The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-02-28

accomplished by liberal policy, without
expenditure by the State; aud, without
increased prosperity-the Sire progress
sing as slowly III the future as IN the past,
which seems very unlikely-we shall,
with judicious management, be free from
debt before tlle year 1880.
Having thus proven what the regular
revenue Of the State IS competent to eject,
We proceed to inqcire
WHAT TIE PENNsYLVANIA RAILROAD
COMPANY is WILLING TO DO IN AID OF
THE STATE AND HER CITIZENS.
As the corporations and citizens who
own the Railroad are deeply interested IN
the prosperity Of the State, they desire,
to the lall extent which can be expected
Of them, to unite IN an effort to accom-
plish the results, shown to be so generally
advantageous, conscquent on the repeal OF
the tonnage tax and for this end, and to
avoid long litigation between those having
a common interest, are willing TO make an
arrangement for settling all present and
impending controversies, by communication
Of the tonnage duty BOW claimed by the
State, on the following terms:
lst To pay 10 the State four hundred
and sixty thousand dollars yearly, until
the year 1890, in serhi-annual payments,
in Communication OF the tonnage tax, and
on account of the principal and interest
due on the purchase Of the Main Line
the entire balance due in 1890 to be then
paid This sum, added to over SS0,0G0
per annuRl tor ordinary taxes, as now paid,
on their property. viii make the entire
amount, paid yearly By the Company TO
the State, exceed haJf q 71ijiiost u do91drs
ID To settle the controversy now pen
ding between the Company and the State,
BY advancing. for the internal improve
ments Of the Commonwealth, the whole
sum in dispute, being the tax accrued
from August /, 1897, to the following
Railroads, in proportion TO their length,
namelys
The Charters Valley.
The Pittsburg and Steubenyille.
The Fayotte County.
The West Pennsylvania.
The Ebensburg and Cresson.
The Hopeweli and Bedford.
The Tyrone and Cleartield.
The Mifslin and Centre County.
The Chambersburg and Allegheny.
Sd. 10 reduce the rates Of local freight
by dcductine thoreirom the amount now
chargeable for tonnage tax. This obliga-
ton to be general, and It's violation to
render the offending Company liable for
double the amount Of the present tonnage
tax.
4th The Company TO be always liable
for al taxes which are or may be imposed
by any general law upon other railroads
Tor State purposes
1t IS believed that this plain statement
vindicates Itself, and that argument, to
sustain its justice and wisdom, is needless.
il will be reccllected, that by the Main
Line law il was provided that the pay
ment OF 81 $50 coo shcald forever release
;he Company from liability for any taxes
whatever for State purposes. The prop
erty OF the Company now yields the State
a revenue Of over SS0,G00 per year, which
is $4,000 more than the interest, at five
per cent, of 81 500, ,000; so that, at the
rate Of interest fixed IL the law under
which the Company bought the Main
line, they are now actually paying an
amount OF taxes which more than repre-
sents the sum which was to release them.
1t follows that strong equity arises in
their favor against the payment Of the
tonnage tax, for, to compel them to pay 1t
is, in effect, TO obtain for the State all the
compensation for all the taxes provided by
the Act Of Assembly Of 1887, and 20 hold
The Company, at the same time, to the
larger portion Of the taxation from which
the Legislature agreed TO release them
This equity appeal not less strongly 10
every honest mans sense Of justice, he
cause, On i mere technical point, the SG-
preme Court decided that, as 4 contract,
this was void. On the contrary. as the
/ Court declared that, although the I.eeisla-
ture could not bind its successors. it was
/ competent to simple repeal of the law
( which imposes the tonnage tax, and as the
/ Company now asks only the repeat of that
+ t;S, and to be put under such general
/ laws as the Legislature may at any time
i see ct to enact, the moral obligation of
I the State TO do what it agreed TO do, mod
4 fled only by the restriction imposed by
/ the Court, becomes apparent. The Com
pany asks 30 REIMBURSEMENT or impair
incnt Of the Legislative power, no release
4 from ordinary taxation, no advantage over
any other person or corporation, bat only
fair play in bearing her equal share of the
public burthens
That this act of simple Justice is hor-
! estly asked to enable the Company fully
to fulfil her function of serving the public
at the lowest possible price is evident
{. from their willingness to abate tse rates