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

Baptist hurch.
Mr.. FERGUSON, submitted a report
from the Conference Committee on the
chapter relating to justices and con-
stables. Adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Jacob, 1t was Or
dered that the judiciary Committee
inquire into the eXpediency OF report
ing bill (as soon as pOSsible) for the
purpose OF affOrding relief to persons
AGgrieved by reason OF exorbitant and
erroneous assessments made under the
reassessment act recently passed by
the Legislature.
Mr.. dis moved 10 take up under n
suspension OF the rule the Senate bill
TO allow Kenner =. Stephenson Of Par
kersburg to practice law without TAX
ing the test oath. The bill was taken
up. read second and third times and
passed. Yeas 80, Nays ,.
Mr.. Ferguson asked and obtained
leave OF absence until Wednesday next
for DR.. Pinuell who had been called
home hv the illness OF his wife.
Mr. Heermans asked and obtained
leave of absence for DR.. Boughuer till
Friday.
Mr.. Chambers asked and obtained
an extension of Mr.. Gold S leave OF ab-
SERGE for two days.
DR.. Barns expressed the opinion tnnt
there was rather too much absenIeeism
on the part Of members.
Tie House resumed the consideTI-
ton q: the chapter on assessments,
aud the discussion OF the railroad ques-
zion.
Mr.. JACOB took the floor and opened
his remarks by vlndicatiOn OF the
press of the city and State for its course
IN regard to the question OF taxing
railroads. They HAD done nothing but
their duty in warning the Legislature
against assaults on the interests OF the
State. The people lie represented bad
been attacked In this discussion for its
course towards the Baltimore IL Ohio
Railroad. He knew something of the
history of that Company in connection
with the interests of this section OF the
Stnte. He remembered the struggle
between this Company and the citizens
of this portion Of the State in regard to
the privileges claimed by 1t under NIr-
ginia Legislation; and in every such
contest the people OF this part of the
State had acted with the magnnnimity
of n generous people. He bad no pre-
judice against that Company, but was
willing to grant everything il had
right to claim. He gave it credit for
all the benefits it had conferred on the
county or State. lie was not afraid at
any. time OF a comparison OF the course
OF his people and of this Company in
the controversies between them. He
was opposed to placing any undue re-
stric;ions on railroads. He would like
to sec the State cheCkered with them;
and il the Baltimore IL Ohio Railroad
had pursued as liberal policy towards
the counties Of the State as the Penn
sylvania Central and other great roads
i'll other States, we would now have "a
road from Its line to the kanawbn and
perhaps others. But that Company
had never done generous act
towards the StSte. Whatever exten-.
sions 1t had made were outside OF
the State. 1t had simply used our ter
ritory for it's own selfish purposes.
Replying to Mr.. FergusOn'S exhibit OF
railroad valuation In Ohio, designed
to show that the great prosperity OF
railroads in that State was due to the
low valuation made for taxation) he
read the Ohio law for the assessment
OF railroads, showing that they were
assessed both for State and County pur-
poses; that the County taxes were laid
by County officers, who also laid taxes
for township and municipal purposes
and AppOrtioned these according TO the
proportion of property in the township
or ormunicipBlity through which the roads
pass. The great argument on the other
side had been that If local taxation
were allowed the roads would be exOr-
In Ohio proved the contrary I'd be true,
and it was legitimate TO conclude the
sume thing would result here.
He was aware of but two assessments
against the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Company, one in Marshall and the
other in Ohio county. Marshall coun-
ty contained 10 miles of the road, as
spssed in the aggregate at S2l5,OOO or
S5. .37I mile. Was this exOrDitant?
It's property in Ohio county was as
sessed al about S234 900, and any one
acquainted with the property knew il
was fairly worth two or three times
for State county, and municipal pur-
poses was about 81 900. Was this ex-
brilliant considering the Character and
value Of the property?
We were told that because the Bsltl-
more q Ohio Railroad Company had
not vet paid any taxes, we must abol-
ish the existing law. That was not the
fault OF the law but the Company.
There was no evidence they would pay
taxes under any law until compel Q 10.
| 1t was necessary for the support ol
| government that taxes should be laid.
1t wan AS necessary to tax for the sup
port "i county government as ior the
support OF State government. Property
OF AL kinds should pay tax because 1t
all required alike the eprotection Of law.
II cost as much to provide for the pro-
lection of one kind of property as anoth-
er. Exemption IN favor of one species
| of property and the laying of greater
burdens on other species, rs a conse-
quence of that discrimination was d.
Just. In regard the argument that rail-
road property Should Otbe taxed by
counties, he said that species Of proper.
ties in which IL was, as of the State; re.
0nirad aa mnch nrntactiOn at the hands