Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-11-02

Section l Of article 8 OF tho oonstitu.
tion: THE LEGISLATURE SHALL
PROVIDE SUCH REVENUE AS
NAY BE NEEDFUL By LEVYING
A TAX By VALUATION, so THAT
EVERY PERSON AND CORPORA.
TION SHALL PAP Ajax IN PRO.
P0RTYONzO THE VARIATION or
HIS, HER. OR ITS PROPERTY.
SUCH Value 10 BE ASCERTAIN.
EDAND FIXED IN SUOH HAMMER
As THE LEGISLATURE AAY Dr.
RECT, By GENERAL LAWS; SUCH
LAWS TO BE UNIFORN, AS TO THE
GLASSES OF THE PROPERTY OR
SUBJECTS UPON WHICH THEY
OPERATE.
This il the plain provision Of the con.
stitution relative to the taxation Of pro-
perty, including the property Of railroad
companies. and iii it ID not . fair and
equitable settlement Of the case theD
none was ever drawn. Within the SEQ.
tion there is nothing which discriminates
between classes or kinds of property. And
still further the constitution goes in it,
trestnent Of this subject, - will be seen
by the following:
Section 2 OF article Is Of the constitu.
ton: THE PROPERTY OF CORPORA.
TIONS. EXCEPT FOR CHARITABLE.
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL PUR.
POSES. NOW EXISTING AND TO Be
HEREAFTER CREATED. SHALL BE
SUBJECTED TO A UNlFORK RATE OF
TAXATION WITH OTHER PROPERTY,
WHICH SHALL BE LEVIED AND COL
LECTED UNDER GENERAL LAWS,
AND IN SUCH MANNER As THE
LEGISLATURE KAY PRESCRIBE.
Here the constitution specifically pro-
vides that railroad property shall be sub
iectsd TO q rate Of taxation uniform ,cith
other property. There is nothing within
the constitution upon which to base the
assertions, prompted by the purest
malice and an utter disregard of truth,
that the constitution dissriminates
against the people in regard to taxation.
Some OF our ambitious politicians who
are now working for the state constitu.
tion. which provides one system Of taxa.
ton for farmers and another for rail.
roads, will not have to live much longer
to find out their mistake. The people
arc not going to support any such ras-
cality il they know it. Nothing is sure.
than this. The idea Of taxing . railroad
on their earnings and everybody else on
the value of their property, is simply
outrageous. II farmers and business
men vote for the constitution We want
them to do it with their eyes open. The
Republican has given them the facts In
the case.-Vermilion Republican.
Tho constitution has been 20 long b.
fore the people that the editor of the
Republican can hardly plead Ignorance
OF its prev,sions in extenuation of the
ofenss he commits in perpetrating the
foregoing falsehood. He must have
written it With deliberate malice and
with intent to deceive. Tho consti.
tuition nowhere provides ono system
Of taxation for tbs people and anoths,
system for the railroads. II nowhere
provides that . railroad shall be taxed
on it, earnings, and evsrybody else on
the valne Of their property. On the
contrary it provides (art,cls nine, section
one) for the levy Of taxes ''by valuation,
20 that every person and corporation
shall pay . tax in proportion to the
'valss OF his, her or its property" Thssa
are the plain words of the constitution
and there il NO installing their import
and meaning. A railroad company il {
corporation and its property will be -.
ssssed according to ito value under th.
st,ictest Interpretation OF the constitu
ton.