Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-11-14

| line OF az mlles, IL mas lyUOV.Zo miies VI
track. 1t has a double track its whole
length, 3l2 IS of triple track, 294 80 of
quadruple track and 469 % miles of sid.
ings, and the whole line is laid with 65.
pound steel rail. The earnings of this road
are vastly in excess of those of any Pacific
line, and its property values greatly in ex-
cess, mile for mile, of those of any of the
! California roads. These comparisons
might be continued at great length, and
would establish the impolicy of the Cali
fornia system of assessment outside of the
legal questions involved, and which have
been determined in favor of the corpora
tions, which Judgment, in the opinion of
eminent jurists, will be affirmed by the
Court of last resort, in which case the
legal obligation upon the companies to pay
will be wholly dissolved.
Unless, therefore, there is absolute legal
inhibition against accepting the offers of
the companies, it will be seen that it is
the part of wisdom to take the money ten.
dered. In the offer, it is understood, there
was carried the proposition to pay all city
taxes in full made upon stations, work
shops, depots, local improvements, etc. 1t
should also be remembered that fully
81, 200 900 of the taxes of 1880, 1881 and
1882 have already been paid, and the offer
made refers only to taxes as yet unpaid.
If the State had accepted the offer made,
it and the counties would have received
taxes per mile of railway more than so per
cent. in excess of those collected on all
assessments against railroad property in
New York and Pennsylvania, and from 30
to 100 per cent. higher than for most of
the roads in the United States. The val
uation of roads per mile, including all
property, in Texas, is $7,2l3; in South
Carolina, 10000; in Indiana, IS, All f;
and SO in other States, while in California
the leading roads are placed from SIG, 900
to nearly $4,000 per mile, while nom
paying branches and leased lines are rated
from 81, sol to $4,000 per mile.
But it is believed that the authority is
ample in the State to settle the tax Issues,
and remove from public affairs subject of
irritation that works the whole commu-
nifty positive harm, and cripples the State
and several of the counties financially. 1t
| is certain that the people of the State are
DESTROYS for the adjustment to be made,
and that they would justify the accept
ance of the offer. The railroad companies
protest with an earnestness that should
command belief, even though the history
of the business did not substantiate it, as
it does, that they have never and do not
now seek to avoid their just taxes, nor to
be released from an equal and proper share
of the burden of maintaining the city,
county and State Governments. The
prosperity of the State, the economic sd.
ministration of its affairs, and the rapid
| development of its resources, are matters
of vital and all-absorbing interest to these
railroads. Their corporators would write
themselves down the veriest asses and
knaves if they sought to avoid their due
contribution to the common treasury.
Such policy would be suicidal. 1t never
has been set up, nor is it fair dealing with
the men who compose these companies to
charge it. Their natural business ability
and acquired commercial wisdom deserves
no such verdict of unwisdom.
Yet it is true that selfish press and
ambitious demagogues have preached for
months, with assumed earnestness, precise
ly that doctrine, and have left unturned no
stone to impress Upon the citizens of Cali
fornia the preposterous ideas that the rail-
way companies of California have but one
end and aim, and that is to fleece the peo-
pie to the last dollar and reduce them to
the non productive point, to avoid all Gov
ernmental burdens, and shirk all the duties
and obligations coordinate with fair citi.
zenship.
We do not believe that the thoughtful
minds of the country have been influenced
by such absurd and pernicious teachings
it would be an insult to ordinary intelli-
gence to assume it.
But if there was lacking any evidence of
the sincerity of the railroad companies in
their desire to adjust the tax difficulties,
and to make great sacrifices to do so, it
will be found in published offer, yester.
day, made in San Francisco journal, by
Mr.. Raymond, the attorney of the comps.
MES, which we assume is properly report
ed, to adjust the disputes for the years
$780, 1881 and 1882 on the basis of the as
sessments for those years-that is to say,
it is proposed to pay the unpaid taxes just
as demanded by the State. But as
tender in Court was made, the ten
per cent. penalty could not attach, and
therefore does not appear to have entered
into the new offer. 1t is reserved, how
ever, that the cases now or to be appealed
to the Supreme Court of the United States
are to 90 on to hearing, in order that the
principles at issue therein relative to the
power of the State to discriminate against
certain classes of property may be finally
adjudicated and the whole irritating ques-
ton act at rest, and concerning which the
companies have so little doubt, says their
attorney, as to the outcome being in their
| favor that the corporations will agree, In
case the Court holds adversely to the views
of the companies, that still the sums at
issue shall be settled on the same basis.
Thus the State and counties, in any event,
will receive all the taxes they claim, less
only the per cent. penalty and the untena-
bic claim for interest.
Certainly this offer gives the denial to
! the oftreneated CHARGES apainst the rail.