Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-19
his public acts which were worthy of COM
mendation.
IMPORTANT TAX CASE.

IMPORTANT TAX CASE.
ling, two of the ablest jurists who have
figured in the United States senate since
the war, are to appear before the United
States supreme court tomorrow as coun-
sci on the same side in a case of unusual
interest and magnitude. The case is that
of the county of San Mateo. CAL, VS.. the
Southern Pacific Railroad company. The
action was commenced by the county of
San Mateo under the act of the
state of 1880 for the recovery of
state and county taxes claimed
to be due by the railroad company for the
year 1882. The railroad company al
legged In their answer that they had in 1861
mortgaged their road, with its rolling
stock. etc., to an amount exceeding $1,000
per mile; that the state board of equaliza-
ton, in assessing this tax as due to the
county. had failed to make any deduction
on account of this mortgage, although
such deductions were allowed in respect to
all other property taxed; that the assess
ment was made without notice to the de-
PENDANT, or opportunity to be heard re-
speeding the value of the property, and
was therefore illegal. The action was re-
moved from the supreme court of the
state to the United States circuit court
tor the district of California.
Justice Field and Judge Sawyer presiding.
The decision was adverse to the state. and
IN favor of the railroad company. Messrs.
Edmunds and Conkling appear for the
railroad company, and ex-Chief Justice
Rhodes, of California, and. probably. also.
the state attorney general will appear to
defend the action of the state. At the time
| the state constitution of California was
formed it was predicted that its provisions
would not stand the test of the courts. The
case Is one Of interest not only to railroad
corporations but to all corporations other
than municipal corporations throughout
the Union.
THE POLITICAL ASSESS MENTCAsE.
The supreme court this morning rendered
decision III thei political assessment
case of n. Curtis. The constitutionaiity
of the law under which Curtis was cen
vlcted was affirmed, and the petition for g
writ of habeas corpus denied
l. OUR MERCHANT MARINE.
| The senate bill TO remove certain bur
dens on the American merchant marine
and to encourage the American foreign
carrying trade was raiiroaded through the
house committee on commerce to- day
The bill had only come from the printing
office yesterday, and had not been consid
cred by the senate at all, yet it is taken up
by the house committee to-day, favor
able report made upon it, and the house
fixes day early in January for its consid
Grafton. All amendments, including one
that is probably desired by
every ship builder in the Uni
ted States except John Roach
were promptly rejected. Congressman
Guenther offered an amendment providing
that any vessel engaged in the foreign CAT
rying trade, and wholly owned by citizens
of the United States, shall hereafter be en-.
titled to registry under the laws of the
United States. Mr.. Guenther argued be
fore the committee that, under the present
law only home built vessels can avoid con-
sular fees and like burdens, and also carry
the mails. All others, although owned
wholly by American citizens, are denied
these immunities and privileges, and John
Roach is probably the only ship builder
who is wealthy enough to build the kind OF
ships that are SO favored. The amend
ment was voted down in the committee by
a vote of yeas to Z nays, as follows
Ayes-White, Reagan, Gibsoa, McLane
and Guenther. Nays-Page. Richardson.
Ward, Washburn, Townsend, George and
Ross. 1t is suspicioned that the commerce
committee is too much under the influence
of Jno. Roach, who has been before the
committee several times. Mr.. Guenther
says he will review his amendment when
] the bill comes up in tie house Jan. 5.
| THE YANKTON BONDS.
| One of the most important matters be-
fore the committees of the senate is that
concerning the Yankton county, Dakote
bonds, with which the committee on terri
tories is laboring. A prominent Dakotian
states tonight that the real object of the
visiting delegation from that territory is
not so much to secure admission as a state
as to arrange for the passage of bill
whereby the territory of Dakota or the gov.
ernmentwill assume the Indebtedness, which
amounts to $35O,OOO. These bonds. it is
said, have been purchased for an almost
nominal figure by private individuals. 1t
is thought that when this becomes known
! to the committee on territories the Dakota
bond problem will be at once rejected or
the whole matter re-opened by an investi-
cation.
THE CHIPPEWA INDIAN DELEGATION
had final hearing before Secretary Tel
Ter Saturday, and started for the West to-
night. An agreement satisfactory to the
Indians was arrived at by which the gov
| eminent binds itself, in an executive pro-
clamation to be soon issued, to set aside a
reservation for these Indians in Rolette
! county, Dakota, at the foot of Turtle
mountain, extending from the Canadian
border on the north, in a
line thirty miles south, and then east
twentyfour miles, embracing over 100, 900
acres. Their former reservation embraced