Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-03-01

goods he consumes. In the present case there is
i double imposition, because the farmers and man
uactUrers Of the State taxed upon all the pro-
duce aud manufactured goois they send over the
line 70 market, and are compelled to pay second
tax again upon the return Of the various articles
for which they have made exchange at the COM
Taareial centres Of the seaboard This necessarily
disconrases industry, and retards the development
Of the internal wealth and resources of the State
Viewed in the light of State comfy, Pennsylva-
mia is placed il the attitude Of imposing "a reguls-
tion upon commerce. in contravention Of the
spirit, if not the letter, Of the Federal Constitution
! by assessing an impost ON az goods and products
Of other States east aud west passing over the
/ Pennsylvania road, and in every State in which
/ they are consumed. Even II this legislation be
consumed. Even If this lcgsl tion be constitu-
tional, its nexpendiency and injustice are palpaty
! transparent. 1t is tho imposition Of tribute,
calculated to provoke retaliation, and to destroy
the kindly relations which should ever subsist be-
tween equal menhers Of a great Confederscg.
In the present application OF The Pennsylvania
Railroad theresis, however. involved question of
equity, which is certainly entitled to more than or
| dinary weight. When the thG act for the sale of
! the Main Line passed. it was expressly stipu-
lated in that Law that, in cass the Pennsylvania
| Railroad Company should become the purchasers,
they should, under certain contingencies be forever
discharged from the tonnage tax and all other taxes,
! with certain specified exceptions The Supreme
! Court decided, subsequently, that the grant was
too broad, as il deprived the State forever the right
Of imposing upon the property Of the company the
same taxes levied upon the property of citizens
| The company purchased the works under this i'm
| piled obligation on the part Of the State The
! company have not nov asked to be exempt in any
way from the imposition Of sneh taxes on their
property ard franchises as will place their works
upon equality with similar improvements In
fact they now actually pay in ordinary State taxes
the sum Of $4,000 year, or $1,000 annually
more than the interest at Eve per cent OF 81 800
600, the paFment Of which principal, under tho
terms of he laF determining tie sale OF the Main
Line, was To forever rflaase the cosnaape fra4s
Isausty for ans taxes wh4tever for State purposes
Common fairness would demand tiat the original
intent and purpose of the Legislature of 1857
shonld be faithfully carried out by the removal
of the tonnage tax.
Yet apart from these considerations, which are
enough to justify fhe repeal Of the tax uncoupled
with any conditions, there are reasons furnished in
the bill, now before the Legislature. which place
the subject in still more favorable light. The
company ask simply what is just and reasonable,
and what the State faith already pledged in honor
to confirm.
By the terms of the present bill, the company
! agree to pay the State on account of their pur
chase of the Main Line the sum of $3.50 600 annu-
ally, in lieu of the original sum Of l$l0O,00O. as
settled upon by the act authorizing the sale. Rv
This means, the whole amount of principal and in
.erest, due upon the purchase, win be extingushed
by the S1st July, 1890. thus voluntarily antcipat
ing the payment OF s4,300,000, which would be
still outstanding at the period named if only the
original terms Of the agreement were carried out.
They also agree, nuder heavy penalties for non
iuihiment of the engagement, to reduce the rates
OF local freghts by daducting therefrom the amount
BOW cAaFgeable for tonnage tax. And to prevent
tRe ossloil'tF of any misunderstanding in regard
10 the legislation asked, tie bill contains the fol-
loving honorable and clear provision
"Fartler, The Pennsy yania Railroad COMPANY
shan not at any time charge or collect rates on any
description Of fFeights from any Eastern or sea-
board cities to Pttsburg higher than the gross rates
charged or collected from points to any point
west OF Pttsburg. Nor shall the said Penn " Iva
Mn Railroad Company at anY time charge or col j
ect rates on any description OF freights from Pitts
barS TO Philadelphia, Baltimore New York or (
other seaaord cities higher than the gross rates that
MAY pe charged from any point west OF PittsbHrg |
10 the same points on the description OF pro-
perty The local rates from Pitts5urg or Phladel-
Phia 70 stations on the line of the Pennsylvania |
railroad shall at no time exceed the gross rates |
charged through between Philadelphia and Pitts
uHlg nor sha local rates between any two stations
on the road between Philadelpha and Pttsburg ex.
ceea the through rates ag made from Tina
under the provisions Of this act nor shall the rates
charged TO any local points exceed those charged !
TO any point OF greater distance in the direc-
ton from the place of Shipment
This provision efectuaIly disarms anv opposition
that could be reasonably urged against the bill on
the ground of its possibly acting partially for the
interests of any portion of the State So Just and
fair is it that the Board of Trade of Pitsburg who
nave hitherto been adverse to the policy have now
gwen to the measure the strength of their moral
support Gov. Johnson, of Pennsylvania, was
chairman of the committee to whom the subject of
the bill was referred, and the favorable report of
the committee, who are the most prominent men
IN the business circles of Pittsburg, was endorsed
unanimously by the Board at very full meeting.
The company further agree to settle the contro I
versy now pending between them and the State. nv /
advancing the whole sum in dispute, being the
amount Of tax accured since August 1857, to nine
railroaas OF the interior, in an unfinished
condition, but which, under the stimulus Of aid I
thus guaranteed, must become profitable to the
counties through which they pess. and thus con- |
tribute largely to the income Of the State bs be-
coming tax paying enterprises.
Tnese considerations entitle the bill proposed to
the candid, impartial Judgment Of all parties. We
alike to the State and to the company. The whole |
temper Of the times is against all unjust discrimi-
nations calculated 10 disturb the free movement Of