The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-07
e Baltimo-o and Ohio RaiIroad I'm
tlle LektsIature.

a: two o'clock this afternoon the
apter Of the Code. embracing the pro-
ised change Of fhe law in regard to
sessing The Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
ad for taxation, comes up in the
ouss orDelegaLes. We suppose those
no are the friends Of the people in this
after. as against this corporation, viii
ready with an amendment striking
a. the provision proposed by the com
1ittee and inserting the existing law
nd We trust ihe p.opriety ofdoiDE this
> so apparent that II viii be agreed 70
without the prolonged and biEte- strug-
:ie which some anticipate. We are al
a loss TO perceive a single adequate
reason wig any member sbonid be
willing, under The present cireum-
stances. 10 vote ior anything else
The State Of West Virginia has been
in operation nor fYe years and \ half.
There are therefore five and half
years taxes due from Ehe;BaltimOre and
Ohio Railroad company TO the State,
and TO the counties through which the
road passes. Yet because the company
set up a Claim TO exception under It's
charie-, no sufficient EFFORT has ever been
inside By the State authorities either 10
enslrce the collection of Is dues or TO
bring the question OF the eompany's
clsim to an issue. Indeed We under
stand il is doubtful whether all the reg.
ular assessments have been attended 10,
SO that when the right OF the State IS
finally enforced and the arrearases
brought mp. It may be found that hun
dreds of thousands OF dollars have been
lost to the State and counties simply
from neglect. Ard il bias BEEN lcE; for
Que OF the counties. interested in "A
minor degree, to attack this corpora.
ton which has been allowed TO defy
the stsis authorities more than i've
years Aeanw hile repeated edorts have
been made 10 influence the Legislature
10 eoseede away not only the right Of
the State TO coiiec. these arrears. but
its right - tax for all time to come. So
far honest legislatures. with an honest
and profoundly interested people be-
hind them, have reaisted all these ef-
forts.
To-day the struggle is 10 be renewed,
and We cannot doubt that the interests
OF our people will be protected and the
designs ofthis monster corporation will
bs fuiIed just as they have been before.
We have not space this morning for
elaborate argument. Indeed the case
Is 30 plain one We cannot see how
elaborate argument is needed. What
ever is released 10 this corporation las
Stunning It TO be lawfully subject to tax
atom is just that much taken IN
justly from other taxpayers. You
cannot in this matter favor one without
depressing others; you cannot give to
one without robbing others. These
gentlemen say they want to ''compro-
mise" What has the State to compro-
mice in matters like thar This Com
pzuy eiiker Is lawfully subject to:tazs-
ton OF il is mot. Ifit Is not. then the
State has no right to exact dollar IN.
der the name OF compromise or any
other. If IT IS, then the State has NO
right TO release dollar, because il Is
bound 10 do equal and exact Justice be-
tween all its citizens. II must raise a
given smount OF revenue and IL it re-
leases the property of ono from its
share, abe additional burden must be
saddied on others; and SUCH addition is
simple robbery.
The first question 10 be decided is
whether the property Of the Company
in this State is taIsblei and until IT is
decided, what can the Legislature do
with any sort of propriely, unless 1t be
TO strengthen the hands OF the State
authorities II they need strengthening,
la the enforcement OF the laws which
have suffered defiance SO long2 How
can any member of thIE Legislature,
when hegOes home n week or two hence,
explain TO his constituents, why under
these circumstances, In advance of any
Judicial decision that the Company was
exempt, he voted for q change in the
law 20 as to exempt them. when a. the
same time he voted TO pat into per-
nanent form The laws TO tax their
houses and lands, their pigs and sheep,
and everything they possess. aud to
distraiu and sell their properly If the
taxes are not paid?
We consider it an unidentified fact, as
demonstrated in the argument on the
Marshall county suit in the Supreme
Court last summer, that the Company
has no case at Hll-that they are not,
aud have not been for ten years, exempt
from taxation under their Charter; and
Ihe'anziety OF the Company to secure
legislative exemption before its claim
can be judicially acted on, shows that
they very we'll know thIs 70 be a fact,
How much less the can any one who
cares for the interests of his people, vote
in view Of these probabilities 10 give
special exemption TO a property now
worth Sl5. oO0. 600 and which might be
indefinitely enlarEed7
Tho Legislature Is asked TO be gene
rous towards this Railroad because it
has benefited the State. We have ad-
dressed ourselves to this plea before.
We do not care to answer It as 1t nigh,
be by a recital OF the many exaciions
and discriminations which our people
suffer at the hands Of this Company
for we would not have the Legislature
act in any spirit of resentment or retail.
alton. We ask them simply to obey
the organic law of the State, 70 do
equal Justice among tax. payers, and to
be faithful to the trust reposed In them
by the people OF the State, whose sworn
servants they are.
The exisiing law on the subject of
assessing railroads, is framed In nc.
cordance with the provision Of the Con-