The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-27

of dividends, would be regarded as un.
friendly legislation, and would be detri.
mental to the great interests OF Iowa. He
showed that the vast increase OF population
in Iowa for the last thirteen years, from
100, 600 to upwards Of 700, 600 souls, from .
representation in Congress Of only two
members up to six, could be attributed te
nothing else than the influence Of railroads,
present and prospective, operating through
that period OF time. That a tax OF at least
one and one-half per cent. upon $lO,OOO O,Ot
of property at its assessed value would I'M
pose about $4,000 yearly upon each OF the
main lines at time when none OF them
were making dollar of profit. and would
be contrary TO the liberal spirit which had
Influenced the people and their Represen-
tatives heretofore. lie remarked that the
eastern one third Of the State, having three
fourths of the whole population, would be
benefited by the system OF taxation pro-
posed, and the remaining tWO-thlrds under
the influence Of the distrust created among
capitalists eastward, might be left for
years without having their hopes consum-
mated. That our western country had
numbers Of inhabitants who had purchase
Ell, settled, and improved in anticipation q
the advent of railroads, and that It would
be unfair in eastern counties 70 ieSlslate
seltishly for their own interest after having
been accommodated to suit themselves
Senator from Des MOines (Mr. FOote) that
railroad influence could be perceived
throughout the Chamber, by acknowledge
ing the fact and regarding it as hopeful
sign-he was glad to see the members viii
ling 10 take the part Of the railroads, and
only felt inclined to deprecate the presence
ofunwarranted railroad prejudice, disposed
to operate detrimentally to the true inter
ests Of the State. He also replied to The
Senator from Wapello (Mr. Dixonl who
assumed the position that all property
should be equally taxed, wishing reason
Why railroad property should be excluded,
by stating the Immense benefit derived
from railroads in increasing the population,
capital, and assessed value Of the State
He concluded by stating that he believed
we should not pass the bill, but rely upon
the operation of the Act Ofthe Ninth Gene
raj Assembly in relation TO the subject, and
such notifications as might be prompted
by future state of things, when railroads
would be more remunerative Or when en-
tirely completed; and expressed that his
colleague (Mr. Gue) had properly stated
the opinion of their joint constituency,
when he asserted on the floor yesterday,
that in relation to imposing additional and
unfriendiy burdens on our internal inn
provements, no approving sentiment would
be found in Scott.
Senator Udell said that the principle o.
taxation had been greatly changed within
the past few wears. The whole tendency
was in favor Of uniform taxation-an equal
burden on all descriptions Of property ac-
cording to its value. He had always been
| u friend to railroads-had always voted
against measures supposed to be unfriend-
ly TO them. But could not see on what
principle of justice, equity or policy they
could ask exemption, when our assessors
met the poor emigrantas soon as he reach
es his home within our borders, and tax
the old team that brings him here, and tax
every improvement he makes, and every
| cent he adds to the wealth of the State by
his labor. Hewas tired of lobby influences
| and thought this question ought to be set
tied on principles of right.
COmmifteR arose. elc.