Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-12

ii per cent. OF all the taxes paid by the
ten counties through which the road
passes, and as further evidence OF the
material benefits conferred by the road,
| refer TO the fact that, according TO the
last census of the State, 30 per cent OF
the whole population OF the 81 counties
comprising the State, was embraced in the
eleven counties through which the main
stem passes, and that Al per cent. (by
the report of the Auditor for the year
1879 of the whole taxable property oi
the State, real and personal, was as
sessed TO these counties, an average val
uatiOn, per county OF more than two
fold the value assessed to the counties
of of the line.
J. The committee who framed the bill
under discussion has seen hit to refer to
the question of taxes, and respectfully
submit for your consideration, whilst
not exactly german to the bill itself,
the following particulars in reference to
the county OF Morgan, and to state that
the assessments OF the company's prop
erty throughout the State, whilst per-
haps not in all counties as dispropOr-
! tionate as in this instance, are excessive
in the judgment of the company, and
bear an undue proportion OF the valua-
tons assessed TO its citizens. The total
assessed valuation of property, real and
! personal, in Morgan county, is Sl,123,-
S92.S7 for the year 1878, and OF this sum
! S563, ,S24S7 is assessed to the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, leaving 81 ,059,-
! 56S assessed to the citizens of the
- IA
seen that SSl per cent OF the
total county valuation Is assessed
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company. The total amount OF levies
for county, district and school purposes,
for the year 1873, is Sl3, 60-of which
amount fifty-twO per cent, or S6,S72OS
is certified by the Auditor OF the State
as due from the Baltimore and Ohio
Company. The Superintendent of Pub
lie Schools report 1875 scholars, OF
which number, according TO the above
percentage, 933 are educated and lurn-
ishcd school accommodations by the
Baltimore and Ohio Company. Under
the compromise arrangement made with
the county, which was deemed equita-
bic and fair by the County Court and
the great majority OF the people, the
Baltimore and Ohio Company has paid
in the past, and agreed to pay in the
future 81, $50 per annum for county pur-
poses, and S2,0l4.53 for school purposes,
being respectively twenty-six per cent.
OF the county and thirty per cent. OF the
hOOl levies.
Having reviewed as briefly aS / could
the general relations OF the company to
the Safe, | come to the question OF
its policy, as represented by Its
tariff, and recognize this to be the inn
portant question which has originated
the proposed legislation.
At the outset desire to say that the
company recognize that il has received
from the State in its sovereign capacity
valuable franchise, and that it owes to
the State the allegiance which the Crea-
turc necessarily holds to the creator,
and that far from desiring to antagonlZe
the State or any of its interests, 1t has an
earnest desire To pursue such policy
as will promote its interests and secure
friendly relations. Your honorable
committee will bear in mind that the
managers oi so great corporation, by the
very necessities OF the case, have grave
responsibilities 10 various and often
conflicting interests. The line OF It's
operations embraces seven States, sub
iect To all the various laws and rcgula-
tions pertaining to the same. The man
ayers are bound, not only to look to the
interests OF the citizens of those States
doing business upon its lines, but also
to have fair and proper consideration
for the interests of those who, as stock
holders and creditors OF this great cor
pOratiun, look To them 10 protect and
secure their interests. Ii is Il very sig
nihcant fact that whilst practically the
same tariffs are operating in the seven
States, all OF which have close and cx-
tensivc relations with the road, no or
uanizcd complaint is heard except from
West Virginia, and this TACT alone |
think sufficient To- cause your honorable
committee To hesitate in adopting the
present hill, which proposes, in the most
radical manner, to alter all the relations
between the road and the State, and
break up the unity OF system which
experience has demonstrated acts with
uniform and ben Efficient effects uponthe
entire work.
In dealing with the question oi rail
way tariff | recognize that | am under
taking 10 explain the most intricate and
important commercial problem in the
worlds history OF to-day, and that OF
necessity in So short a space a. this dis
cusSiun permits Oi can but touch upon
a few OF the general features, and upon
the most important ut the local ones
which affect the interests of your state.
I'm the outset desire to call your
attention 10 the fact that the railway
! lines are not only in competition with
| each other, hut that the great trunk
| lines are in competitor with rail and
| lake, rail and river, lake and canal, and
| that all those systems are vlelng with
| each other i'm the struggle Tor the trade
and traffic of the country. In addition
| 10 this the great commercial centres OF
| the country, both on the scaboard and
| in the interior are struggling with all the
rivalry induced by that greatest ofhuman
passions, the love Ot wealth therefore (;
no fixed basis for tariff rates can
possibly be secured, and it would be "a
reasonable TO expect that legislation
! could control and determine the value
of stocks and the great commodities OF
commerce, such "a cotton, grain and oil,
as 10 control this commercial article ot
transportation. In order to more fully
present the case ior Your consideration
! | propose To show: First, the relations
/ of the Baltimore y Ohio road tO this
general subject, and then how those
relations AFFECT the loCal interests in
Your State and other interests on its
! lines, aud think you will agree with
me ii fail Ia show that there Is no un-
| even hearing OF the system on certain
| interests and in certain localities, that
it is easier to complain and find fault
| than il is tn perceive and apply the
remedy. The railway history oi the
world, not only in our own country but
| in the older countries OF Europe, Is full
! OF the question Of discrimination, and
~ long a. railruals exist and the nvslry
! oi trade and commerce continues 50
long will this complaint he heard.
The baltimore and Ohio railroad in rs
/ infancy looked to the Ohio river as its
objective point. At that day the great
] .sHlptruars. al tlg yp-f dpaft-i up8u its