Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-10-24

and is as vilely base and dishonest as the
crime Of obtaining goods under n false
pretense. The question as presented was q
new one. No people, no party, no conven-
ton anywhere, had declared whether it
we're better to go on with the suits, taxing
ourselves to the utmost limit the mean
while, or settle the vexed question forever
by compromise, thus rendering possible a
reduction OF State taxation of moro than
one-half. 1t was purely a matter OF State
policy, addressing itself to the individual
judgment OF members on their oaths to
legislate for the best interests OF the whole
people. 1t was a question, we are Wiling
to admit. concerning the policy Of which
gentlemen might honestly ~differ-though
it is apparent that those who bawl in oppo-
sition to our position are unwilling to go
even this far. There was a perceptible
feeling for the popular side. Honest men
and dishonest men voted for and against
the bill. Republicans and Democrats di-
vided in the same way. Some OF the grand
est frauds that ever found their way into
a legislative body espoused the cause, so
called, of the people. 1t was in no sense a
party issue, and does not deserve to be
treated az such. Storey county owned a
large share of the back taxes. Virginia
City had Just been reduced to a blackened
ruin by fire. Her records, public
buildings. schools = all were gone.
Both county and city were without money
to repair damage. The people had lost
their all ard were in despair. Suspended
schools, ruined credit and bankruptcy
seemed imminent. A wall came up from
these stricken people in their dire distress
such as no man, who is a man, could fail
to seriously consider. To compel a people
thus situated to face three years Of litiga-
ton in the Supreme Court Of the United
States, in the meantime taxing themselves
seven or eight per cent, seemed to us like
the refinement of cruelty. Nobody in or
out Of the Legislature ever justified the
bonanzas in resisting the payment of their
taxes. That was diabolical. But they had
a legal right to go TO the courts, they did
go, and the Legislature, if it touched it at
all, must deal with the question where it
found it. An attempt was made to COM
promise, and failed. So ended the matter
and there it should have ended. The tax
has been paid, and the issue then presented
is as dead as an Egyptian mummy. Not a
man who voted for the Com promise Bill
would have voted for o repeal Of the law.
There is not a man in the State to-day, Of
any responsibility, who would favor its re-
peal by a future Legislature, and none
know these things better thar the dema-
agogues who are cavorting about the State
braying in an opposite key. This article
grown to unusual length, but we are
not through yet. We promised in the fore
to explain what had become Of those
penalties, amounting to sos. 900. We
shall do it, and in doing so, show hat the
real Bullion Tax issue has been lodged by
all of the Conventions, and is not to-day
discussed before the people by the candi-
dates Of either party.
Soon after the adjournment Of the
with q view to %reliev-
ing the districts of Storey county
and Virginia City, the Bonanza peo-
pie waived their right to delay
and allow the case to be taken up out of
its order. 1t was decided in favor of the
State, and SO decided two years and ten
before the attorneys for the State
or anybody else expected it would be.
And here comes in the rub. Immediately
the heels Of the decision certain State
and attorneys engaged and en-
ployed in the case went to work and did
precisely what the Legislature had pro-
posed to do-namely, compromised with
the Bonanza firm by throwing off the PEN
alties, amounting to Sl05, 600. They stipu-
lated that the collection Of these penalties
should be held in allegiance until April
1879. This was TO give the Bonanzas an
opportunity to go before the incoming
Legislature next winter with q proposition
to be relieved of the payment of the same,
and they will be there asking that this be
done, backed up and supported by said
The stipulation in question
will be signed and Endorsed by Lewis 4
Deal, the Attorney General, John r.
Controller Hobart. and, we have
hoor1 ~ ota tod apd MOI 5ar;al l,, Goyarno.
Bradley. The question recurs, what are
members OF the Legislature elected at the
ensuing election to do in the premises ?
Will they be called upon to construe an in
dorsement of Deal, Kittrell and Bradley by
the people as an Endorsement Of the settle
ment aforesaid with the Bonanzas, and will
they be required in pursuance Of that in
dorsement to vote for the forthcoming
Bonanza Relief bill. This is the question,
and the real and only issue to-day before
the people regarding this important matter.
There are no instructions On the subject
from any quarter. We want to know
about this matter. As q member of the
Legislature shortly to convene we have q
right to know. Why do not the gentlemen
before the people take position on a sub
ject of such overwhelming importance.
All we ask is for gentlemen to stand
squarely up to their record and not at
tempt with specious arguments to evade
the paramount issue. For our own part
we shall construe the election Of Bradley.
Deal and Kittrell as an Endorsement by the
people OF their settlement Of the back tax
cases with the Bonanzas, and shall feel in
structed to vote in the Legislature in favor
of their settlement by which the sos, 900
in penalties were thrown off or cancelled.
This is the case in plain language. All we
ask is for gentlemen to stand by their
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