Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-02-18
CFrom the Nd. Independently
EQUALIZATION OF TAxATIox.-A

EQUALIZATION OF TAxATIoN.-A cur
sorry glance at the Conptro!ler's Re-
port has again brought very wildly
to our minds subject that viii, one
day or other, create great deal of in
terest in this State. We do not think
that the day is very far distant. It
would be to-dGy, if TIE subject was gem
orally understood. We allude to the
equalization Of tdrdt;on.
1t NAV not be known to all our read
ers that some of the most valuable pro-
rerties in this State do not pay one cent
Of taxes. That the owners of such pro-
perties receive. for themselves aud their
property, all the protection that the
State government can afford, but do not
bear any of its burdens. These vast
and valuable. properties are not used
for charitable purposes, but are used
and worked for the benefit of the own
ers and managers. Two very conspic-
uous examples of this exemption from
the ordinary burdens Of the citizen, are
the Baltimore ard Ohio and Northern
Central Railway Companies.
The shares of the capital stock Of the
Baltimore and Oaio Railroad Company
were exempted from taxation in the early
stages Of the existence of that corpora
ton, and it is insisted that the exemp-
ton extends to all the property, of every
kind and description, that is, or many
be, owned by that corporation. To
give an example: there stood on the
corner of Calvekt and Baltimore streets,
in the city Of Baltimore, q building
known as the Baltimore Museum, owned,
we believe, by Mr.. Glenn. While that
property was in the possession Of Mr..
Glenn taxes were assessed and paid
upon it. But the b. & o. X. r. Co, dur
ing the last year, bought it, and imme-
diately that it passed into their owner
ship, it was struck from the levy list
They (the b. 4 o. r. X. Co. have built
some of the finest hotels in the country.
They can 60 on, if they please, and buy
up half the State, and directly they
own a piece Of property it is beyond
the reach Of the tax -gatherer. The more
property they buy, the more property
becomes exempt, and the heavier the
taxation falls on the rest of TIE proper
ty in the State.
1t is by no means pleasant for man,
who has just paid his taxes on few
acres of unproductive land, to enter the
Viaduct or Deer Park Hotels. belonging
to that corporation, and lock at the
costly furniture, and beautiful build
ings and grounds, and think that all
this does not pay q dollar tax.
AL this is unjust. 1t is wrong in
principle. 1t is oppressive in practice.
1t is forming a great privileged class in
the State.
Col. Wool:ord, the present Comptrol-
Ter, soon after his first election, saw the
manifest injustice of this state of things,
and set himself to work to remedy it,
so far as he could. In this good cause
he has persistently hbored. He pro-
cured the passage Of a law taxing the
gross receipts OF railroad companies.-
He has brought suit to try again the
question whether their property cannot,
at least, lie taxed. The lower courts
lave decided against him, and he has
appealed to the higher. He has. so far,
beeu unsuccessful, but VIC see no signs
of tagging, on his part, in his efforts
TO make all the property IN the State,
in some way or other, bear its fair and
Just share Of the public burden. We
trust and hope he will be successful.