowa 76- 
 
 proposed recodification of „ 77 
 
 repeal of 134 
 
 Leases, tax on, 97, 120 
 
 Legacies ^^ 9t 
 
 Legislation, proposed, on taxation T5-I37 
 
 Le Mars ■ 35 
 
 Lessor 120 
 
 Levy, tax, administrative machinery of 10, 12, 16 
 
 certificate of 92 
 
 provision for 127, 128 
 
 Libraries, private, tax on 93, 94 
 
 kinds of to be exemp't from taxation 94' 
 
 License, peddlers 131 
 
 penalty for lack of 13,2, 
 
 circus 13a 
 
 Licenses, receipts from g9 
 
 Liens, provision for, on incorporation stock 100, loi 
 
 Listing, basis of, in various states 47-49, 52 
 
 Loan and trust companies, taxation of stock of 14, 20, 21 
 
 proposed 'taxation of stock of 78, 97, 99 
 
 L&gan 35 
 
 Lots, town, assessed value of .35,, 36, 39, 121 
 
 inequality of assessment of gO^ 61 
 
 list of sale of , 9j 
 
 Louisiana, county board of review in 55 
 
 Lumber, tax on 93 
 
 Lyon county, assessed value In _ 3I 
 
 MoConlogue, J. H 3^ 5 
 
148 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Machinery, taxation of 20 
 
 manufacturing, tax on 98 
 
 Maine, board of assessors in 5i 
 
 Manning 35 
 
 Manufacturer, statutory definition of 98 
 
 Manufacturing companies, exemption of stock of 19, 20, 21, 95 
 
 tax on property of 98 
 
 Married women 119 
 
 Maryland, assessment in 48 
 
 moneys and credits listed in 64, 67 
 
 Meat, fresh, sale of 132 
 
 Mercantile corporations, exemptions of 95 
 
 Merchandise, tax on 93, 97, 98 
 
 Merchant, statutory definition of 97 
 
 Merchants, commission, tax on property In hands of 20, 120 
 
 Mexican War 96 
 
 Michigan 12 
 
 local board of review In 56 
 
 Militia company, property of 94 
 
 Millage tax, levy, of 96 
 
 Minneapolis 66 
 
 Minnesota, revenue system of 6 
 
 tax commission of 30, 35 
 
 assessment In 48, 50, 67 
 
 county assessor system discussed by Tax Commission of 52, 53 
 
 local board of review^ in 56 
 
 moneys and credits listed in 64 
 
 three mill tax on moneys and credits in 64-66 
 
 good work of Tax Commission of 66 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 Misdemeanor 121, 132 
 
 Mississippi 74 
 
 Mississippi Elver 48, 50, 67, 107, 110 
 
 Missouri, assessment system of 53 
 
 county board of review^ 55 
 
 Missouri River 107, 110 
 
 Missouri Valley 35 
 
 Moneys, listing of 18, 19, 20, 21 
 
 taxation of 63-67, 78, 79, 93, 96, 98, 120, 121 
 
 listing of, in Iowa and Minnesota 64, 65, 66 
 
 Insurance 118 
 
 actual value of 126 
 
 Monona county 34 
 
 Mortgages, tax! on 91, 93, 103, 120 
 
 Mortgagor 120 
 
 Motor vehicles 95 
 
 Mules, tax on 93 
 
 Municipal bonds, exemption of 18 
 
 Issue of 95 
 
 failure of corporation to meet 126, 127 
 
 Municipal corporation, levy of tax by 126 
 
 assessed valuation of property of 128 
 
 tax levy and bond Issue of 129 
 
 Municipality, taxation of railroad by 15, 16 
 
 Musical instruments, tax on 93 
 
 Nebraska, valuation In 19 
 
 assessment in 48, 53 
 
 abolition of local board in 57 
 
 Net earnings, tax on 70, 108, 109 
 
 Nevada 74 
 
INDEX 149 
 
 Page 
 
 New England, assessment In 48 
 
 method of review in.... 55, 56 
 
 New Hampshire, tax commission in 49 
 
 local hoards of 56 
 
 New Jersey, county board of review in 55, 57 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 New Mexico, assessment system of 53 
 
 New York, boards of review in 11 
 
 reference to 12 
 
 valuation in 47 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 North Carolina, assessment in 48, 49, 60, 67 
 
 North Dakota, assessment In 48, 50, 67 
 
 local board of review in 57 
 
 Notes, listing of 19 
 
 United States, tax on 93 
 
 bank, tax on 93 
 
 tax on 120 
 
 Oath, administration of, by assessors 122 
 
 refusal to take or subscribe 122 
 
 of local assessor 122, 123 
 
 Oelwein 35 
 
 Officers, public and corporation, provision for procedure against 88 
 
 duty of 89 
 
 Ohio, revenue system of, in Iowa 9 
 
 reference to 12 
 
 tax commission in 49 
 
 assessment In 50 
 
 Ohio River 48, 50, 67 
 
 Oklahoma, abolition of local board in 57 
 
 Oregon, assessment system of 51, 67 
 
 Partnerships 20 
 
 tax on property of 120 
 
 names of 122 
 
 Peddlers, statutory definition of 131, 132 
 
 tax on 131 
 
 Pennsylvania, assessment in 49, 67 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 Pensions ^ 95 
 
 Perjury 122 
 
 Personal property, listing of 19, 21, 22 
 
 tax list of, by counties 23 
 
 tax on 97, gg, 120, 121 
 
 assessment and listing of ', 119 
 
 abstract of 126 
 
 Ptersons, names of 122 
 
 Pictures, family 95 
 
 Plat books, supply of, to be furnished 121 
 
 return of I23 
 
 local assessor furnished with 123 
 
 Plate, gold and silver, tax on 93 
 
 Plymouth County, assessed value in . . . -. : 31 
 
 Polk county assessed value in.. 3I 34 
 
 Polls, exemption of , "is' 95 
 
 Printer, state, duty of .'_ _ / '_\ _ _ _ _'l35 
 
 Procedure, system of, in regard to taxation in Iowa. ............. W^... 76 
 
 Produce, farm . . . .' ^ _ ' " g^ 
 
 Profits, bank, tax on !.!!!! 99 
 
 Population, growth of, and increase of assessed valuation 26, 27' 28 
 
 Potomac Elver 48_ go, g^ 
 
Page 
 
 P*ttltry 94 
 
 f roperty, rigid assessment of 1 
 
 personal, taxation of 7 
 
 ad valorem principle of listing 9 
 
 real and personal, assessment of 13 
 
 tiersonal, of banRs, taxation of ti, 16 
 
 classes of, exempt from taxation 17, 18, 19 
 
 general, administrative machinery of assessment and review 
 
 for 17, 22, 23, 24 
 
 actual and assessed valnatlon of 28 
 
 taxafile, actual' and assessed valvle of, 1850-1944 2% 59, 61 
 
 toy counties 29-30, 31 
 
 .undervalnation of 29-46 
 
 inequalities between Individual holders of 39 
 
 basis of valuation of. In various states 47-49 
 
 general, faffure of tax on. In Iowa 70 
 
 general, actual Valuation of 78 
 
 Infomiatlon aa to assessment of 89 
 
 sttpervtsion- over valuation of 89 
 
 kinds of, to be- subject to- taxation' 93, d** 
 
 kinds of, to be exeirapt fronv taxatloi* 94-96 
 
 anniiat listing and assessment of : ii9, 121 
 
 dissatiaf action with assessment of 123, 12'* 
 
 Property tax, g<«nera!l, htstory and itature of 9-13, 14, 15-, 16- 
 
 Rallroad compantes, taxation' of 15-, 16, 72, 73i 107, 109 
 
 assessment of 21, 22, 23", 60', 63, 110- 
 
 vatliM- o« lan«» sold to. In 1911 34, 35, 36 
 
 assessed- value ot- property of 3?; S"©, 39, 46 
 
 exemivtion of property own-ed exclusively by 105 
 
 duties Of 10«; 106, 108, 109 
 
 Railways, Street, assessment of 20 
 
 tax on property of f ff2 
 
 Eate, tax ftxiitg of I2''6 
 
 Heal estate, corporation, taxation of 14 
 
 dedoictioi* of debts- from value of 18 
 
 Bstteg of 19, 2*, 21, 2^ 
 
 tait list .0*, by eoiinttes 23 
 
 city and village; assessment of 3'5, Se, 37, 39, 4* 
 
 assessment of S'Z, 11-9, 121 
 
 exempt fronr taxation « 9'4 
 
 tax o» 99; lOO' 
 
 abstract of 126 
 
 sale of, for taxes 131 
 
 Recetvera 91 
 
 Kecordersi cownty 28 
 
 Ma:n'fc forms' sent to 30 
 
 data given- by SI 
 
 Reforms, fiscal, need of, in Iowa 7 
 
 Registration fee 95- 
 
 Reservations, forest and fruit tree, natu-re of 132, 133 
 
 assessment of 133 
 
 record of 134 
 
 Revenue; am.ount of, from- l-87'3 to- 19-11 25, 26 
 
 comparative amount of state and local 26- 
 
 sepairaftioB of starte- and local; n-eeded- in Iowa fO^-tB 
 
 advantages- and- disa-d'va'ntages' of separation of sources of 70, 7l 
 
 state, fixing of tax rate for 12^ 
 
 eonnty, amount of IST" 
 
 Revenue blU, proposed, consideration of 6; 58 
 
 exemptions is 1'9' 
 
 expl'aHatlon of 7?, 76" 
 
INDEX 101 
 
 Revenue bill— Continued Page 
 
 arrangement of 77, 79 
 
 references to Code of 1S97 in 80, 81, 82 
 
 provisions of 83-137 
 
 title of 83-85 
 
 sections of, providingr for Iowa Tax Commission 85-90 
 
 sections of, providing for county assessor 90-93 
 
 code sections repealed by 136-137 
 
 Revenue bills, proposed 7 
 
 Revenue laws, demand for revision of, in Iowa 5 
 
 investigation of , 6 
 
 re-codiflcation of, proposed 77 
 
 proposed repeal of 134 
 
 Revenue system, history of, in Iowa 9-16 
 
 distinctive feature of 9 
 
 distinctive features of 9 
 
 Iowa, defects of 17, 25, 69-74 
 
 inequalities of, in Iowa 60, 61 
 
 Revision of 1860, term "value" explained in 13 
 
 reference to 14 
 
 Review, administrative machinery of 10-12, 16, 17, 21, 23, 24 
 
 basis of 31, 32-34 
 
 work of, by Bxecutive Council 37 
 
 criticism of system of 39 
 
 systems of, in various states 47, 53-58 
 
 local board of, proposed abolition of 77, 78 
 
 supervision over 88, 89 
 
 list of land sales to be used by 92 
 
 penalty for failure to make 134 
 
 proposed plan of 123, 124 
 
 complaints concerning work of 123, 124 
 
 Review, County Board of, proposed penalty for change by 122 
 
 appeal to 124 
 
 hearing and complaints by 125 
 
 appeal from 125 
 
 Review, State Board of ." 23, 24, 38 
 
 proposed 126 
 
 Rhode Island, Tax Commission in 49 
 
 moneys and credits listed In 64, 66, 67 
 
 Richmond, Virginia > 5 
 
 Ringgold County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Ripley, A. C 3, 5 
 
 Road building fund, county 128 
 
 Road tax, credits for 130 
 
 Road, public 94_ 12I 
 
 Roads • 121 
 
 tax levy for 128 
 
 Rock Rapids 35 
 
 Ruthven \ 35 
 
 Sailors, property of gg 
 
 St. Paul .'...." 66 
 
 Salaries, proposed In revenue bill , 86, 87, 91 
 
 Sales, land, list of '_ _ ' 93 
 
 Savings and loan associations, tax on property of 101 
 
 School bonds, exemption of , 18 95 
 
 School district, property of /_ _ " '94 
 
 School fund, forfeitures for benefit of !!!!!!.'! !l32 
 
 School lands !!!!!'. 94 
 
 School property _' _' -gi 
 
 Schools, tax levy for support of 12g 
 
 Secretary of State, filing of bond with .'.'.'.'.'.".'.'.".".'.'.'."."" gfi 
 
152 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Securities, tax on 9* 
 
 Senate, State 85, 86 
 
 Se'vrers, construction of 129 
 
 ShareSj tax on 93 
 
 bank, tax on 99 
 
 corporation, tax on 100 
 
 Sheep, tax on 93, 94 
 
 Sheldon 35 
 
 Sheriff 11 
 
 Shows, traveling, licensing of 132 
 
 Sibley 35 
 
 Silver coin, tax on 93 
 
 Sioux City, Iowa 5, 6, 36 
 
 Sioux County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Sleeping cars 108, 109 
 
 Soldiers, property of 96 
 
 South Dakota, assessment in 48, 49 
 
 local board of review in 57 
 
 South Carolina 74 
 
 State, tax levy for support of 127, 128 
 
 assessed valuation of property of 128 
 
 State Center 36 
 
 Stock, corporation, taxation of 14, 15, 16, 70, 78, 93, 96, 120 
 
 exemption of shares of 19, 20, 21 
 
 listing of shares of 19, 20, 21 
 
 bank, assessment of 20, 21, 99 
 
 association, tax on '. 101 
 
 Stock transfers, tax on 70 
 
 Stockholders, liabilities of 100, 101 
 
 Stonebraker, B. B 3, 5 
 
 Stones, precious, tax on 93 
 
 Street railways, assessment of 20 
 
 tax on property of 102 
 
 Sugar, manufacture of, exemption of property used in 95 
 
 Supervisors, county board of 10, 11, 12 
 
 tax distribution by 22 
 
 review by 23, 24, 55, 66 
 
 criticism of work of review by 39 
 
 proposed power of 58, 90, 92, 93 
 
 proposed supervision over 88, 89 
 
 filing of bond with 90 
 
 proposed power of, to remit taxes 96 
 
 tax levied by 96, 127, 128, 130 
 
 applications for review delivered to 124 
 
 duties of, as board of review 125, 126 
 
 appeal from action of 125 
 
 valuation certified to 127 
 
 Supervisors, township, county board of 11, 12 
 
 Supreme Court, State, decisions of 15, 16 
 
 Surveyor, county 11 
 
 Swamp land indemnity scrip 121 
 
 Swine, tax on 93, 94 
 
 Tax, general property, origin of 9 
 
 nature of 9-13 
 
 general property, failure of, in Iowa 70 
 
 Tax Association, National, conference of 5 
 
 Tax certificates , 91 
 
 Tax Code, chaotic condition of 76 
 
 Tax Commission, Iowa, need of 6, 7, 24, 46, 50, 51, 54, 57 
 
 proposed function of , . . . 39 
 
 need of supervision of assessment by 69, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 67 
 
INDEX 158 
 
 Tax Commissinn, Iowa— Continued . Page 
 
 experience of other states cited in favor of ..'.67, 68 
 
 establishment of, recommended 76, 76 
 
 short bill providing- for creation of 75, 76 
 
 sections, of bill providing for creation, duties, and powers of 
 
 85-90, 91, 92 
 
 proposed transfer, of taxation powers of Executive Council to 87' 
 
 duties of county assessor to 9^ 
 
 meaning of term ^3 
 
 duty of 1*1 
 
 information to be furnished to 102, 105, 106 
 
 proposed powers and duties of, with reference to telegraph and 
 
 telephone companies 103, 104, 105 
 
 proposed duties and powers of, with regard to railroads 
 
 106, 107, 108, 109, 110 
 
 proposed duties and powers of, with regard to express com- 
 panies 112, 113 
 
 proposed duties and powers of, with regard to freight line and 
 
 equipment companies 115 
 
 listing and assessment by 122 
 
 return of abstract to be made to 126 
 
 work of, as State board of review 126, 127 
 
 tax to be levied by, in payment of bonds 127 
 
 appropriation for payment of expense* of 134, 135 
 
 printing and binding for 135 
 
 Tax Commission, Special, report transmitted by members of 3 
 
 legislative provision for-. 5 
 
 members of 6 
 
 meetings of 5 
 
 State systems investigated by 5, 6 
 
 aims and work of 6 
 
 reforms proposed by ..6,7 
 
 recommendations of, 7, 12, 16, 24, 57, 58 
 
 acknowledgment of aid received by 8 
 
 general property tax criticised by. 10 
 
 railroad tax criticised by 15 
 
 recommendation of, as to exemptions 9 
 
 blank forms sent out by 30 
 
 data collected by 34 
 
 criticism by, of present system of equalization 38, 39 
 
 tables prepared by 45, 46 
 
 "actual value" basis for assessment recommended by 48 
 
 reform of assessment system recommended by 50 
 
 recommendation by, as to coun-ty assessor 52 
 
 power of county board of review recommended by 56 
 
 defects of revenue system of Iowa pointed out by 70-74 
 
 explanation of proposed revenue bill by 75-80 
 
 conclusions reached by 75, 76 
 
 proposed re-cbdiflcation of tax laws by 77 
 
 revenue bill proposed by 83-137 
 
 Tax commission bill 6 
 
 Tax Commissioners, State 49, 52 
 
 need of 51 
 
 power of review by 53 
 
 creation of office of 67 
 
 proposed appointment of 85, 86 
 
 term of office of 85 
 
 qualifications of 86 
 
 compensation of 86 
 
 meeting of 86, 87 
 
164 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 Tax commissions, Stato <..... 30 
 
 permanent, movement for 49, 51, 62, 53, 64 
 
 need of < .61, 62, 53 
 
 functions of ^4 
 
 increase of number of ,... • ^"^ 
 
 Tax Conference, National, meeting of 64, 66 
 
 Tax Conference, State, meetings of 6 
 
 Tax ferrets, system of 63 
 
 Tax laws, Iowa, demand for revision of 5 
 
 investigation of 6 
 
 present, proposed repeal of 134 
 
 Tax list, making of 23 
 
 entries on ....96, 130 
 
 correction of. 126 
 
 nature of 131 
 
 certificate upon 131 
 
 Tax aale 131 
 
 Taxation, primary defect of, in Iowa 6, 7 
 
 omplexity of 9 
 
 ad valorem, plan of .12, 13 
 
 exemptions from 14, 17, 18, 19, 94-96 
 
 application of principle of ad valorem. 16, 19, 21, 22 
 
 principles of, in revenue history of Iowa 16 
 
 administrative machinery of 17, 22-24 
 
 basis of equality of 25 
 
 ad valorem, meaning of> in various states 47 
 
 need of equality of, in Iowa 69, 60, 75 
 
 special problems in .....69-74 
 
 need of efficient administrative machinery of 76 
 
 system of procedure in regard to 76 
 
 proposed system of, for Iowa 83-137 
 
 documents pertaining to 88 
 
 evasion of law for 89 
 
 Taxes, collection and distribution of.... 7, 22 
 
 levy of 8, 129 
 
 system of collection of 12 
 
 corporation 13 
 
 railroad, distribution of 15, 16 
 
 corporation, distribution of 15, 16 
 
 levy and collection of 17 
 
 amount of, from 1873 to 1911 25, 26 
 
 corporation, inequality of distribution of 73 
 
 remission of 96 
 
 Taxing districts, collections in 96 
 
 Taxpayers, complaints of 89 
 
 Taylor County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Teamsters 95 
 
 Telegraph companies, assessment and taxation of.. 15, 16, 21, 22, 60, 63, 72 
 
 exemption of shares of 96 
 
 duffes of , 102, 103, 104 
 
 assessment of property of 104, 105 
 
 Telephone companies, assessment and taxation of 16, 21, 22, 60, 63, 72 
 
 exemption of shares of , 95 
 
 duties of 102, 103, 104 
 
 assessment of property of 104, 105 
 
 Tenements, tax on 93 
 
 Tennessee, county board of review in 56 
 
 Texas, assessment system of 61, 67 
 
 review of assessment in 56 
 
 Threshing machines, tax on 93 
 
 Tools, exemption of .• 18, 96 
 
P«B« 
 
 Top«l;a, Kansas ''.<>« 
 
 Towns, duty of councils ot - ■••• *» 
 
 assessors In - — - '••• ' 
 
 assessment rolls of • •*■' ' 
 
 saJe of lots In ^^ 
 
 property of ... > • - ** 
 
 adjustment of assessments of ^^^ 
 
 peddling in 1*2 
 
 Township assessors, provision for ^ 1' 
 
 system of, in various states • *8, 49 
 
 result of system of *9' 5" 
 
 need of state supervision over (see Assessors, local) 51, f2 
 
 Township government, extension of, to Iowa. - 12 
 
 Townships, review by 10, 11, 12, 1* 
 
 duties of trustees of 23 
 
 assessment rolls -of 88> ^^ 
 
 list of sales of land in 92 
 
 property of • 94 
 
 assessment books for 125 
 
 assessed valuation ot property of 12S 
 
 tax levy and bond issue of 1*9 
 
 assessment of 11> 28 
 
 Treasurer, county 11, 28 
 
 collection of taxes by 12, 24, 96, 105, 110, 114, 131 
 
 blank forms sent to 30 
 
 data given by 31 
 
 duty qf , as assessor in Illinois 49 
 
 court decision to be certified to 125, 126 
 
 relevy to be certified to 130 
 
 tax list given to 131 
 
 peddler's tax to be paid to 131 
 
 forfeiture to 132 
 
 Treasurer, State, payment of taxes to 15, 16, 118, 119 
 
 collection of tax by 22, 24 
 
 duty of 116 
 
 Trees, planting of 132, 133 
 
 assessment of groves of 133 
 
 Trust companies, tax on stock of 95 
 
 Trustees 91, 119 
 
 United States, land exempt from taxation in 18, 94 
 
 increase of number of tax commissions in 67 
 
 proposed investigation of tax systems of 89 
 
 University lands 94 
 
 Valuation, assessor's basis of, in low^a. 13 
 
 assessed, total and per capita, from 1856 to 1900 In Iowa 26, 27, 28 
 
 ratio of assessed to £ale, in selected counties 34 
 
 basis of, in various states 47-49, 52 
 
 assessed and actual in Iowa 59, 60 
 
 proposed plan to secure uniformity of 78-87 
 
 supervision over 89 
 
 duty of county assessor as to 91, 92 
 
 code provision as to 119 
 
 Vegetables, sale of 132 
 
 Vehicles, tax on 93 
 
 Vendors, tax on 132 
 
 Vessels, tax on 92 
 
 Villages, ratio of assessed to sale values in 35, 36 
 
 Virginia, assessment system of 52, 53 
 
 review of assessment In 55 
 
 Voss, Chas. N 3,5 
 
158 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 "War of Rebellion 96 
 
 "Warren County 34 
 
 "Wa&hintgon, assessment system of 51, 67 
 
 Washington County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Waterworks, assessment of 20, 101 
 
 construction of, by city 129 
 
 Wayne County, taxable and sale values of realty in 39, 45 
 
 West Union 36 
 
 West Virginia, assessment system of 51, 52 
 
 review of assessment in 56 
 
 sketch of Tax Department of 67, 68 
 
 success of county and state supervision of assessment In 69 
 
 Widows, exemption of 95 
 
 Winn«bago County, assessed value in 31 
 
 Wisconsin, Tax Commission of 30 
 
 assessment system of 53 
 
 functions of State Tax Commission in 55 
 
 . local board on review in 57 
 
 separation of revenue sources in 70 
 
 Witnesses, provision for, in revenue cases 89 
 
 Wool 94 
 
 Wyoming, revenue system of 6, 67