The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-28
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IF this were the oppression of few, it
would be impolitic and unjust; but affect
ing, as it does, directly or indirectly, about
one-haf of the entire population Of the
Commonwealth, the wrong IS monsrously
magnifed in extent, though not IN kind.
This species of wrong is, of ali o,hers,
the most mischievous for, as intercourse
is at once the chief cause and consequence
of civilization, obstruction of intercourse
strikes at the highest and dearest interests
Of ,he human race That iulposts on
transport tend to diminish exchange of
| commodities, cannot be disputed. This is
what Pennsylvania does by the tonnage
tax, and in this respect, therefore, her
| laws infiict enormous evils on her people.
This taxation has net even the selfish
excuse that it is levied on strangers, OF
that it is commercial hostility to foreign
ers, or that 1t Is for protection against
competition from abroad. II is directed
against our own citizens, violates CONNER
cia! aXioms, protects only rival routes thro'
other States, stabs the yitals OF domestic
prosperity.
! OBJECTIONS TO THE REPEAL OF TIE TAX.
We. are met, at the outset, by the Oh
lection that the acceptance Of the charter
formed contract between the Company
and the State for the payment Of this tax,
and therefore shat II oughtnot to be repeal
cd
f this objection is good for any thing
I L. ctth mn /
can only be on the double assumption of
the infailibility Of the legislature Of 1916,
and their prospective power to bind ali
succeeding legislatures. II IS, n short,
an af,erthoa-lt, investing mere mortals
with omujscience aud omnipotence. As
this cannot be, the subject Is to be exam
iued, like any other, on the ground that
the tonnage FAX IS not excepted from the
constitutional powers OF the legislature,
but that the legislature Of 1861 is compe-
tent to tie performance Of all It's functions;
in short, shat it IS an open question o1
public policy and private Justice. Such
was the view taken BY the supreme Court,
who declared IN the Main Line case that
''thoTe was no constitutional objection 10
the repeal Of the tonnage tax OF any other
tax, whenever the legislature, in the eI-
cGcise of h.cir discretion, shall tl.inh prop
CT to pass scch q law
THIS also was the view thrice taken by
the legislature in regard to this very Com
pany o0 this very subject, namely in the
acts OF 1918, OF 1859 and Of 1897.
The legislature, bound to consider Of
tie enlarged interests Of the entire people,
always acted Oh this and kindred subjects
IN such mode Us their decmentindicated
ard have repeatedly exercised their pow
CTS so as to meet the necessities OF the
internal Improvement corporations which
they have created, or the wants of the
people interested in their completion OF
Management.
RIVAL ROUTES.
The Central Railroad OF New York,
running through the same country as the
New ork and Erie Canal, which, Ike
ours, was built by the State, was originally
subjected to q tax on tonnage for the pro-
lection of the interests OF the State in the
Canal. The Pennsylvania Railroad was
opened sufficiently tor through business
in 1851 and the same gear and to meet
lie ,FyGly of It1ul@yEvsn5a, at length about
to use her long slumbering strength, the
legislature Of New York REPEALED the
law which taxed her Railroads, declaring
''it shall not be necessary for any Rail-
read Company in this State to pay any
sums OF money into the treasury OF this
State, ON account Of the transportation of
property on any Railroad on and after the
lst day OF December, l651'
Into this contest then the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad entered, herrivals being the Now
York Central, just released from the ton
tax. and the New York and Erie and Bal
tinlore and Ohio Roads each sustained by
the money and credit OF their respective
States j he Pennsylvania road, on the
contrary, never received Il dollar, either
of contribution, subscription, or credit
from the State. Nor does she now seek
such aid The Company simply desire
that their work shall ,5e placed upon an
equality with all other roads in this Com
monwcalth, in order that the people along
the line directly interested may be bene-
fitted by lower rates for transportation,
and the foreign commerce Of our State be
secured on equal terms with our rivals
THE less Jmrt1tea. imposed by legislation, tie
greater ability of the Company to effect
tie Jensfcem Objects far ,chtch II soos ere
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