The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-01-31

rho I'M now hefnre the Legislature

Tn. state vs.. the Baltimore and OHIO
Railroad =
The hill now before the Legislature |
In regard to the claim of the tate
against the Baltimore and Ohio road for
arrears oftaxes, is substantially, as we
understand it, the same bill that was
defeated in the closing hours of the last
session. 1t proposes, as that one did,
TO compromise the Indebtedness ofthe
road to the State, and the respective
counties, for s25, 600, and in the future
TO pay tax of one mill per mile ior
each passenger.
We understand that the railroad COM
many estimate that their proposition
woula give to the State hereaf-
far an average revenue of about
S20 OOoa wear, which would, as any one
can readily see, be but mere fraction
of what would otherwise be claimed
under the general tax law of the State.
The company are now held liable for
not less than 100000 of back taxes,
which have accrued since the formation
OF the State of West Virginia, to say
nothing about arrears due to the old
State, the right to collect whidh was eX-
pressly conceded to the new State by
the reorganized Government of Nir-
Einia before we separated from her.
And in this estimate we leave out of
the count the amounts due each coun-
ty through which the railroad passes,
as for instance, Marshall, which has a
suit now in court for the recovery of
some $4,000 taxes due that county
alone. All these claims under the old
and new State, and the various counties,
the company propose to compromise by
the payment OF s25 600 down, and one
mill per mile in future, or say 100000
per annum.
It is hardly necessary to comment
upon the one sidedness and meagre-
ness OF such compromise. 1t is no
compromise worthy of the name, and
we only wonder that Il single person
outside of the pale of those directly in.
terested In its acceptance, should bt
found to entertain it for a moment
And yet strange to say we hear thai
there are some who incline to think
public policy no one can tell. We dc
not say that improper Influences are
beng used to carry The bill now pending
before the legislature, and yet the fact is
on record that once upon time, in the
year 1916, the Baltimore and Ohio COM
pany, under the administration oil
Louis McLain, did formally appropri,
ate the sum of $4,000 as fund where.
with to influence legislation ut Rich
mond. We do not charge that such APP
preparation has been made for the pur-
pose of influencing legislation at
Wheeling. We trust that our West
Virginia Legislature enjoys such II rep
utation that no influence OF the kind
would ever be thought of in connec-
with any bill ofany sort or description.
II there is one member in the body who
could be thus approached, we
certainly do not know him,
and have never heard his name.
But, nevertheless, the iHct exists, as we
have stated it, that an appropriation of
the kind alluded to was once author
lied by the company, and it is well in
discussing question OF such interest
as the present one to the welfare of the
State, to be explicit and to state all the
surroundings that legitimately bear
pom the subject. We feel that we owe
aduty to the State that forbids us from
standing idly by, and that calls upon
us to throw all the light we can on
claim that so deeply affects the finances
Ofthe commonwealth
We do not wish to be understood as
saying that the legislature ought not to
pay heed TO any offer OF compromise
that might be made by the Company.
We only say that their first duty is TO
vote down the bill now offered, which
in no proper sense can be dignified by
the name OF a compromise, and which,
II passed, could be justly regarded by
the people OF the State as nothing less
than reckless slaughter of their inter-
ests.
We are free to say that we desirs to
see the proper interests OF the company
we'll cared for in all our West Virginia
legislation. 1t is our great thorough
fare, and We should give it every raciI-
ity and every exemption that will ena-
BILE it to compete with foreign lines, so
far as we can do so with a just regard
to the interests OF the State. 1t is the
great commercial artery of West Vir-
Rtnia, and ns such, we feel n pride in it,
aud are always glad to lend our
influence to advance its progress and
prosperity. But in the matter before
the Legislature, the first interest ofeve-
ry citizen is to the state. Let us first
take care of that, and in doing so we
can have abundant opportunity to
prove to the company that we intend
to be generous in our terms and mind
full OF their interests.