Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-07-17
Taxing Railroads.
Nashville Banner.


out in an elaborate article on the
subject Of taxing the railroads.
These unfortunate corporations
stand in the light of scape-goats for
the sins of the people, and all par
ties cry out for the sacrifice. They
have been prosecuted in every con-
ceivable manner by the low-taX
people, and on the principle usually
followed, we expected the state
credit organs would have defended
them. But it seems we are mistak-
en-, and they are to suffer i'm case
either faction triumphs. We claim
to be democrats, and as such, we
see no good reason why either par
ty should pursue them with so much
vindictiveness. Railroads are moth
ing more than combinations of gen.
tlemen, and as such, have the same
rights and privileges as all other as
sociations of gentlemen. If they
transcribed the limits of law or Or
der, they are amenable to the law
as other people are, and we do not
suppose they claim any immunity
on that account. There are no good
reasons for this exceptional notice.
ufacturers or corporations of miners
we hear of no TRADES of abuse to-
wards them or lengthy dissertations
calling especial notice towards
them, and yet some one or the 9TH
or of the papers are continually full
minating cheap thunderat railroads,
for what reason we know not, eX-
cept it is to curry favor with the
pOpulace. 1t is quite the thing now
to abuse railroads, and for that rea-
son many indulge in it.
Now, so far as taxing the rail-
roads is concerned, if the Leaf will
refer to the comptrOller's report, it
will see the startling fact announced
the railroads do pay taxes, and ex-
actly what was assessed against
them by the legislature, except
those that are exempted by law.
In granting charters to them, the
lawmakers gave some of them eX-
emptiOn from taxation for given
length of time. If any wrong was
committed, it was the legislatures
that granted them this immunity.
1t is quite common thing for cor
pOratiOns to ask for Il certain length
of time to run without taX-paying,
and hitherto it has quite commonly
been granted. Whether right or
wrong in principle, we will not stop |
here TO argue, but it has been done |
for all that. Among those corpora
tiOns that asked and got this ex-
emptiOn were several, most of the |
railroads. In some instances the |
time has expired and in others it |
has not, nor will for several years.
The people became impatient at
this exemption some time ago, and |
demanded the taxation of all, and
so the legislature of 1877 passed a
law taxing them all at a reduced
rate. Those roads whose time of
exemption had expired accepted
the compromise, while those that
still had several years to run with
out it naturally enough did not ac-
cept. The people were disappOint-
ed that all did not pay and would
not have given reduced rates had
they supposed all would not come
into the terms. But at the same
time if we will put ourselves in the
place of those that had several years
of freedom from taxation we will at
once understand why they did not
agree to it. 1t requires an amount
of patriotism possessed by few peo-
pie, to voluntarily relinquish an adj
vantage that would save several
thousand dollars annually. The
only course left is to do one of two
things. One is to quietly await the
of the time of exemptions;
the other is TO engage in a lawsuit
that would certainly not terminate
before the exemption, and then
with doubtful issue, for somehow
railroads seem fond of lawsuits.
This is a plain statement of the
facts, and the people are left to their
choice. The most sensible and just
course to pursue is to recognize the
fact that our ancestors, in their zeal
for internal improvements and gem
erosity, went beyond their ability,
and our judgment, by first paying
for the roads, and then releasing
them from taxation, and with this
understanding, grit our teeth and
stand the time watch sooner or lat :
ar will bring them into the assess
IRIS clutches. Then let all rates and
be abandoned and let !
hem all. come into the common
lass of taxable property, Just as II !
hey were mules or any other per- /
onal property. We sec no other 4
.ourse left, and then we can spare /
Ill this political elap-trap and cheap ]
zeal for the peoples rights. =