The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-12-09
RAILROAD TAXATION.
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
Speeches by Messrs. Smith, of
Morgan, TOmlinsOn, Rid
die and Hervey.

| Strike out and insert the following
From the amount so paid in, the audi
| itor shall distribute to each of the coun
ties through which such railroad or any
of it's branches passes, one thousand
dollars, which sum shall be added tc
the distribuable school fund, payable
to the county, and paid Herewith.
In-support of this amendment Mr.
SMITH spoke at leugth. He alluded tc
the fact that very little is known among
the masses of the people concerning the
charter of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road. Until last sumner he had not
seen that charter himself. Prior to ex.
aInining into the subject, he had been
ready to fight for the rigorous taxation
of this road, and his constituents bad
at one time held similar views. Re-
Gently, and after reflection, they had
retraced their steps, and he was salts
fed that had they heard the argument
of the gentleman from Cabell (Mr'
FURGUSON) they would heartily sane
tion his views concerning lines of in
ternal Improvement. For himself, he
was satisfied that he would not do JUS
tice to the railroad, his constituents Us and
the State, did he insist upon the severe
taxation advocated by some.
Along the line Of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad there is q class of popula-
ton who interfere somewhat with our
school systems and who de not tighten
the burdens of the taxpayers in keeping
up the schools. They are those who
are employed by the road i'll keeping up
oh ha
schooled, but who are unable to con-
tribute anything in the shape of taxa
tion for educational purposes. Were it
not for this, his county would not ask a
dellar of the taxation collected from
the road. But they kept up eight school
houses for the children Of the road S
employees and they desired to be reliev-
cd to some extent of the consequent ex-
penses. Morgan county has forty-two
miles of railroad. AS the law stands
her share of railroad taxation would be
$4,000. But she docs not wantso much.
She merely desires such share of the
fund % be paid to the State as shall
protect her school interests in the man
ner specified.
He was ready to acknowledge the ben
eft which the road had conferred upon
his county. She was poor ia all re-
spects, the average of her lands being
worth but 81 per acre, Yet this value
was largely due to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, which passing through
their county gave them outlet and
market for their grain, their lumber
and their other exports. Take that road
away and what would their lands be
WORTH How could their products be
gotten out 7 But for this line his peo-
Die would be without markets or means
of transportation.
But the argument was not confined
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad or
counties along it. The Chapter was
general one. 1t would reach all roads
already huilt as we'll as those in con-
temptation. In imposing heavy taxa
ton they reached not merely this road,
but they discouraged the completion of
other roads projected, and thus pre-
vented the development OF the State.
Pass this amendment aud 1t will give
$1,000 to each of the counties through
which il passes. OF these counties
there are fifteen. This would distribute
among the counties for their schools
full ais 900, or nearly one-third of the
whole sum (S4S, ,0OO), which 1t was ex-
pected would annually be paid by the
road to the State.
They were told that this law would
preyent the counties from collecting
their back taxes. He did not under
stand the law to have retroactive effect.
Narshall' county could still have the
right to claim her taxes if any were
now due her. Morgan county, by for
mer assessment, made by an old assessor
who sat by the side of the road and
counted the cars as they passed, liking
his own value upon each, had taxed the
read on 81, 100000 worth of property,
and her claim for back taxes would be
as good hereafter as heretofore, II sne
desired to prosecute it. This she did
not desire to do. The speaker called
attention to another important fact,
which he thought could not be denied.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was
charging less on freights than by its
charter it was allowed to charge. ln-
crease its taxation aud who would have
that increase to payi Why the travel
ers and the shippers of freight must pay
it from their own pockets.
The speaker then alluded to the effect
of this road upon the mountainous p0r-
tions of the State, showing how II de-
veloped and rendered valuable q vast
region that was hitherto inaccessible,
and this without one dollar Of expense
to the counties improved, for, after
leaving Ohio, not a single county had
subscribed one dollar to the stock OF the
road.
He would not discuss whether this road
could or could not stand the proposed
heavy taxation. Ifit corld, were other
roads in the same fortunate position'
He was unwilling, merely to satisfy o
feeling of spite against the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, to cripple other
roads yet to be built.
Mr.. TOMLINSON said that the ques-
ton involved in both OF the amend
ments offered, was in his opinion wrong.
He was here as the representative OF all
the counties of the State when general
laws affecting the interest OF the entire
State arose. Twill concede for the sake
of argument that the Legislature may
tax for State purposes alone or for State,
county and township purposes. Inc
question for US to consider is, will we
exempt any corporation because we
think it will develope the resources OF
the State and tax other corporations OF
equal value to the interest aud welfare
of this State; for instance, our large
rolling mills, nail works and salt works
now within this Statef They are all
taxed for State, county and township
purposes. What reason can weglVe FOL
making this discrimination between
corporations 1t is argued by the gen
tlenan from Cabell "that by the old tax
alton system we will drive oRt all capl'
talists and have no more railroads
As | understand the charter of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. they are
not taxed until they declare 4 dividend
of ten per cent. Now under this char
ter this railroad may not pay tax FOL
forty wears. Said railroad compan!
may make 81 per cent. fer one hundred
years and are liable to no tax whatever
Can there be any reason for exemptinG
these railroads from county ta1atioI
when such liberal charters are granted
The gentleman from Morgan says "theN
will have more money than they kno"
what to do with" I wOuld advise hin