Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-19
TIMELY

law
House bill which we reproduce elsewhere
1t comments on the measure as follows:
The Chronicle publishes to-day tn
text of a bill which has passed the Hous
of REPRESENTATIVES. The bill was origin
alIy reported from the House Committee
on Pacific Railroads, whereof Congress
man Cassidy Of Nevada is the Chairman
the committee being practically unani
nous in reporting it to the House and re
commenting its passage. The intent anG
object Of this bill is to compel the varioui
railroad companies, which have earned
in good faith the lands granted them By
the government, to pay up the costs Of
making the survey and selection OF the
lands thus granted, and to take out
patents to their lands within a certain
time provided for in the bill. The bill
is general in its scope and application,
having reference to all railroads which
have received grants Of lands from the
United States, where the grants have
been earned in good faith. The several
railroad companies to which the bill
would now apply, il it should become a
law, owe the United States about $780,.
900 in fees for surveying and selecting
the lands. The bill then, if it shall be-
come a law, will effect two very I'M
portant results which will enure to the
advantage Of the public. First-It will
compel the railroads to pay the fees
already due the government. Secondly
1t will place the land in position TO be
taxed by the States and Territories in
which it is situated. The advantage TO
the State OF Nevada which would accrue
from the enactment Of this bill into a law
is quite apparent. The grant to the
Central Pacific of lands lying along its
roads from Ogden to Sacramento en-
braces 9 ,24S, 200 acres Of land. One half
of the grant, or 4 1874, 100 acres lie within
the borders of Nevada. At the usual
government price of 81 Is per acre, the
value of this body Of land in Nevada
would be S., 30, l25; a very large item
to add to the taxable property within
the State. At the low estimate
placed upon the value Of land-and
much Of it is worth a great deal more
this bill from Mr.. Cassidy's Committee
on Pacific Railroads will put more than
$50, 900 annually into our depleted State
Treasury, thus relieving much of the
high taxation now laid for State pur.
poses, and also it will yield more than
$50, 900 annually for the Golfers Of the
several counties along the line of the
road in this State.
In addition to the bill under notice,
the Committee on Pacific Railroads have
also reported and had passed through
the House of Representatives, a meas
ure increasing the requirements Of the
Thurman Sinking Fund Act (which is a
fund to pay the vast bonded debt Of
500. 600, 900 Or more, due from the roads
to the Government) from 25 per cent of
the net earnings to IS per cent of the
same.
Both OF the bills mentioned are
now before the Senate, but the Senate
being Republican, there is danger that
they will be allowed to die by that ar.
dent friend of the monopolists. Every
attempt 20 compel these large landed
monopolies to perform their duty to the
public has met the determined opposi-
tion of the Republicans in the Senate.
Among Republicans there has been a no
table and praiseworthy exception in the
person Of Senator Edmunds.
Congressman Cassidy is entitled to the
hearty commentator of his constitu.
ents for his efforts towards compelling
the performance by the railroad com
panies of their duty to the Government.
There is no good reason why the corpor-
atoms which have enjoyed and are en-
joying the bounty of a muni6cent gov.
eminent should not bear their just share
Of the burdens of taxation. The people
of Nevada cannot do better than to re-
turn Mr.. Cassidy to the next Congress,
and we believe they will do SC. He GER
tainly has been a most painstaking and
efficient Congressman.