The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-02-21
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through which it passed was almost 2
barren waste before the road was con
structed; the few people who. resided
along the route had become cirilized'
and the value of the land had been
greatly increased. He didpotthink the
position assumed by the citizens OF
wheeling was calculated to advance the
interests Of the city or State; he could
not see why Wheeling menshould be SO
much opposed to a thoroughfare which
brought thousands Of dollars monthly
into the city; he could not sec why lit
tie towns in the interior of the. State,
which had been built up by the road,
should attempt to cripple the road, as
such o course would undoubtedly be
detrimental to their every interest.
After speaking thirty minutes, Mr.. W:
gave way to BENZ. Stanton, Esq. Mr. s.
said he fully coucurred with his oppo-
nent in his views on internal improve
ments, but could see no reason why in
corporations making such improve
ments should be exempt from taxation.
Capital and enterprise, tended TO de-
velop the of the State, and
with that development came increased
expenses in every department OF the
State and county. Why should not cap
ital and enterprise pay its increased ex-
pense. No corporation would build a
railroad merely to develop the resources
of a State. Capitalists wanted inter-
est on their money, and would not in
vest it unless there was q probability OF
getting it. As TO the bill now proposed
he cared but little; he did not think 1t
was a sound principle to compromise in
that way; the Legislature had no
power to change the rate of
taxation; if it could be done for
FIVE years it could be done for
fifty. If the charter did not fix the
rate of taxation, the Constitution did,
and the case was a clear one. 1t was
said the Company would remove its
shops to Bellaire; if they did he was
sure they would pay for it;it would be
"out of the frying pan into the fire J" he
was confident the Company would do
what they considered to their interest.
The law of the State required railroads
to make q return of the valuation OF
their property, under oath; the Balti-
more and Ohio Company had failed to
do so, and if errors were made they
were responsible for them; had they
done their duty, the difficulty in regard
to assessment would not have arisen.
Another thirty minutes having
elapsed, Mr.. Woodman again took the
stand. He desired to know why the
city of Wheeling had agreed to the con-
struction Of street railway, and bound
itself to let the corporation so Scott
freei it was because the city desired
to fostersuch improvements; he thought
it weuld do better to compromise with
the Baltimore road for five years for
the sum of one hundred and seventy
five thousand dollars, than to 60 into
a hundred different suits, which,
be decided as they may, would be car
ried up to the higher Courts. In
assessing the taxes upon the line
of the road the total cost of tunnels
had be anestimated; yes, wherever u hole
had been bored the assessors had count
ed the actual expense; where a bridge
had been built at a cost of $4,000, de-
stroyed during the war and rebuilt for
So, 900, it had been assessed at $500;
no wonder there was a controversy as
to the tax; the estimates were not prop
erly made, and hence the road took ex-
ceptions to them. He did not think
the Senate had acted right in indefinite
ly postponing the Bill; it should
have been brought up and dis
cussed; the subject should have
been fully investigated and impartially
decided one way OIL the other. The
Central Ohio road had been starved to
death, and the Baltimore road had TAX
en- charge of it. The Northwestern road
had become bankrupt, and the Balti-
more road had taken it and expended
millions of dollars in putting it in re-
pair. The Baltimore road had never
made anything, much less six per cent,
upon that portion of their line in West
Virginia. The true policy of the State
was to encourage such enterprises and
compromise the difficulties now pend
ing.
MI. Stanton again replied. He said
the Baltimore road was q taxpayer just
the same as we were. The Legislature
would not compromise with us, in rela-
ton to our taxes, and why should it do
so with a corporation. If the road did
not owe anything, they would not have
anything to pay; if they did, let them
pay it. They say they want to avoid
lawsuits; if SO, let them conform with
the laws. He was opposed to indiscrim-
nation; if the property of the road was
too highly valued, let the company obey
the law and make returns of their prop
erty. The city Of Wheeling had agreed, it
was true, to exempt the street railway
from taxation, but they had limited the
time. The Baltimore road wanted per-
petual charter. Why should not iron
mills he exempted from taxation upon
the same ground as railroad companies.
The law of Virginia, under which the
road was built, and which is still in force
in this State, provides that when the
profits of q railroad exceed six per cent.
the rates shall be reduced; the Camden
and Amboy Railroad Company was pop