The Portland daily press., 1870-11-17
DAILY PRESS.
MD
thursday. Morning, November II, 1870
Repeal Of the vaun.U

Repeat Of the Rail Esoaa v.x
To the Editor Of the Press
Probably few of yOurreaders are aware tb.t
Congress, at its last session, passed an act re.
pealing that portion of the Internal Revenue
Law which compelled Rail Roads to pay to
the United States certain percentage on
their gross earnings for each month, at the
end thereof. Said law taking effect on the
first of this month, (Noyember,) after which
the railroads are relieved from this tax. My
attention was called to this fact the other day
In Iowa, where was present in the office OF
the Collectors of Internal Revenue, when one
OF the Iowa railroads in his district, paid this
tax for the month of October last, amounting
to between $1,000 and $1,000, for the month.
AT this rate the tax ON railroads in the Young
State OF Iowa would be 100000 year, and
at least eight millions Of dollars per an
mum, on all the railroads in this country.
The mind instinctively asks, why this repeal,
and for whose benefit? Why stamps are still
required on deeds, on promissory notes of
over 800, on bank-checks; and many other
taxes retained, which clog the channels of
business and taade?
The theory of the Government is that Sen
ators and members of Congress are the SER
wants OF the people, and as such to pass laws
for the benefit fthe people, or rather to enact
laws for the greatest good of the greatest
number. But is this law re pealng this tax
law for the benefit of the people, when it
legislated at least $S00O,000 year into the
pockets OF railroad corporations? Had this
law contained, as it should have done, a>pro-
vlso that railroads should not be released from
this tax, until they had made correspond
ing deduction in their charges for passenger
fare and for freight, then it would have been
for the public good; but, as it now stands, it
is a loss TO the Government of eight millions
OF dollars year revenue, without any con-
sideration therefor.
This is not the first instance of the infu-
ence of railroads in the halls of Congress
Twenty years ago, Congress granted to the
Illinois Central railroad million or more
acres of government land in that State for the
building of the road, and yet this road COM
menced at Chicago and ended at Cairo, every
foot of the road being within the limits of IL
linois. And yet, what pretence is there that
Congress can lesislate specially for the benefit
OF single State, as in this case? Had the
road traversed other States, the grant would
have been well enough. 1t is the duty of
Congress to legislate for the United States,
not for any one State.
The projectors of the Illinois Central must
have realized profit of at least ten millions
OF dollars, as the lands thus granted were sold
by them at an average of not less than ten
dollars per acre.
But 10 conclude, to come to the point of the
matter, it is evident that railroad interests are
assuming gigantic proportions, and to my
mind, dangerous ones. No man can fail to
see that railroads when they combine togeth-
er, influence the legislation of Congress and
unless they are checked, will control it when
they desire to. To prevent this, let the peo-
pie remember that the price of liberty, is eter-
nal vigilance. T.