The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-27

kind. The evil, however, was not con-
fined to that road Whenever movement
was made to tax the property of other rail-
roads, or an attempt was made TO procure
such legislation ne should authorize it, we
were met by the argument that it would be
Vermont Central railroad was exempt
from taxation, and that all roads should be
placed on the same basis that to tax other
corporations would give the Central an
undue advantage as competing line.
Whether or not the argument WAS just, it
was plausible and, therefore, convincing.
Railroads were not taxed until, by its own
sct, the Vermont Central gave way to the
Central Vermont with a charter not ex-
empting its property from taxation. Even
then the right to tax railroads was obtained
only after severe struggle, and we are
now for the fist time receiving the bene-
fits thereof. Missouri proposes to guard
against such IL struggle.
The rights and interests of shippers are
also guarded. 1t is provided that ''no dis.
elimination in charges or facilities in
transportation shall be male between
transportation companies and individuals,
" or in favor of either by abatement, draw
back or otherwise, and no railroad com
"pany, or any lessee, manager or employe
thereof, shall make any preferences in fur
nishing cars or motive power" And
further that, ''no railroad or other corpor-
alton, or the lessees, purchasers or man
agors OF any railroad corporation, shall
consolidate the stock, properly or fran
chises of such corporation, with, or lease,
- or purchase the works or franchise Of
g or in any way control any railroad cor
"pordtion owning or having under its con-
stroll parallel Or competing line, nor
shall any officer If such railroad corpor.
alton act ne an officer of any other rail
" road corporation owning or having the
- control If n parallel or competing line.
. and the question whether railroads are
parallel or competing lines shall, when
" demanded, be decided by a jury, as in
&" other civil issues" We need not enlarge
m these provisions TIE people If Rut-
land county and of Vermont, as well rs rail
road men, roc gnize their Importance Dis
crniinatiuns in chuges aud facilities in
transportation are made Pro luccrs suffer in
consequence thereof Muic than this,
these determinations are mad" for the pur-
pose of influencing legislation, and we haz-
ard nothing in saying that, in times past,
legislation has been Influenced thereby.
Competing Railroads have been CONSOLE
dated in Vermont 10y lease or otherwise,
and we arr suffering the evils thereof
treights are enhanced thereby, and must
necessarily continue so to be. But lust
now, it is the cause of other evils A war
of governors has been produce thereby
an unseemly strife for the possession and
Of railroa Is, IN which person.
Al interests, not those of stockholders, are
regarded, is in progress dsrepu,able
means are resoriei to to obtain or retain
possession of responsible offices the courts
are filled with litigation stockholders are |
lcspoled of their property private char |
acter is blackened and ali because COM
peting lines are allowed to consolidate by |
ease or otherwise. Vermont can, perhaps. |
guard against n recurrence of these disre- |
putable acts by Legislation but Missouri is |
placing better way before her.