The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-11

this county Is taxed on S23f COO. The
Belmont Rolling Mill, directly along
side of II Is taxed on about S225. 600. The
property of tho Railroad Company re-
quired as much protection ns the Mill.
| Both are corporations, both organized
and carried on for the exclusive benefit
of their owners. How could there be
any just Discrimination between them?
II the mill is subject to local taxation
(as IL was, and had never grumbIed al
ny why was not tho road? The issue
was not whether the Legislature could
regulate the manner OF arriving nt the
value OF railroad property, but whether
II had the power to exempt from coun-
ty and township taxation property not
SO exempt by the Constitution. He
thought 1t had no such power. Tho pres
ent law worked no hardship TO the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company,
or any other in the State. twas clear
ly proven by the fact that under SIM
liar system in other States, like Ohio,
where railroads tlOurished and multi
piled, that there was no necessity for
exemption from local taxation.
| Mr.. WEIGH did not think the gentle.
man from Ohio had discussed the que5-
tion fairly. He had not understood 1t
WAS the purpose of any one, (even the
gentleman from Cabell, who mad been
called the paid agent OF the Baltimore
Il Ohio Railroad COmpany,l TO exempt
that Company from taxation.
Mr.. FEKGUsoS, interrupttng, said he
was not aware that he had been refer
red to ns the hired agent Ofthe Baltimore
tS Ohio Railroad Company.
Mr.. WEIGH replied that he had heard
| him so referred 10 on this tloor repeat
edly, and If the gentleman from Cabell
had not heard 1t, IL WAS because his ears
were not as sharp as they should be.
! For himself he believed 10 such thing
/ r. n a
consider il the province OF the Legisla-
Iure to legislate exclusively for any one
road ; aud that this road ought not to
be brought into this question at all. He
cared az little for that road us any one
in the House, and he thought it wrong
to try to make the impression on the
House that 1t was proposed to exempt
| that road from taxation, when no such
thing was ciHimed. The Legislature
had uudouhted authority to fix the
basis OF taxation on railroads. The
only question was whether, in order 10
foster railroads aud develop tho State,
the Legislature should adopt IL liberal
policy towards them. The speaker pro-
ceeded to refer to the material benefits
to be derived from such IA policy. The
Legislature should so move NOT only
that existing roads can live, but SO MS
| to encourage the building of others.
They could not do it by taxing them on
a value OF SS5, 900 u mile. He was op-
posed TO the chapter as 1t stood. The
figure was excessive IL there was to be
both State and local taxation. Under
the sliding scale OF the chapter, count
ing the 81 per ceut. premium on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stock, IL
would be paying tax on u value of S90,-
600 a mile TO the State. 1t was too much.
He was satisfied no road would come
here and ask anything more than IA lib
haf tfN
eupIiou from taxation? Clearly not.
What then is 20 be the basis? lie
thought the roads should pay To the
State on valuation of SIS. 600 per mile
and nt the Same rate to the counties.
Counting premium on her stock the Bal
timore and Ohio Rfilroad Company
would thus be taxed for about $50 900 n
mile-n large taxation for any road.
He thought the people of his county. in
which this company held valuable pro
perty, would be content with this. Sa-
garding Mr.. Ferguson's argument that
the roads should pay no taxes TO the
counties, he held the counties
had the same right TO tax them
AS the State. The counties had just
the same right TO tax them us 10 tax
rolling mills or any O.Err property.
The contrary had not baen and could
not be shown. The trouble under the
present law was that there was no uni
alton. Two or three years ago the as.
SCISSOR of Mineral county had assessed
the Baltimore IL Ohio Railroad Com
pany with 100000. The assessor OF
Morgan, in which there was nothing
but thp road bed aud stations had as
sessed il with Sl,S00,O00.
MIR. ARMSTRONG reminded the gem
tleuan that the law amply protected
the companies against these vsgnries of
the assessors, for it provided that the
Company should return irS valtlI-
ton, and it was only in the event of
their refusal to do 50 that the nasesSOTS
were to net.
Mr.. WEIGH replied that the Company
would not do II, and IL was Impossible
for the assessors TO obtain correct val
uatiOn OF that or any other road. He
said the assessor OF Morgan nude his
assessment in this way. For instance
he asked a gentleman how much IL had
cost to bore certain tunnel through II
hill in that county. The reply WAS,
about "A halfa million. So the tunnel
wAs valued at half million.
MIR. SMITH of Morgan said there
was no tunnel in Morgan county
[Laughter.l
MIR. WEIGH replied he had bsen told
so.
The hour of l2 o'clock having arrived
the House took II recess, ihe Speaker
ence Committees on the part OF the
House:
On chapter 50. MessrS Mlh0n. BIZ
meyer and Allison.
On chapter 81. Messrs. FeIgusoa OF
Cabell, Cole and Welch.
On chapter Gf. 81, 03, and l0i MessrS.
Ferguson OF Cabell, Armstrong and
Stewart.
On chapter lIG, Messrs. Heermans.
Steere aud Hervey.
On chapter l24, l25, Messrs. Ferguson
OF Cabsll, Heermans and Tomlinson.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. WEIGH, resuming his remarks,
said the difficulties that would exist, II
the valuation. OF the roads was TO be
fixed by the different assessors in the
! counties, was exemplified by the cases
I OF Morgan and Mineral, where the for
mer assessed at the rate or 81 500, 900
and the latter at the rate of Sl00. 900. lie
thought the Constitution of the State
| warranted the Legislature to fix ba-
sis. This being the case 1t resolved it,
self into the dry question whether this
would be the true policy. lie thought
it would. He could not support the
amendment OF the gentleman from Ca
| bell, because IL prohibited the counties
| from collecting lakes; would support no
! such measures, believing 1t would do
gross Injustice to his people; that this
amendment would cut the counties out
| oil all taxation, as under section 4, arti-
Gle Z, the Boards of Supervisors, with
out general regulations, could not assess
one cent of tax against any corporation.
| lie believed the operation of the amend
ment would be suicidal to the interests
OF the Slate, and work gross in
justice upon the people. He ecUuld new
er give his voice 10 support such meas.
I l., - III IA