Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1862-02-19
The Tonnage Tax.

The Tonnage Tax.
j bill has recently been introduced into
the Legislature, to restore the tax on the
tonnage of the Pennsylvania Rail Roat
which was commuted last winter. We hope
the bill will become law before the close
Of the present session. At the present
time, when we are likely to become en-
phatically tax ridden people, and wLen
the poor man is even taxed heavily for bis
two great luzuIies, tea and coffee, it is Ger
tainly right that such wealthy corporations
IS the Pennsylvania Rail Road company
should be compelled to bear their share Of
the burthen Of supporting the Government.
Our readers will recolect, that this was
one of the very few country newspapers
which opposed the repeal of the tonnage
TAX by the Legislature last winter. For do.
ing so, we encountered not a little censure
from open enemies and pretended friends-
We were accused with opposing the best
interests cf our county and State, and with
being actuated by unreasonable prejudice
against the company. We felt confident at
the time, however, that those who honestly
advocated the measure as wise ard judicious
would soon get their eyes open And this
has been the case, for Just now, many who
were the staunchest advocates o. Repeal
are now the loudcst IL urging tie restcra>
tion of the tax.
What benefits have the people Of Penn
sylvauia derived from the Communication vi
the tonnage tax? Has the company since
then Disseminated in favor Of way freight
Has the rate Of freight been perceptibly y re-
duced, or has it not rather been increased
have not many Of those engaged N exporting
Eastward, articles from this county. encoun-
tered frequently, annoying and enbarras-
sing delays in forwarding their articles or
merchandise over the road Az Of these
questions we confidently answer in the af-
frmative- The great OF rather the only
object of the company, seems to be to make
mC-ey- without taking the trouble of pau
siLg to consider whether its policy Is bcne-
fitting or injuring the communities
through which its road passes. In this /: is
but actuated BY a spirit, common to all
mammoth corporations. They have. as Sir
Edward Coke gravely informs Us, no souls.
and have therefore. no interests or Svmpa-
thies in common with the great mass Of the
community. In them is more thoroughly
ILLUSTRATED than elsewhere. the oppressor's
wrong, the proud mans contumcIy.' that
contempt of public censure; that spirit
OF tyranny and oppression. which immense
wealth alone can give. II is an extraOrdi>
nary thing. to see corporation. the special
pet and favorite of the people Of Pennsylva-
mia, But in saying this. we 60 too far. 1t
never has been a favorite with the citizens,
the tax payers of this State. Fut its mon
ey made it pet and favorite with a ma
jority of the members Of the legislature
last winter. Or at least this Is the univer-
sal impression at the present time. among
the 'sOvereigns.' The charge of having
resorted TO bribery and corruption in pro
curing the passage Of the Repeal law last
winter, has been openly made against the
company, in both branches Of the Lcgisla-
ture. during the present session, and the
House has appointed , committe 10 iuves>
tigate the matter. What the rrsult Df the
investigation will lie, it il At present irnpos
sible TO say. II may be that thosa Who had
the matt er in charge Iast winter. s1cccedod
in covering their tracks so efTectualIy rs to
destroy all vestiges of their trail but. even
If the investigation should prove an ALSO
iute failure, the people will still believe that
there was something rotten in this kingdom
Of Denmark when the Repeal law was
passed.
But be this as it may. we MAINTAIN that at
this time when taxation Is the order Of the
day, it Is unjust that the Pennsylvania Rail
Road Company should be released from bear
ing its share Of the burden. 1t is certainly
better able To DO SO, than the hard listed
mechanic and tho honest industrious farmer
While the people have been generally ser
ionsly injured in their bust ness bv the war,
the Rail Road Company has made money
''lt Of i Il has Increased q al rxtra,.r,linar,