Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-05-13
Weeklg gatelligenfm
APPLICATION OF RAILROAD TAXES

Dlll u
me. an UNCONVENTIONAL much neglected
matter. connected Herewith, viz: The
subject of a proper legal n equitable
application or distributor OF the net
proceeds of such taxes after collection.
There are in this state two separate
and distinct classes of railroads, requlr-
ing the exercise of different rules with
reference to this subject, viz: Those
that have been assisted by the state,
which l will call subsidy roads. and
those that have been built by counties,
towns and private means. without any
help from the state, which, will ALI
pendent roads. It is with the ''subsldy
roads" that 1 propose to deal at present.
In my view, the present enactments
of our law-making power perpetrate a
great wrong upon a large majority OF
the taxpayers Of the state and it so, an
instant remedy should be provided.
If a calculation were made to-day OF
the amount, in lands and money land
such can be easily done at the Auditors
office,) that has been furnished to the
various subsidy roads, with compound
interest at the rate of six per cent per
annum, the aggregate would startle
every man who has not given the subject
close consideration. l will call it blank
millions, for exactitude as to amount is
not essential to the presentation OF my
subject. -
The Legislature, in the exercise of the
questionable right OF taking said blank
millions of dollars of public property
lands, bonds and money-and turning
the same over to said subsidy roads,
took, used and converted the property
of the people of the whole state of Mis-
souri,; property belonging to each
county, St. Louis, Stone, Jackson, fancy
and all others, and the people thereof,
share and share alike, according to the
taxable wealth of each, at the time it
was so taken and converted.
Whether or not the Acts of the state
by which it accomplished its end amount
ed to a donation OF that immense public
property to said railroads, or merely to
a conversion of the same into a new and
different property in which the whole
people of the state. by q fiction OF law,
yet hold an equal interest, as in the
original property, are not questions that
require consideration in this connection.
Equitable taxes are to be imposed upon
all of said railroads, and the same are to
be collected. The state can apply them
as it chooses, or even remit them. But
how, consistently with law, equity, JUS
tice and righteousness, shall the agScre-
gate of all such taxes be. applied or dis
tributed? Who ought to receive and
enjoy the sameP I maintain that the
entire proceeds of all taxes collected
upon all subsidy railroads should go
into the state Treasury and be applied
to the state debts alone. This would be
treating the tax payers of every county
in the state, regardless of locality, with
the same equality and impartiality that
were observed by the imposition of said
blank millions Of susidy debt upon them.
& One hundred and fourteen counties in
Missouri involved themselves equally,
according to wealth, in this enormous
debt to make said railroads, and now
that they are in a condition to yield re-
turns or payments in the shape of taxes,
let the same people in every county,
large or small. by the same rule enjoy
equally the fruits other investments. 70
do otherwise and permit thefew counties
that happen to have the benefit of the
location of such subsidy roads in their
borders, to enjoy the exclusive rights
oftaxation-except the quarter of one per
cent to state-as nderpresentlaws-ist to
allow the few lucky counties to be enriched
by depletion of the many. It amounts
to a robbery of the large majority of the
counties in this state, who receive no
benefits from said subsidy roads, of mil.
lions of dollars, and enriches the few
lucky mes to q corresponding mount.
Now let us illustrate the practical
workings of the present laws; by refer.
ence only to n Of the several subsidy
roads, and one county favored with its
location and one not. Take for instance
the Pacific road. The people of one hun.
dred and fourteen counties have paid, OF
contracted to pay, all equally, according
to wealth, say $40, 0OO, 600, including in.
terest, as a subsidy. In its entire length
it only touches twelve counties. Now,
will take Cole and Lafayette for illustra
ton only. Any other two counties, sim
ilarly situated, with reference to the Pa
ciic or any other subsidy road. will beal
comparison with the same results.
Cole is on the Pacific railroad, and pai(
one-third as much of said $40, 600, 900 a
Lafayette, which is off the road, and il
point of fact was greatly injured by it
location. In other words, Lafayett
paid three times (more or less) as nue.
toward making the Pacific road through
Cole county as Cole itself paid tor tn,
same purpose. Now, why should no
Lafayette enjoy the benefits and fruits o
its property converted into a railroad tn
same as Cole?
Again, there is a large state lnteres
NananalN collected, to pay this iden
teal subsidy to the Pacific railroad an
others. The facinc railroad part is nc
collected from the twelve counties tha
it touches alone, but the other one hun
dred and two counties are taxed equal
with the favored twelve to pay it. Las
year Cole paid on this tax $S,482 rs
whilst Lafayette paid $1,000 75,o or owe
double the amount of Cole. Under tn
present laws, Cole is allowed to EMO
rents or taxes on 1856, 40l 80 of sal
road, which sum al two per cent, 70
county taxes, will yield them S15, 1872 0
per annum, or 1925 81 more than tn
whole interest tax paid by said county
whilst Lafayette, that pays more tina
double the interest tax, does not in retur
receive a cent. Now, why should "a
odious law be allowed to remain unre
pealed, that permits n county to EMO
an immense annual income upon prof.
CITY -HO6 It's OWL, DuG upOu d IOau Id
building of which burdened one hundre
= and thirteen counties as much as itsel
The retention of such taxes in the stat
treasury and their disbursement for stat
purposes alone, will cure this gre:
wrong, and place the funds where the
in justice belong. When we reflect upo
the inestimable advantages which tt
mere location of these subsidy road
gave to the favored counties, apart fro
Ii other considerations, and conten
plate the operation of the present law
permitted to stand, upon the near futur
say only twenty five years, we star
amazed at the %stupendous outrage tn
will have been committed in the nan
of law. Millions of dollars will ha'
been extorted from all the counties n
touched by said subsidy roads, al
turned ver to the treasures Of the col
paratively few counties that enjoy the
location.
In my next l propose to show how
deal fairly with the independent al
branch railroads. j. L.. S.
INDEPENDENT AND BRANCH RAILROAD
Wagner's Statutes. page 314, secti
So, provides that, ''in all cases where
railroad or branch railroad in this sta
shall be built in whole. or in part,
subscription to its stock by countit