Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-08-14
COMMUNICATED.
RAILROAD TAXES.

We call public attention to Il new and
very important question which will come
before the next legislature.
Briefly. The Chesapeake Il Ohio rail-
road was exempted from taxation; after
this grant was made, the road was sold
and is now owned by Wall Street and
not in West Virginia; the question Is.
whether the Wall Street owners are eX-
cmpt from taxes on their property i'll this
State: Does the immunity from taxation
pass to the purchasers? For example:
The legislature exempts my farm, L sell
it to you, do you get the privilege which
was given to me? Or, to put the question
in another shape: is an exemption from
taxation transferable?
This is 4 very difficult question mo COM
petent lawyer will give his opinion with
out weeks hard study? The writer has
not investigated the matter, but Is IN
formed that very able counsel have adj
vised, that the exemption from taxes Is
NOT transferable.
This is purely legal question and
ought TO be left to the COURTS; but the
scheme is, to lobby through some new law
which will secure TO Wall Street Capital
lists the privilege that was originally IN
tended for the benefit of our HOME people.
In view of this, we ought to send to the
legislature mar who will perform the
labor of collecting all the facts and all the
learning and publish them SO that the cit
liens generally will understand the case.
\ really competent representative, APP
preciating the magnitude of his trust, VIII
set about investigating this matter as
soon as he is elected, because when the
legislature meets he should DC ready with
some proper legislation 10 submit the
question to the courts.
Wall Street spectators do not like the
courts they prefer to lobby the legiSla-
ture and it is probable every species OF
OUTSIDE influence will be eXerted to III
ducc members to vote against the pro-
posed measure. 1t is comparatively easy
to log-roll legislature; if money IS used,
many newspapers will publish only one
side of the case, the people are mlsihform-
ed and mSlrd, u manufactured ana ms
taken public sentiment Is worked up
which reacts with tremendous force upon
the average legislator, who votes wrong
in order his miSled constituents may
think he voted right. Hence, to counter
act this dangerous outside influence, 4
competent representative will print AMI
scatter broadcast over the State Il careful
~ prepared argument in support OF ms
views; this argument should present all
the facts so plainly and Umpartially that
any man of ordinary information, after
reading it, can form an intelligent judg,
mcnt rs to the merits of the proposed
measure. This argument will be conSld-
cred bv the ircside and discussed between
neighbors and sensible citizens in differ
ent counties, whose opinions are entitled
to weight: will write to their representa-,
tivcs advising them how to vote. Depend
upon it, letters OF this kind have more IN
nucnce with the average legislator than
fifty reasons offered by l stranger.
Our readers will observe that both OF
the great railroads, with probably thirty
millions of property III this State are
claiming exemption from taxation ana
are seeking Legislation to strengthen their
prctentions in this behalf. Hence it Is
very important that we send to the lcgis-
laturc some man who is qualified foT the
service demanded by the OCCASION.
JUNItS.