The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-01-19

bic difficulty which presented itself in the way
of this enterprise, was the prejudicial effect such
a work might have upon the business and profits
ofthe main line of the public Improvements. =
II was urged on the one hand, that the State
works had been constructed at the expense oi
the people of the entire Commonwealth-tha
those residing in the extreme portions of the
State, as we'll as those of the interior, had, an
nualiy, contributed towards the payment Of the
interest on the debt which had thus been con-
tracted; and, therefore, the Legislature could
not, consistently with the principles Of justice
and equity, make grant that would depreciate
the value Of property which belonged to all.
for the purpose Of fostering the growth and
prosperity of particular portion of the State.
Good faith and correct moral principle forbade
such action. Cn the other hand, it was alieg-
ed that the increased business which such an
Improvement would throw upon the Columbia
railroad, and The enhancpd value of property
adjacent to the proposed road, from which the
State would derive increased revenue in the
form Of taxes would constitute an ample renu-
neraton 10 her Golfers, and thus do foil justice
10 he people as the owners of the works to be
affected But majority of the Legislature
concluded that some additional benefits were
demanded, and hence the adoption of the pro-
vision 10 which have referred.
The stock was subscribed with a full knowl-
edge Of this reservation, and the acceptance of
the charter by the company, was the consum-
nation Of solemn agreement between them
and the State.
Yet, under the specious plea that it imposes
a tax on trade, the Commonwealth is now ask
ed to relinqniSEl this condition: and the case is
argued as though i; had been the policy of the
law that the company should impose this charge
Of three mills per ton upon every specIrs Of pro-
perty which may pass over lis road: and, in this
way, il is very readily shown that on coal, iron,
lumber, and other cheap tonnage, this charge
would be too great. Bot the company are not
obliged to assess this tax on all kinds of tonnage;
nor was it the intention Of the act that they
should do so. The design was to make an ex-
action from the nett profits Of the company, for
the use of the public Golfers, as a compensation
for valuable grant, aud thereby protect the
public improvements from the competition OF
this new rival. The tax on tonnage, therefore,
was intended to indicate only The mode of as
certaining the sum to be paid, and not the spe-
cfic tonnage on which ii should be charged
When the sum is in this way aseertaiRed, it
matters not to the State how the company OBJ
tainS the money: whether it be by charges on
freight, or on passengerS-on local or on thrO'
tonnage Should, therefore, certain ki3ds Of
tonnage be improperly oppressed, The fault is
with the company, not in the law. And sure
lv it will not be cortended that the protection
thus thrown around the works Of The State is
unnecessary: 50 far from this the wisdom and u
r Of fba
has already been made manifest. The very ex-
igency anticipated by the Legislature has arisen:
the competition OF the railroad is already seri-
ously felt by the main linz. Relieved from
this restraint, but meagre portion of the carry
ing trade would be left for that branch of our
improvements Nor will it be contended that
the Commonwealth does not need this source Of
revenue.
But, viewed alone, as matter interesting to
the owners and ttansporters of tonnage, what
guarantee would they have that the rates Of
would be reduced, were this tax
taken off? None whatever. The company
would charge as heretofore, and thus realize the
amount of the tax in addition to their present
profits. Ifthey should not do this, their action
would differ from that of similar corporations un-
der like circumstances. But TO admit, what Is
claimed, that a reduction in the charges OF
to similar extent, would take
place, il must be- perceived would duplicate the
loss TO the State; for she'would not only thereby
lose the amount Of the three mill tax, but be de-
prved Of very large porilonof tonnage which
would be attracted to fhe company's road by
This reduction in the rates Of transportation.-
We are thus brought 10 the simple inquiry,
al.
come, to which she is so lnstly entitled, or whe-
ther she shall give il to The rail road company.
Most certainly The latter alternative should not
be adopted, so long as the question of selling the
State improvements remains undecided.
Asa mere revenue measure, this tax consti-
lutes an important and increasing item in the
annual receipts of the Treasury. In The year
1888, it amounted to the sum of $4,000, and
or the year 1854, to Sl3l, 900.
That this amount will be materially increas-
ID hereafter, is self-eyident If this important
item be- Withdrawn from the Sinking Fund,
here will be but little left to sustain its opera
ions.
! am aware that these views may be met with
he plausible Argument that trade and commerce
,honld not be thus burthened-that the effect
5 preiudicIal TO the business of the State. This
$ true TO certain extent, aud should have its
ull weight in the adjustment OF question OF
his character. But it will scarcely be conien-
ed that trade aud commerce should be sustain
d bv contributions from a needy Treasury
)n this principle, it could as reasonably be
maintained that the State should make no char
res whatever for the use OF her own works.
The administration OF Gov. Skunk commen-
ed the cancellation of the relief issues and
hat of my immediate predecessor arrested the
process, leaving $650,l63 90 OF this uusigbtly
currency in circulation. In the spring OF '53,
he policy of cancellation was again resumed;
nd up to this date. S4S5. .3S4 So had been re-