, 1874-06-20
THE GRAB-LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL,

Three days ago TIE ln1DuSE made tho pro-
dicsion, upon good authority, that tho Supreme
Court would hold tho "Grab-Law" unconstitu-
tlonal. This morning nc print tho opinion in
full, which, Of course il tho first authoritative
announcement Of its purport. The hopes cro-
atol by our prediction are fully confirmed, and
tho people who did not vote aid to railroads noed
no longer sulor the outrage OF helping those
rho did to pay or tho debts they thereby aa-
snmed.
What is known a. tho "Grab-Lew" ia m act
Of the Legislature Of April 1G, 1860, which ALL
thorized holders Of railroad bonds, that had boon
voted by countioa, cities aud towns. to Register
~ all the taxes assessed upon these Subsidized
railroads in Ruch counties, except the two-min
aud school tax, uud (2) the State taxes On all
property in said counties. towns, and cities for
the amount exceeding the valuation for 1868,
should be sot neido for tho payment Of the H.
It further provided that, whom portion ct tho
interest on said bonds remained unpaid after ap-
plying tho proceeds Us above, aspecial tax should
be lowed in eaid counties and towns to meet tho
deficiency. Tho resorve suns thus provided for
were to be set aside for ton years. Whom this
act was first passed. by the Legislature, 1t waa
vetoed by GOV. Palmer, On tho ground that il
was unconstitutional (tho Constitution Of 1913
being then tho organic law Of the state) but 1t
was passed over his veto and bocamo law. Tho
effect Of the low has boou, frat TINT tho railroads
which were built mainly on the proceeds Of aub-
sidlea voted to them hayo contributed nothing to
tho general revenue ofthe State /; secondly, that
tho counties and towns not voting BubBi-
dies haye been contributing to tho payment Of
subsidies yotod by othcr counties aud towns
and, thirdly, that the countios and towns voting
subsidies hayo contributed nothing to tho gen.
oral State fund on the increased valuation OF
| thoir property since 1868. moro palpable
echomo for beneating portion Of tho people ut
the expongo Of tho rest was never conceived;
and, aa less than ono-half tue people Of tAia
stato voted railroad aubsldios, moro than ono-
half have bcen paying tho main part Of the gon-
eral expenses Of tho state.
The opinion OF tho Supreme Court which
brings roief to tho people who hayo thus beel,
dofrauded for 1lvo ycars 10 written by Judge
soholdell. It presents d plain, connected,
logical argument, which eanuot DO gainsaid.
Tho only reference to tho Constitution of 1913 ia
to show that this law cannot boconstruod In tho
| nature of contrast, as that Constitution ex-
presaly forbade the granting of State uil to cor
poratlons. The lar is theu considered III tho
light Of tho Constitution Of 1911 aud tho Inv of
July !, 1878, for raising tho rovonuo under tho
present Constitution. It iH held that tho
Grab-I.aw oxompts tho Taxpayers Of tho
oouutics aud townH voting subsidies from a por.
| tion OF the general taxes, which Ia manifest.
This exemption III "nlero gratuity," Ill tho
| language OF tho Court HI1lco tho Gtato roceiyod
no consideration for granting it, It iB d we'll.
| detined rnlo in low that exemptions from taxa~
tlon which have boen granted without opnsid-
oration may he repealed; md tho Court holds
| that tho exemption in this oaso waa repoaled
| by the Constitution Of 1871. Soc. Q, Art. 0, OF
tho proaont Constitution aaya TINT tho Gonorh
Assembly shall haYo no poHor to discharge or