New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-02-11
TAXATION OF RAILROAD LANDS.

sFcKET,RY CuANDIER's REPORT 80 THE SENATE
BILLS To TAX THESE LANDS NDw PENDING.
FROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE rRiEcHk.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. l0.-Secretary Chandler
has in response 10 resolution of Jan
81 asking information tie subject copies Of
eI letters addressed 60 mcmhers OF Congress during
ls74 In re -aId 10 the taxation Of ludr granted to rail
roade Tor tie support - STATE and local governments
The first ~ these letters is dated Jan TO- 1874 AID col"
tains tlic following passage:
The object Of the I'LL (refcrrod TIE General Land
once for OF it, appears Ia TIE {" secure
10 state thrcu- IA which land grants To- corporations run,
with the property OF individual culcns VINO are
the oWrTs real estate IL 10 u!err'uod tndt hy neg
the 4ntS thew arc allowed uupToductiVe ot stirh
ycuc years after the tile is legally vested III the
By the 2lSt Section Of the Act Of Juv . 1864, amcndt-
tory the Pacific railroad Act of Juy l. l"o- ~ IS io-
The granted lands, shall be ad by tDc COMPANIES hcio
patents are issucd. By MAILING the ir,unE 81 PAT
prepared here VII GOut previous selection 10y e con-
panes, you necessarily dsie"to with t;- venue Il" hr
limited companies il1in lht paw
nlrni oi large sum- unless some oi.r method - pro
vijei for it's collection :, by inc delivery OF rnt".'
law Whether tho augmentation of Tie state ItV'hu'r
by taxation VIII pt"~Ii! c"hiT'1- ,t ,"l , t 10 49,
NV ms ,i e nom alleged assignee of me railroad
pancs who dcsIc To- cunrdmatc ihriruilrN hdi ~. p
vented by the failure of the gtHntHr Ia receive thr
patents nom tie United States These people, uIily
settlers upon the and be pat III condition.
~ ctltc their humc- II enjoy tAer pfD cgty, 49,
cVcd from aud anxiety atiVnHalIt UPON
"a. holding OF al imperfect Nue.
On the 9th OF March. 1874 Mr. Drummond aldr'ssed
letter To the Hon. ". \. Phillips, who hid sent him
copy o. another bin having the same general purposes IN
view. In this letter SIR. Drummond says:
The o i,ct Of the hin appears I've TO t0 states
the rign to tax tuese granted lands hy compelling tine
cnnpaucs receive taar patents under pam "i 'r-
tire. very much question the PtoIttty ~ LidlF
Ian aid iI the construction OF 70 ROAD. amt attcr lt
same Is completed 10 annex new ndtonr Ia h' sia"t
with penalty Of forfeiture for Noncompliance Miuiih
specified time. S0li, WIN" have no d"uOt ~ ~" gen
rrl uy OF putting Il 10 tie power Or the states 10 tax
al the property o individuals and corporations witiln
limits, do not feel warranted IN recommending
action BY the Government lhat Nodd instantly
DESTROY the len upon thc lands Tor taxation Hnpo''A, NV
ahsOi liug again u1n taxable ru'c CONAN
upnu I,ilhre tine companies 10 ASA Tor PAT az
specified II these lands tic property N me cor
lor,ttlung they by grants. Hn NOT mciey ~ TIE
Issue patents. and 10 say tgt inc mere decay 81 Is-
Ing the tlte by conveyance stall WORN forfeiture would
Ia my opinion be manifest departure from SOUND p"-
icy ana judgment.
lis subject, which frst brought to public ett'n-
lion bv a Western Correspondent OF TIE TRIBUNE IN
1873 Is ayan before COngr 49, and bls have ca intro
dnr in both HOUSES for the purpose OF en- bling the
states 10 collect tax on railroad lands. H. II probable
thar a h having this general object IA view VIII 10
passed during the present session