The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-07
Taxing Central Rail Road Lands.

The bill introduced in the senate Of this
state to tax such Of the lands Of the Illinois
Central Railroad Company as have been sold
on long time, before the final payment has
been made, is exciting some newspaper at
tention, and calling out various comments.
We find in the correspondence OF the Uni
cago Press, a report Of Mr.. Cooks remarks
on the subject, which we insert below as
showing the nature of the objections urged
by the opponents Of the measure. We are
not lawyer enough to discuss the question
with sable senator's" but we have had a
cease in point" at Ottawa, which may throw
some light on tho subject. The property in
the hands Of the Trustees Of the Illinois and
Michigan Canal is not taxable by the laws
of this State until ''sold and conveyed" and
as some of this property in Ottawa is at
present leased, the lessces few years ago
resisted the payment of city taxes, and the
case went from the County to the Supreme
Court. The latter court held that although
the property of the State could not be taxed,
the imperfect or qualified title Of the lessees
could be taxed-as real estate. The Central
Railroad Company sell land at s. an acre,
on ten and fifteen years time. Before the
final payment, this land, by being improved,
&C., is worth $50 and $50 an acre. The in
choate or qualified title Of the purchaser
thus becomes an estate to him worth half
dozen times the original price of the land.
Shall this property not be taxed? The
Railroad Company may fut off the final
payment Of one or two per cent. Of the orig
inal price ninety-nine years, and on the
principle that these lands cannot be taxed
until "fully sold and conveyed" the estate
may DO defrauded indefinitely Of its reve-
nue.. This may not be law, but it looks to
us like sense.
The declaimcr Of Mr. c. that he is ''not an
attorney fer the company" seems intended
as fling at somebody, yet We can hardly
imagine that it was aimed at Gov Bissel
1t was not, however, out of place, for though
Mr.. c. may not now be, there is no doubt he
has, in some cases lately, been ''an attorney
for the company"
but 10 the speech OIL hr. look
Mr.. Cook said he wished to speak on the
merits of the bill; and he hoped he would
be permitted to do SO without being charged
by inuendo with being an attorney OF the
Company" lie was in favor of carrying
out the provisions Of the contract made by
the State with the Company. lie stated the
provisions of the contract as he understood
them. 1t provides that all those lands shall
be exempt from taxation until the same
shall have been 'sold anil conveyed by the
Company" The bill before the Senate pro-
poses TO tax the lands as soon as they may
be sold, and before they are conveyed. 1t
would be reputation; and he hoped Sena-
tors would never consent to disgrace the
State by violating the contract. To Illus
tratc: suppose some person buys from the
Company a quarter section Of land, and pays
five or ten per cent. of the purchase money.
The purchaser receives possession with the
understanding that he shall not have to pay
taxes on the land until he shall have paid
for it and received deed for the same. To
tax the lands would be TO cheat the Compa-
ny cut of part Of the consideration agreed
10 be granted by the State. 1t would de-
press the value Of the land and this Legis-
, lature has no more right TO depress the value
Of their property by taxing il, than by other
means. Mr.. Cook presented the subject in
its true light and his clear, succinct, logical
reasoning showed to the Senate the true
object Of the bill, and laid il bare before the
House in all its deformity as proposition to
legaliZe breach Of faith-a violation of con-
tract-a corrupt scheme of reputation,
which would forever disgrace the State; and
he protested against such course.