The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-05-10

for each year in which the report was
not furnished; and If the corporation
should violate this provision for three
successive years, the Governor may de.
clare the charter of such corporation
forfeited.
1t in evidence before the Committee
that the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western railroad company declared q
dividend December 81, 1870, amounting
to one million one hundred and ten
thousand five hundred dollars in stock
of the Morris and Essex railroad com.
pany, and that the fact appeared in the
statistical return to the Auditor General
for that year, and was so published by
him. The market value of that stock
was eighty-six per centum, and it was
so returned, and the evidence of Gen.
Brisbin corroborated the return. This
dividend, however, upon which there
was State tax of over thirty-two thou.
sand dollars mot including the ten per
centum authorized to be charged was
not paid the State until the day after
the committee had finished its investi-
cation. The treasurer of the company
then claimed in communication a few
days later to the Auditor General, that
the market value of the Morris and
Essex stock was eighty-fve per centum,
and stated that "the object of making
six per centum in the Norris and Essex
stock was TO enable the shareholders to
realize five per cent. cash, which they
could do if they sold M. and T.. stock
at eighty-three and half per cent. ;"
and he asked the Auditor General to
credit the tax ON the difference. The
excuse given by General Brisbin for the
non-payment of this large amount
when due was "that the treasurer OF
the company had not yet made his re-
turn of dividends for the year 1871, in
which that dividend should appear,
simply because, and for no other reason,
than that he has not received, although
he has written for them, the blank
forms that are usually furnished him
for the making of dividend report"
Mr.. Forster, the former corporation
clerk in the Auditor Generals Office,
states that he did not know that such q
dividend had been declared. This tax
was due January 18th.
The committee do not believe this to
be valid reason for the violation of a
plain statute law, nor are they aware
that the State authorities are bound to
furnish any such blanks.
The act of 1868 also requires that
there shall be quarterly report of the
tonnage Of all railroad corporations. An
examination of the books of the com.
pany showed that under date of Decem-
ber 3lst, 1870, there was due to the
Commonwealth tonnage tax amount.
ing to $63S AZ. Up to the time the com.
mittee made their investigation this
amount had not been paid.
Mr.. Carryl, the auditor of the com
pany, testified as follows sit is my
belief that the amount has never been
paid; have so reported it to the treas
urer it stands to the credit of the Com.
monwealth and ready to be paid at any
time; the treasurer of the company
has told me that he had made the re-
turn to the State officers, but that he
had received no blank in return.n
The Auditor General publishes annu.
ally statistical report of all rail road
and canal companies doing business in
this State. He furnishes each company
a blank series of interrogatories which
they are required to fill out and return
These returns, if full and correct, would
be exceedingly useful to the people
but such Is not the case. The Northern
Central railroad company, for example
only report the amount of tax paid the
State on capital stock, amounting tC
nine thousand two hundred and thirty.
eight dollars and one cent, while nc
mention is made of other taxes paid, OF
the reason why they are withheld. The
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
railroad has also uniformly failed to re
port the rate charged per ton per mil,
for freight. Mr.. Forster, in answer t.
the question as to whether the statisti
cal report is correct so far as relates Il
taxation, replied, 81 suppose it is cor
rect, but l do not know whether the
person who arranges those reports fo
publication thinks of examining as t
that point" He also states that th
published statistical report "gives NJ
correct data as to the amount of taxa
tion imposed upon a company for an.
particular year"
The Committee are of the Opinion
that upwards of three million of dollar
are due to the Commonwealth from
corporations. Our existing laws on tn
subject Of taxation should be amended
even if the decision of the Suprem
Court be favorable to the State; and
it should be adverse, the greater tn
necessity for providing other means c
enforcing revenue from corporations
Each company should be compelled {
make full returns, and not be permitte
to exercise its discretion as to report
ing what is taxable and what is not.
To frame such a law would requir
full data, much labor, and a thoroug
knowledge Of existing laws.
g. B. BRoCKwAY,
THAD. NJ. MAHoN,
GEO. w. FLEEGER,
CHAs. A. PORTER,
A. WoOLEVER.
A TOUCHING STORY BY DoN Plat
"A Sunday school superintendent OF
in Alaska treated his entire charge to
sleigh ride. There We're just forty.Or
OF the cherubs and six horse sleigl
On their way home they were beset b
pack Of ferocious wolves. Cool an
collected in that hour of fearful tria
the heroic superintendent saw at
glance that ne must be overtaken.
an instant his quick mind grasped Il
, only chance of escape. Seizing Il
child that always sung 81 want to
an angelo two notes too high, he fun
it to the rapacious horde. II stay,