The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-23
A Sensible Review OF our Railroad
Laws.
Editors of the Register.

In looking over your paper of the l6tl
inst, under the hesd of estate Items" 4
is noted that Fort Spring Grange No
248, have resolved to ask the aid of al
patrons and citizens throug hout thu
State of West Virginia to tax all rail
roads and cooperative companies, and tc
use their influence in carrying out these
principles. This is point in politica
affairs well taken, and it should be very
promptly sustained by the people Of the
State. The present Constitution (Art
l0,) provides that taxation shall be equal
and uniform throughout the State, and
all property, both real and personal,
shall be taxed in proportion to its value
DC. And ae ain (Sec. 81 corporate au-
thorities having power to lay taxes, and
must lay them on all property within
corporate limits. But these good pro-
visions have not prevented the last Leg
islatnre from passing an act concerning
the assessment of taxes approved
Dec z0th, 1876; which, in a singu.
lar manner imposes taxes on rail-
roads First for State and free schools
purposes. Second, For county purposes
Third, For district free school purposes; !;
and 1t provides when these are paid such
payment shall be in full of all taxes and
liens of every sort and description which
might have been assessed OF its property
if this section had not been passed, (Sec
81 thus exempting all railroads from all
taxes by cities and towns and all other
taxes not classed under the three heads
named in the act. Then the manner of
taxing them is go uncommon and COM
plicated that experience has shown that
it is not practicable and that it is rarely.
if ever done in compliance with the law
A very slight reading Of this section will
convince any one that it is jus. such n
piece Of legislation rs could only come
from body composed largely of rail-
road lawyers, then in the employ of the
company who had gained an easy ascen-
dency over members whose pockets were
.osded with passes that obscured the
equality clause in the constitution For
this we wilt aid the former IN selecting
representatives ofthe people Tor the next
legislature anu we will leave out so far
as possible the att0rnies and under
lings OF railroad companies. We want
uniformity In taxation, uniformity in the
mode of taxing, uniformity in the man.
ner and time OF payment, and the State
should see to it that all county and dis
trict taxes are collected, and not allow
counties and districts TO be menaced into
compromise by threats to remove machine
shops and to make Determinations against
and to the injury of counties or districts.
Pending this tax law the legislature
request the Governor to inform the House
If the b. & o. K. K Co. had paid its
State taxes. Response: The Company
have paid their State taxes. Why did
not the inquiry extend to the matter of
county and district taxes? They would
have then discovered what many of them
know, that thousands of dollars of county
and district taxes were then wholly un-
paid, and that in no case had any county
or district received any taxes from the
road until large portion OF the taxes due
bad be released by compromise, and
they might have learned what some
OF them we'll knew, that there were then
pending IN the circuit court OF the United
States many suits against couHties and
districts, brought by this company, in
which the collection of county and dis
trict taxes were enjoined, when thepeople
sickened by the delays OF tardy judicial
tribunal sitting only once in year, are
compelled, in order to end expensive hti-
CATION, IL take by compromise a small
portion of their Just demand, and patient
iy or impaticntly hope that in the near
future great corporations will be compel
led to contribute their just proportion OF
taxes to support the government that
should protect their property and rights.
Then, while We are on the subject OF
railroads, let us 90 step farther and in
ouire why this unjust discrimination
against our citizens in the matter ot
freis ht and passenger rates? why DO
the citizens OF Cameron, Fairmont, Man
nlncton and other points pay freight and
passenger rates to Baltimore greatly in
excess of the rates charged Weeling, Bell
airc. Columbus, &c, to the same point.
The farmer living along the line OF
this road in West Virginia must sell his
lands and buy IN Ohio to get The advan-
tase of cheaper transportation to Ba.tl-
more; and though the distance is much
greater. that is of no consequence If
is cheaper. We need
net talk of emigration to fill up our
State while these things are done under
our laws. There is now no class oi peo-
ple who would be useful citizens who
do not look to such matters. But ASK
one of our railroad lawyer legislators
WHY this matter is not corrected ana
regulated by law. "Oh, the Will sayl
the charter rights of this company they
are sstoundingl Why you can't do
ANYTHING with theml' No; and 20 long
as our legislators are under pay from
IN. road as lawyers, SO long rs members
of the Legis lature ride on free passes, so
lcng ss executive and judicial othcers
are dead-hsaded in every direction, we
never will be able to do anything with
them. If, however, public sentiment
brands the Offering Of passes TO pubic ON
GERS. and their acceptance rs the Offering
nd accepting of bribes, and the law so
declare and punish the offender, ana as
oualify railroad surveyors aid other ser
wants of railroads from holding Puoiic
office. then our Legislators will be able To
understand that "a naturai person Is Dot
allowed to make unreasonable and eA
cessiye charges as q common carrier, al d
an artificial person is subject to the sane ~
res,ric,ion.;d then We will find State ON
Gers who can understand that the state,
in the exercise OF the power and right OF
eminep, domain, can subject the prop
erty and franchises Of incorporated CON-
psnies to the public use, and can so reg
uls,e the enjoy ment OF such trsncnlses ''
thai they shall not be used to the injury
snd oppression of our community and In
tho interest and favor Of another. These
matters effect the interest of ali classes ot
ci,izens as we'll as the farmers, who raise
the questions. and they ought by al
mans TO cooperate until the much
nasded reform Is made and put in oPer'
alton. 80
Mo,ndsrille, May 18th, 1876.
sale Of Goods I'm New YORK.
Nrw YORK. May 2.-Ertrsorai-
-, ,,.,amn.ory sales OF dDsesnc cotton