The Placer herald., 1872-06-22
THE RAILROAD TAX SUIT.

The c. p. r. r. company refused to pay
it's just taxes to this county and State, and
has been fighting the matter in the courts
for some four years, and finally our Supreme
Court decided against the company. The
company have now taken the case to the
Supreme Court Of the United States for re-
view, claiming that the property comes 60
near being that of the United States that it
is not taxable 1t is true that the Govern
ment did more than pay for the building and
stocking the road, and ought now to take
possession of it in justice 10 herself and the
people; but as the Government in its present
hands is about az mean as the company that
is not to be expected; at least under this ad-
mnstration. But this is not the point We
wish to refer to. The case is taken TO the
Supreme Court for the sole purpose of delay
All the points to be raised in this case have
been decided in a United States court in a
Kansas case. The company hope by this appeal
to delay final decision for three or -four
years more, and in the meantime continue to
bully assessors, supervisors and collectors into
taking about one-fflh Of its just taxes, as
they have done in the past. The attorneys
of this county have fought this case for four
years without asking the State for assistance
though it is as deeply interested as Placer
county, and they ought not to be asked to
follow it to Washington. Rumor raises ex
treme doubt as TO whether he Attorney Gen
eral Of the State is the proper person, either
from ability or disposition to prosecute tbir
case in the United States Supreme Court. In
his state of things we hold that the Gov
ernor of the State should take the matter in
hand and employ able and incorruptible couu-
sci to prosecute the case in the Federal court.
Here is case that threatens to defy our
revenue laws, and the States power to en-
force them, and the Governor is the officer
that must see these as well as all other laws
enforced AMI executed. We have no sort OF
doubt but Governor Booth will take this
view of The case when he comes 10 reflect on
the matter, and will at once employ the
ablest counsel practising in the Federal
courts to take the case and press it to a
speedy and successful termination. Gov
ernor Booth must not and cannot decline This
action on The ground that no funds are pro
vided him for This emergency. Counsel vii
credit the 5 Sate, and the State will meet and
pay any reasonable sum expended by the
Governor in the prosecution Of this case.
lhe State has Sl1 ,623 so due her in this
case, and this county has $l2, 1885,; S5, ,
making $24 ,409. .35, and this is not one
fifth what it should be, and it will be better
to spend this entire sum for attorneys to
bring this case to a speedy, favorable aud
final decision than to permit i; to drag in in
competent hands. There is no question OF
the decision being favorable to the people,
unless it goes by default or is thrown off by
incompetent or rascally attorneys. A final
decision in tins case Is worth TO the State
and counties through which the road runs
5000, ,OUO year for each succeeding year
We hope some 5 ,cramento paper that has
he ear OF Governor Booth will press this
matter ON his serious attention. because it is
| his duty to act, and act speedily.