Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-10
rHE RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MARCH s, 1870.
Taxation of Railroads.

Taxation of Railroads.
The taxation of Railroad property is a
question that is now prominently before
the community. Our views have been
expressed on the question, in other places,
but somewhat, from the nature of tn Q
circumstances. briefly and hastily, aud we
therefore present fuller and more care
full consideration of the subject.
We hold that an enterprise, be it per-
sonal or corporate, which enriches COM
munity, which quadruples its population,
which more than doubles the value of
its real estate, which makes its mines val
liable, and its manufactures possible, is
an enterprise to be fostered, cherished and
protected. Such an enterprise is the Rut-
land Railroad, and such are the benefits
which this road has conferred upon this
town. We make no question of the mo-
tives of its originators or the conduct of
the road. Rutland is what it is by reason
of the Rutland Railroad, whatever of
good has come of tho other roads terminal
ing in this town, it was the Rutland
Railroad which made them possible /;
therefore it is an enterprise to be fostered
and cherished. ..... .e.. U.s..
1t has one great rival. A rival whose
life and interests are antagonistic to ours.
Every pound of freight, every passenger
diverted from transit through Rutland, is
a diversion of tribute from Rutland.
That rival is by legislative enactment free
from taxation. The Supreme Court of
the State has affirmed the validity of this
exemption. The State, although she has
not by formal legislation exempted the
Rutland Railroad, has done so by implica-
ton for twenty years or thereabouts.
The town of Rutland has by an uniform
practice for like period acquiesced in
the course of the Legislature. The fact
of this acquiescence and its long duration
has the force at least of moral compact,
on the faith of which the road has accu-
INFLATED here, to the exclusion of all
other towns, large real and personal es-
tate
To take advantage of legal or other
power to impose tax not levied on like
property in other towns, or on its
rival, the Vermont Central Rail-
road, is to discriminate invidiously. For
if one road Is to be taxed, then all should
be taxed. If taxed in one town, they
should be taxed in all towns through
which they pass.
Such discrimination could have no pos
sible apology, unless it were shown that
the Rutland Railroad is profitable to its
owners. If it paid large dividends, then
there might be reason for making it bear
its just proportion of the public burdens.
But to tax road which as yet has
brought no profit to any one bit the COM
munity leoyi1,g the tar, is like charging an
estate with the legacy duties due the gov
ernment for the money left one by
will like making man, who gives you
hundred dollars, pay for the stamps
affixed to his check, and this, because by
law you could. No language could en-
body our utter detestation for such mean
ness. There is no just distinction be-
tween public and private morality. What
would be unjust in an individual. would
be unjust in Il community. What is
meanness in a man, Is meanness In
town. What is odious and oppressive in
AN individual, is odious and oppressive in
Il uouy pouuio. rurther, it is opposed
to all ideas of justice to tax property
upon any other basis than its productive
value II man should, in view of the
prospective rise Of values by reason OF
the building of the Woodstock Railroad,
erect block of stores like those on Mer-
chants Row, it would hardly be thought
fair to tax them on the basis of the cost OF
such stores since they would bring no
more rent than fox dens, should be taxed
no more than fox dens. . ...
This question is one of Importance to
our business men, manufacturers and
farmers, and attention will be given in
another article to the position taken by
the editor of the Courier and his reasons
therefor, with the history of his past rec
ord on similar issues. F..-r...