The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-19
RAILROAD rAxATIOE.
RemnrEa Of j. W. Parker, Esq, OF the
House OF Delegates, Dec. rs, ISOs,
Upon nm Amendment Proposing
IoT lax Railroads for Township,
school DIHtrIet and Munich
nal ms well AS for state ana
County PuFpose8,

lax Railroads for Township,
school DIHtrIeL and Munich
Pal rs we'll As for state ana
County Purposes.
Mr.. PARKER said the House had al
ready decided two propositions, nTst,
TINT Il was unconstitutional TO exempt
Inc property OF railroad corporations
from taxation for State purposes. 1t
had also by its action declared IL 10 be
inex pedient to exempt II from taxation
for county purposes. The rensOn he
had favored the amendment offered
yesterday by the gentleman from Pleas
ants, (Mr. Steere) was not that he np-
proved the mode clarifying at the prop
err valuation OF railroad property in the
way II proposed, but because 1t em-
brAced the objects and purposes for
which he thought such property should
be taxed. BE had given this subject
very careful confederation, and WIS
unable 10 distinguish why, IL 1t
be upon principle inexpedient to
exempt this property from taxa
ton for county purposes II was not in
expedIent to exempt II for city, town
ship and other purposes. They had
been governed by their action on this
case 10 a certRin extent by the policy
pursued in Ohio, and by reference to
The statute of that State they find no
such discrimination Is made; but the
because there Is no right of which peo'
pie are SO Jealous as the right of tax
ation-have directed that by whatever
mode you arrive at the proper value for
taxation, that taxation shall be dtstrib
uLed to the counties, Incorporated
towns, wards and districts through
which the railroad passes.
We had in this county two and a hall
miles OF railroad, running almost en-
tirely through the limits OF the city OF
wheeling, and interpretations connect
ed Herewith. II IL be true that itshould
be taxed for county purposes because
OF the protection the property receives
from the counties, he would like 10
know why It should not be taxed also
for city and town purposes, If itreceives
corresponding protection from the cities
and towns2 And why, IL a citizen OF u
town owns to-day u hundred thousand
dollars worth OF real estate, which is
subject to taxation for the purposes OF
the city, and tomorrow transfers ii 10
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany--why, because of that transfer
should NOT that real estate be liable to
taxation for municipal purposes The
effect of this proposition would be 10
exempt IL the moment IL was SO trans.
ferTed. This company may own n hum
dred or two hundred thousand dollars
worth of real estate In this city, has the
benefit of all the legal and municipal
regulations of the city, derives all the
advantages which accrue TO any other
citizen. Now 10 sustain this municipal
government every other citizen Is tax
ed to the extent ofthe properly he owns
while the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company goes unta1ed. There was
something 80 unfair and unreasonable
in this exemption that he must insist
on the amendment offered by the gem
tleman from Brooke.
Ithad been said that the imposition
OF taxes on railroads for local purposes
would discourage the construction OF
railroads, The best answer TO this was
TO point to the experience of other
States. It had not had such an effect In
Ohio, TO which such frequent reference
had been made. The Ohio statute
showed roads there were incorporated
and operated subject TO all The local
taxation proposed by the amendment
Vet Ohio was oheckered by railroads.
He apprehended not single dollar had
roads there because Of thatlRw; and he
unprecedented such would be the fact
here under u similar law.
He referred to the CheSR peake and
Ohio road and read from report on the
advantages promised by it to show
that railroads, especially great through
lines, were built without reference to
such incidental considerations as lit
tie local taxation. They would only
be built anyhow upon natural lines of
trAdeaudt rave, where great CONNIE rcial
centres are TO be brought together; and
where great advantages like these were
offered they would be built without the
slightest reference to local taxation.
The Chesapeake and Ohio rond prom
ised 10 become In time the greatest
throuEhfnre between the east west.
II had n magnificent future and
was sure to be built for that
reason There need be no apPrehea-
sion that It would fail because it was to
be taxed just like other property in the
territory through which It passes.
These corporations are always abuud-
antly able 10 take care OF themselves.
IL might with equal force he said cant
tallsts would be deferred by the taxa
ton Imposed by cities from making in
vestmeuts in them; yet the mere state
ment OF such proposition was the
only thing needed TO show IL absurditv.
Capital goes where there is Held Tor
II, where great ends arc TO be Rccnm-
plished by It, and local taxation is no
bugRear which delers men from in
vesiihg in manufacturing or other en-
terprises u great advantages for manu-
featuring or trade are offered. 1t Is
equally so with men seeking railroad
enterprises. And besides III the rail-
roads bring the tracks to our doors. do
we not freight them with our produce
lions and other traffic and pay their
own prices for every ton carriedI The
advantages afforded are mutual and
reciprocal. He could not therefore see
how on any principle but the exercise
Of mere arbitrary Will this House could
vote To exempt these corporations from
taxation for any legitimate purpose fer
which other citizens are taxed.