The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-03-16
STATE TAXATION OF RAILROAD LANDS.
Remarks Of Hon. VIM. A. Phillips, Il. C.,
Upon the Passage Of the Bill.

\ Uuon tuo 6&8bo&o u SSSo Dill.
Mr.CROUNSE- l now yield three minutes
to the gentleman from Kansas, Mr.. Phil
lips who has introduced a similar bill as
the one nox being considered, and who has
exer,ed himself 10 secure lis passage.
Mr.. PHILLIPS, of Kansas. The gentle
man from Nebrzska, who has this bill in
charge, (Mr. Crounse, has 20 fully stated
| it, purpose that need not consume much
OF the time Of the House. A bill alnost
identical with this, varying Just - stated
BY the gentleman, passed this House
in the last Congress, but failed to receive
consideration in the Senate.
These separate railroad companies, these
different branches of the Pacific Railroad
Company TO- day hold fif,y millions of acres
OF land without paying taxes thereon, and
hold the land for speculative purpose; for
ten year, they have held the greater part
of this land. Settlers purchasing land from
them or occupying the alternate sections of
the public lands give these railroads the
benefit of their labor and money in % far
as they enhance the value of the lands held
BY the railroad company. From the mo-
nent the settler gets Possession OF his lands
he commences to pay taXee he enhances
the value Of the railroad lands not only BY
his Improvements, but by paying taxea up
on the lands which he holds for all purpo-
ses, school, local, and general. At the
same time these lands held BY the railroad
companies for ten years for speculative pur-
pose are exempted from all taxation. The
railroad companies have, by sheltering
them-elves under clause Of the Law, sue
ceeded in evading taxation. The purpose
Of this bill is to compel these companies
TO pay taxes upon the land held by them
just as other people pay taxes.
Under th- act Of 1867, granting lands and
subsidies to these companies, one section |
provides that each of these companies shall !
have ten alternate sections of land on each |
side of the line of road, and that on the |
completion of each forty miles Of road
commissioners shall be appointed to exam
ne, report upon, and accept the road, If
properly constructed, and 70 certify to the
President that the road has been completed
and accepted. The next section Of that act
provides that upon the acceptance OF the
road, the railroad company shall receive
Of the bonds of the United States some Sl6,-
cooper mile, and at the same time Of the
acceptance of these bonds they were to have
conveyed to them the lands TO which they
we're entitled under the act. The bonds in
all cases were delivered; the company has
the bonds and used the proceeds in
the road.
In the .ct of 1864 a clause wa inserted
that these companies should be comDelled
TO pay the cost Of surveying and certify ing,
. small lee Tb;s the, have f.;l.d m nav.
thew have failed IN claim the na,en,s ior
he hnd 70 which thew were entitld and in
Ibat vxv thew ey.de ibe navment of t,.es
The purno,e of this hin is To nl,ce them so
lar a the Goye,nment Concerned vhere
Lbev will he comnelled to nav t..es m The
.nds vb;cb thew ovn think II. nnrno-. 4
4 one which will commend itself 10 tb;s
House. "a II did to the House at the fr.t
= esion of the last Congress.
1t is true that these railroads have mort.
v.pad nearly ali of the lands GRANTED them
Sov II thew had . r;gbt 70 convev N.
.nds bv MORTGAGE then thev ovnsd m.
ands- ff thew aid NOT own The l.nds ,hev
,ud no RIGHT 10 convey Them by mor,e,ce
ri;bon, sSh;ec,;no ,hsm.sIv.. ~ nrosecS
ion for a renal ofIens.. Should Won or
NV gentleman unor ,b;. 6oor nnnb...
rom one oi ,be.. comn.nie. . .ec,;on or o
,aH section az Land thev vonld Obtain . q
atent for that section or half sec,ion fle q
in the Office Of the cumpanv. record n o
nd then convey II 10 Won ,,,d frnm ,b,t mo o
,en, Won vonId nav !. Ies nm The land vh;I. Y
bese companies continue N hold m,lI,ons
+ .cras v;,bon, n.v;no .nv ,,,e. , M d
,eI;no never contem ni.,a1 bv ,h;s Hanss
, ia former action and vb;ch Won an. @
ON called on 10 NM fonever IN an end Il
I will not Consume mncb of The time of a
~ House unon tbi. .nb;.ct b.c.n.. y
nov The comm;,,ae On nnbl;c I.nSs h.ve {,
,uch valuabIe bns;ness hrfore them nnon c.
b;cb ,bev dir 20 re,or, - ,hs Ho,sa Il
he .et I.r. ~bo have ,o-J.v .;vs, 20 m. y,
L,:. Il - I-c z IL