FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IX. 601 

 CONTINUATION OF MR. THORNE'S ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen, I have to leave at six o'clock; that will give me twenty- 

 three minutes, according to my watch — which is a very appropriate 

 number. 



In your personal experience I know that you have found this to be 

 true: You reach a conclusion as the result of many facts of which you 

 have personal knowledge. To state the reasons for reaching a given con- 

 clusion is sometimes quite difficult in a limited space of time; you can 

 not do it satisfactorily to yourself or to others. I can state to you some 

 of the facts and some of the experiences that I have had which have led 

 to the conclusions at which I have arrived, but I am afraid that you will 

 have to take our conclusions sometimes on faith. The better way to do 

 is to have men of your own organization keeping in constant touch with 

 the matter, and then accept their conclusions, unless you yourselves are 

 willing to take the time to perform the labor to make the personal investi- 

 gation, which is still better. 



I state this as a positive conclusion of my experience: The consumers 

 and the producers of this state and of this country can not rely upon the 

 manufacturers or jobbers to look after their interests. In support of that, 

 I want to cite a few facts. Further, this is true: You are not getting the 

 facts presented to you in magazines and newspapers of today which are 

 necessary to reach an unbiased decision as to issues. I had intended to 

 discuss the taxation in Iowa, but will only be able to touch upon it very 

 briefly. 



Two years ago, Mr. Pierce, of Marshalltown, asked me if I could gather 

 some facts relative to the valuation and taxation of railroads in this state. 

 I attended the hearing before the executive council. Mr. George C. White 

 made a few remarks. So far as gathering of evidence and facts on your 

 side of the case, those that I presented were all that were presented. 

 The railroads were represented by fifteen or twenty attorneys and ex- 

 perts. At the last hearing before the executive council, no one presented 

 facts or arguments, so far as I know, in detail in your side of the case. 

 Again, the railroads were represented by a great corps of people. With 

 that method of action, gentlemen, you can not expect your interests to be 

 adequately cared for. The moral effect of that great crowd of people 

 representing one side is tremendous upon the minds of the persons 

 reaching the conclusions. 



I am going to read to you just what was stated to the executive council 

 in regard to the taxation of Iowa farms and railroads. I do not know 

 of my own personal knowledge what should be the taxes on Iowa rail- 

 roads and Iowa farms. Iowa farms may not be taxed enough; I do not 

 know. I am going to present to you some very significant facts: 



If the railroads in this state paid the same taxes per mile of line that 

 they do in Minnesota, they would be paying $1,500,000 more than they 

 are. If they paid the same per mile that they do in Wisconsin, they would 

 be paying $1,800,000 more than they are; if the same as in Illinois, $2,- 

 300,000 more; if the same as in Ohio, $4,000,000 more; if the same as in 

 Michigan, $2,200,000 more; if the same as in Indiana, $2,900,000 more; if 



