The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-28
RAILROAD TARIFFS AND TAxA-
TlON.
An open Letter 10 the Hon. Pitt w.
Hyde, Representative from Castle

My dear sir. The enterprise of the Rut-
land daily papers, has enabled me to read
the text of your bill to regulate the passen-
ger and freight tariff, on the railroads in
Vermont operated by the Delaware " Hud-
son Canal Company. There seems to be
wide spread dissatisfaction with the manner
in which said road is operated, and while |
| know nothing of the details, except as
they have been gathered from discussions
in the press, it seems to be fair to conclude
that there is injustice some,ohere in Its
management that ought to be remedicd. The
great business interests, for which it is the
only outlet. seem to be unit in the convic-
unjust burthcns imposed, il not actual dis
ordinations against them on the part of
the railroads. / need not say that in com
mon with all our fellow citizens, who
are devoted to the business interests of
Rutland county, deplorc the existence of
this state of things and would rejoice in a
remedy that should at the same time deal
justly with our manufacturing enterprises
and do no injustice to the railroads. But,
my dear sir, your bill is in bad taste, and
involves beside dangerous and impoltic
precedent in legislation. Even if you can
convince the legislature of the proprey of
its passage when considered solely as
remedy for local wrong, / think the
average statesman and legislator can only
regard this species of special legislation as
of too serious character to meet with the
favor of the law-making power. But If
from conviction of great wrong, perpe-
trated by the railroad company, the general
assembly should pass your bill, / hardly
think it could pass the judicial scrutiny of
the executive of the state.
The railroads of our state are the only
great and controlling central power of the
commonwealth They constitute great
power for good-and no one will question
their capacity for great wrong and injustice.
They are the natural allies of our great ag-
ricultural and manufacturing interests but
powerful, and selfish and extortionate il
they choose to be so, from any motive or
consideration, they become at once the
enemy and the oppressor.
1t will not be questioned that selfish in
terests, in greater or less degree, have pre-
dominated in all the railroad management
of the state. | do not mean a narrow,
personal selfishness, that makes the indicM-
ual obnoxious, for our railroad managers,
as a rule, are gentlemen of high personal
character and influence; but mean that
gradual and constant and persistent en-
croachment on the rights of the people, as
shown by the whole tenor of railroad legis-
lation that has characterized our state. 1t
is sufficient in proof of this, to point to the
undisputed fact in our history, that not a
dollar of railroad property in our tax-rid-
den state, has ever contributed penny to
the grand list. While their wrongs, rights
and remedies have often engrossed the en-
tire attention of our legislature; while ex-
ira sessions have been called at great ex-
pense to consider these alone; while our
statutes are loaded with enactments for
their existence and protection, the great
agricultural, manufacturing, mechanical,
and mining interests have been left most
magnanimously to bear all the burlhens of
taxation imposed on the commonwealth.
1t cannot be an extravaganza in express
sion, to say that this is an outrage to every
sense or perception OF justice and, that it
has been borne uncomplainngly for so
many years, is an exhibition of orthodox
patience, that can hardly be called credit
able to our people. If the proposition was
made to strike $26,0OO,OOO in valuation
| from the grand list of our state, it would
lead to revolt that would be sustained by
public sentiment. But here are about $50
miles of railroad, with all their valuable
franchises and property, persistently acith-
held from the grand list in all these years,
when taxation was burthen scarcely to
be borne by the people. Is there any diff
ference in the principle, whether you alb
stract this sum, or aoithhod it? In all prob
ability, no device could have been invented,
to take so much from the people, with so
little of the sense of feeling on the part OF
the citizen. 1t has reached out its bony
hand, into every hamlet for its penny and
the grand total that has thus gone to its
Golfers, would have made in these twenty
years, Gum which can be safely estimated
to have become sufficient now, if it ha(
been well and carefully husbanded, to yielt
an annual income which would pay all the
current expenses of our state Railroad
corporations that could consent to such ex
emptions, IN a commonwealth whose almos
only source of revenue is direct taxation
one can readily believe, would not scrupl'
to impose the heavier burthens upon loca
industries, of which your bill is an indict
ment, and from which it seeks to relev,
5 the people. -.
Your bill presents to legislators this ques
: ton: Are railroads subject to the legsla
ture in the tariff they shall impose, for tn
: carrying OF persons ana property? Thi
is the gist of the whole matter say un
n hesitatinglY ''yes" They are the creature
r of the legislature, and the whole history O
J. legislation in the states Of our union, an
n the whole tenor of judicial decisions, O
is both statutory and constitutional law, al
in confirmation of this opinion. Thci
l. very being is based on the provisions G
l. their charters, and believe in every cas-
G where charter has been granted by on
G state, they are expressly made subject
% 'alteration, amendment or repeal" Eve
n if this were not so, it would be difficult
ct say, that, created by the fiat of the stat
c. as expressed in its legislative and exec,
D. tive authority, the very same power c0u
lie not be exercised to preserve and protect Il
xt rights of the people from their encroac