Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-18
TEE RAILROAD TAXES AGAIN.

1t Is stated in a San Francisco journal
that Attorrey-Ge General Marshall is inclined
to abandon the tax suits against the Cen.
trail Pacific Railroad Company and accept
the proposition of the company attorney
Mr.. Raymond, to pay the full amount Of
the taxes for 1880, 1851 and 1882. In an
interview the Attorney General is credited
with saying that he believes it TO be good
policy to take no more risks of the laws
delays, and the probability of the final
Judgment going against the State, in view
of the fact that the defendant has thus far
obtained two decisions confirming its view
of the law relative to the methods Of as
sessing etc, 1t is intimated that law Off
Ger is only hesitating in the matter to
ascertain the drift of public sentiment.
He is advised by the same paper to accept
the proposition of the defendant, and not
to stand either upon the issue relative to
the penalties for delinquency, since the
presidents are against the State, it having
heretofore abandoned its right in regard to
collection Of penalties This latter reason
Is fortified by the admission that there is
such error in the procedure, or the prelim.
ina-ies, on the part of the State relative to
its claim for the penalt es, that recovery
would scarcely be possible So, too, with
regard TO the counties that have already
compromised, the Attorney General is adj
vised 10 proceed regardless of them, and
accept the defendants proposition as to
those counties that have not compromised,
for 1t is sdded, lit would be foolish now,
for the sake Of securing to few counties
the amounts they compromised away, to
keep the State and those counties which
were not SO precipitate about settling, out
of the amounts due them 1t is evident
that the proposition of the railroad should
be accepted. The advice given the law
officer Of the State ID from a Journal that
has assumed to be leader in anmosty
to the railroad company, and it is not at
all probable that it is insincere in now
al cA.AE Z" YIN bAblillo0s - AlIhElJ IL -
becoming clear, even to the opponents Of
the railroad company, that its refusal TO
submit 30 injustice and discrimination in
the matter of taxation has substantial
foundation. But it is not now the time to
enter upon the consideration Of motives
the advice gwen is well advanced, though
it should not be needed by the officer to
whom addressed, nor should the matter of
the Drift OF public sentiment concern him
if he is convinced in his own mind of the
right and the best policy 20 pursue 1t is
evident tast the idea thst no compromise
can be accepted by State officers. and that
nothing is left to the wise discretion of the
States agents, is To be abandoned-as
eventually 1t must be, Tor the hard doc
trine that the State cannot avail Of
business proposition, but must follow the
doubtful issue Of a lawsuit in seeking it's
own, cannot prevail. As we understand
it, should the offer of the railroad company
be accepted, and certainly it comedies
everything the State demands except the
penalty which it is believed it could not
recover, and assures to the State and
counties all the taxes claimed, irrespective
OF the final outcome in the Courts. still
one or more cases are to be carried to final
Judgment, in order to set st rest forever
the issues that gave rise to the present dit
ficulty, To this certainly no one, however
suti.railroad in sentiment, can object with
reason.