Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-30
tbs TAX CASES

There are now on trial bsfore Federal
Court In San Francisco several cases in.
voiviug the legality of several assessment
rolls so far as the taxes laid against certain
railroads are concerned. The issues are,
those of law mainly, with some of mixed
law and fact The San Francisco Chronicle,
while the trials are pending. and prior &c.
sheir argument and submission, has seen
fit to assail the rulings of the Court;
relative to the pleadinga and the
admission of testimony, and advises the
practical Abandonment of the cases. As q.
rule, = il in bad taste . comment upon,
Judicial proceedings pending a trial; if
there are exceptions to it, the trial Of;
these tax cases viii not fall within them. Ii;
is very evident that while the railroad.
companies, under the rights guaranteed.
them by the Laws of the country, have gone
into the Courts TO have issues determined
which It is important TO all the people.
should be passed upon by the highest tribus
nails, the agitating press has resolved to
prejudice the cases, to insist upon newsps-
per law being made the rule of action, and
to infame the public mind against the
Court to which the cases are to be submit.
ted, by the iil-concealed insinuasion that
che people are not being dealt with fairly.
This is in keeping with the conduct of the
anti.railroad crusaders. Their own passion.
ate demands they would have supplant JUS
tioe by their prejudices they would in
auence the Courts their own selfish de-
aires they would substitute for cool inter.
probation of the law. Now there is no
means of knowing what viii be the de-
cision Of the Court, nor what the Judges
OF that tribunal will declare TO be the law
of the csses. Whatever it is, it is prob
BILE that appeals will be taken TO the
Sapreme Court of the United States.
There is no reason TO suppose that that
trib1nal or the lower Court will give
any other Interpretation to the law than
n Just one To assail the Courts
then in advance is not only offensive to
good taste and indecent, but indicative of
a spirit at war with the principles of good
government, and a disposition to bring
the law snd the tribunals of the country
into contempt. The laws of the land are
made by the people the people establish
the Courts to interpret them and to hear
and determine causes, and the conservative
sentiment of the people will rebuke all
such base attempts as that made by the
mendscious sheet named to suSvert the
methods ordained by the people for settling
disputes between citizens and the govern
ment The Chronicle has the unques.ioned
right to make itself odious in the sight of
gust men, and, by lis present course, it has
evidently determined TO do SO. Ii the rul-
ingsof the Courthsd accorded withits views,
aud the defendants had asssiled them in
the manner of that INSCRIPTIONS journal,
how Justify it would have roared. Now
EhAt it finds fault with the rulings Of the
Judges, it will, of coprse, sssail all who
have the courage to protest against its in
ieoency. and TO demand that by awaiting
che 6nsl decision Of the Court before criti-
eising 1t there shall be shown to the Judi
cial institutions of the country ordinary
respect.