The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-18
RAILROAD TAXATION-A LAST
WORD.

AT the time of present writing, a joint
resolution of the senate and house provides
for the final adjournment of the general
assembly on Friday of this week. This
gives only two or three days, as the case
may be, for the perfection of the several
measures now, by courtesy, supposed to be
under consideration. What has been done
and what left undone during the past six
weeks we do not propose to speak OF now,
leaving the discussion of the Legislative his
tory of Vermont for the year of grace 1874
until future day. There is, however,
one measure in reference to which we must
be INDUCED word, even if, in what we
may say, we shall be guilty of repeating a
thrice told tale. From the present outlook,
it seems as if the people were to be still
longer cheated out of their right to tax rail-
road property in the same manner that
other property is taxed. There is and can
be no question that the vast majority of
the taxpayers of the. state imperatively de-
mand such an alteration of our general
laws as may be necessary to make this
right plain and undoubted. And not only
to make it plain and undoubted but, also,
to make it obligatory on the listers to place
this species of property in the grand list,
and on the collector to collect all the taxes
assessed thereon. This isl the imperative
demand of the people not from any hostil-
tfvy IN railroads huf hacanoo IL 10 ripbf apd
just. For more than quarter of CEN
fury they have patiently borne the bur-
thens of taxation with hardly murmur at
the exemption of railroad property, and
this at time, too, when these burthens
were peculiarly oppressive. Two years
ago they made similar demand, and with
a senate and house disposed to comply with
their reasonable demand they were deliber-
ately cheated out of the necessary legisla-
ton. We use the word cheated" ad-
visedly and!know whereof we affirm. The
question for the legislature to consider is
whether they will, this year, allow them
selves to be tricked, the people to be
cheated, or whether they will regard the
will of the people rather than that of inter-
ested parties. We make no war on rail-
roads, but would cheerfully support all
proposed legislation necessary fol-
their proper management and pro-
lection. But while we would dc
this we would, also, place them on the
same footing with individuals-protect and
encourage them by every means in oul
power, but, at the same time, compel them
to bear their due share of public burthens
and hold them to a strict accountability
by legislation if necessary, for every act OF
wrong doing, oppression or unjust discrim
nation. We do not believe there is or hai
been any general hostility on the part Of
the people of this state towards railroads
We do not believe any such hostility exists
now. On the contrary, the public senti
ment of the state has been directly the re
verse as the course of legislation in thu
past fully demonstrates. The resistance Of
individuals, companies, communities or thu
state to particular acts of unjust exactionl
cannot be magnlfied into hostility 10 rail-
roads any more than could the hanging o
Professor Webster be called warfare
against Harvard college. This want o
hostility, this actual good will ought to b.
lasting, but whether it shall continue dc
ponds largely upon the action OF the pres
ent legislature and the attitude assumed b.
the managers Of the railroads. Let tn
legislature adjourn without the enactmcn
of law authorizing just and equitable
system of taxing railroad property of al
kinds, and we greatly fear that this goo'
will will be changed into hostility. TIL,
people are in no temper to be cheated on
of all legislation on this subject or to b.
cajoled with some halfway, tricky mca
sure. 1t behooves not only the Legislature
but other interested parties to make ha,
while the sun shines-that Is, to SO chang
our general laws that there shall be no dis
tnction, 80 far as taxation is concerned
between property owned by a railroad cor
poration and that belonging to a marbl
company or an individual. This is tn