Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-03-01
la Act for the Communication Of fhe
Tonnage Tax.

The following Is the bill passed BY thr
House, and now before the Sanats
WHEREAS, By provision Of the Act to in,
corporate the Pennsylvania Railroad COMPANY
approved the 18th of April, eighteen hundred
and forty eight, tax or duty was imposed on
all tonnage loaded or received at Harrisburg
Pittsbure and intermediate poiats, and carried
or conveyed on the Railroad Of said company
more than twenty miles, which said tax was
intended to compensate for any probable dimi-
nnuon 10 tia receipts Of iha Msia Line ae The
Public Works, tfheu owned by the STATED by
rcasou Of thu construction and operation Of
the said Railroad.
lind arbereas, Ii was provided IN the third
section Of the Act FOR the sale Of the Main
Line of the Public Works, approved the six,
teenth day Of Aay, eigateeu aupdfei cad fftY
seven, thot if the Pennsylvani4 Railroad con-
psay sheuld become ths purchasers Of tie said
works, the said company, n addition to tie
sam Of seven millions Eve hundred thousand
dollars (S7, ,50G,00l the price limited by the
said Aot should pay the sum Of one million
Eve hundred thousand d9llars ( / 800 ,000) 10
Ave per cent. bonds Of the company, and thet
thereupoH the said company, and the Hargls-
burg, Portsmouth, Mount joy and Lancaster
Railroad company should, 10 consideration
thereof, be discharged by the Commonwealth
forever from the payment Of all taxes upon
tonnage or freight carried ever said Railroads,
and the said PennsylEania Railroad company
should be released from fbe payment Of all
other taxes or duties en- its capital atocE, bon IS
dividends Or property.
.dad w5sreaS, 1t was subsequently, decided
by The Supreme Court Of this Commonwealth,
that while ibe Legislature had full authority
TO repeal the provisions Of The said Acts, by
which the said tounage tax waa imposed, yet,
iaasnneh a. part Of lie said last mentioned
section IN the Act for the fale Of the Main
liae placed al the property OF the said com
pnny beyond the resch OF tho taxing power, ii
was, therefore, 10 that extent, nDconstitas ional
and VOID.
ind uttere4s, Il vas the cloar attention Of
fhs Leal.ilsiura, tn the saia At for thassals Of
the MAin Line, IN case the said Peansylvsnia
Railroad company should become the purcha-
ser Of ihe same, 10 ezhonerase and release the
said company from further liability for The
payment Of said tonnage tax, and for the ad-
ditional consideration therein named all other
taxes: and IS The said tonnage tax now calls
indirectly ou -four, grain, cattle, iron, minerals
and other domestic proSucts, transported on
one line OF improvements, while similar pro-
ducts, transported on other lines, are ex-
empt from the same; and as the reason for Tho
imposition thereof ceased to exist oH the sale
OF the works It vas intended 10 project, the
right of the State any longer TO demand the
payment of the said tax is denied, and said de-
mand has led TO litigation between the State
aud the company, and will probably Involve
the parties in litigation with citizens Of other
States, to the injury OF our internal trade and
which 1T is the duty of the govern
ncut TO encourage aud protect, by all lawful
means.
find ichereas, The said company has pgopo-
'ed compromise and fnal settlement Of the
question, BY paying into the Treasury, in com
mutation OF the said tonnage tax aud in dis
'harge thereof, such additional sum semi-annu-
lily, over and above the instalments of princi
,sl and the interest its debt to the State, as
nay be required to make said payment amount
Q four hundred and sixty thousand dollars
($46,0000,) annually, until the year 1890, |
It which time the entire balance of the
the principal and interest shall be paid in full;
lud by paying, also, in addition to the said
instalments, all other taxes ON
heir property to which they may here4fter be
iable under the general rereuue laws of the |
State, and agree TO make reductions for trans
)ortation of local trade, aS hereinafter provided
md to aid, also, in the construction of certain |
ateral railroads, the completion of which is
as b means of facilitating the settle
nent and Improvement of valuable districts Of |
hn !atr mon not oJ
find 'chersas, In the opinion Of this Legis.
ature, il Is expedient 10 accept the said prop
'stiou, and to relieve all agricultural, mineral |
md industrial products, aud other property
PASSING over any railroad, canal or slack water |
navigation in this Commonwealth, from the
payment Of tonnage tex or duty 10 the State; /
therefore,
SEC. |. Be 1t enacted By tie Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of The Commors-
oeattt Of Pennsylvania, IN General .7ssembrp4
net, aud 1t as hereby enacted by the authorav /
i the Sanae, That it majority of the Direot- I
'rs of the Pennsylvania Railroad COMPANY. |
sho, for the purposes Of this act are hereby |
rested with all needful authority, shslI al 1 /
Meeting called for tue purpose, resolve to 40.
'ept the provisions Of this Act, and shall au~ /
horlzs the execution Of written contract un- |
Ter its corporate seal win the Commonwealth
Il Pennsy wanna, to pay iato the State Treasu- I
y on account of its indebledaess to the Com
BY reason of the purchase Of the /
'tain Line of the Public Works, on the thnty- |
irst days Of January and July ia every year.
lntil the thilty first day Of July, eighteen
lundred aud ninety, inclusive, such sum, in
.ddition to the Interest on its boads owned by |
he State, aud 10 addition to its anuoal liability
Q the Slate % account OF purchase money for
Did tine Of improvements, as will Increase each
enil-apnaAi payment oa account of said 10bt
nd lhfetfst 70 the sum Of two huadfad aai
iitty tlasssad dollars, t230,000) and the az
,fegste u all sueh payments to the SUN Of
hirsean millions five hundred aud seventy