The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-27
MONT szssloa.

1 I TN
bill Is beyond all question. 1t simply de
= elares that the railroads shall be restraine,
from doing that which is unjust
de then considered the objections to tn
mode OF assessing and collecting the rail
road tax. Since the organization of th,
! state Government others than the assesso
and sheriff have been charged, to some ex
tent, with the assessment and collection ot
taxes. All the provisions of the bill, on tha
subject, were those of the Code of 1880
except so far as modified in favor of the
railroads. These provisions received the
approval of the Chief Justice. who pre.
pared the Code, the Judiciary Committee
OF the Senate, of which the able Senator
from Monroe was Chairman, and of the
House Judiciary Committee, of wb cb
Judge Featherston was Chairman. The
Revenue Law, in the Code. provides for
the collection of railroad and certain other
taxes by the State Treasurer, without the
Intervention of the assessor or sheriff. The
Legislature that framed the present reve-
nue. law, and the distinguished gentlemen
| referred to, who approved it, had not made
The discovery that this mode of assessing
the tax was unconstitutional, and it would
not have been discovered now but for the as
tutenessOf some of the outside friends of
4
dangerous to the liberties of the people;
and he warned the people of the State, and
of the United States, that unless this power
is restrained, eur liberties are gone now
and forever. (Applause.)
He also cited the Act of 1882, creating
Boards of EqualiZers, which had the power
to increase, reduce, or practically set aside
| valuations as made by assessors.
After a careful examination of the bill.
ne could see nothing unconstitutional in it,
| md after speaking for an hour and half,
announced that he was prepared to again
;ast his vote for its passage.
At 8 o'clock, Mr.. Miller of Warren. took
the floor, and proceeded to reply to Mr.
Watson.
Mr.. Miller stated that he had given
scarcely any consideration to the bill nd
was not prepared to do justice either to
himself or the message; that he was led to
| believe from the statements and intima-
tions thrown out by the leaders on the
| other side on Saturday, when the message
vas received. that a new bill would be
brought forward and no serious effort
would be made to override the Governors
veto, but since there seemed to be change
in the programme, he, for one, was de-
ermined not to let the question go by de-
fault.
He admitted that the current of the
later authorities supported the general pro-
position that owing to the public charac-
ter of this undertaking, railroads were
| subject to Legislative supervision. He
would admit as an abstract proposition
that under the Constitution of Mississippi,
| having no special provision like that in the
Constitution of G. orgia upon the subject,
supervision of some kind might be had,
out not this ill. That it seemed like an
| act of presumption to attempt to add any
| force to the clear, logical and convincing
! reasons assigned in the message why the
| bill should not become a law. But that he
would go further than the Governor in
his statement of reasons against the
| bill. And before replying TO the constitu-
| tional law arguments advanced by the dis
| iinguished gentleman from Marshall, he
would beg to caH attention to some features
/ Of the bill which he thought would condemn
the whole measure in the estimation of the
| just and enlightened people of the State.
In the first place, it is well known that in
| order to induce foreign capitalists, whose
means were away beyond our reach, to
come here and engage in the great enter
prises calculated to place Mississippi in
| the line of progress, every sort of invita-
ton was held out; protection was promised,
| and charters were granted and laws passed
% exempt capital so invested from all taxa
| lion for limited period. Upon the faith
| Of these promises millions of dollars have
come into the State; yet it is sought by
| this bill to break faith with these people.
and before they can earn dollar sweep
| down upon them for tax contribution
While the power to repeal exemptions can
not now be questioned, under the decision
Of our Supreme Court, the question of a
| peoples honor is not affected. The ears of
Mississippians will be made to tingle with
/ shame in all States and countries if before
the memory of our former reputation shall
have died away 1.-THE justice or injustice of
which reputation he would not discuss)
we should now break faith in this bold, bad
| fashion. How can a State expect capital,
so needful to her development, to accept
her further Invitations, if this is the kind
of treatment bestowed! Capital, while ex-
acting is timid, and if it is to be exposed to
destruction as contemplated by such meas
ares rs this, it will stop shuddering upon
our borders and depart forever.
/ If private individual would propose for
| himself line of conduct similar to what
| the State is made to assume, by this bill,
it would be ground for his expulsion from
/ the society of honorable men.
i Again. look at the method of taxation
provided. One would assume that the State
looks upon these great and useful enter
| prises as enemies of the people, to be ex-
posed to spoliatioA and wrong. The meas
i ure provides an extraordinary proceeding
for an assessment of railroad property.
The commissioners make the valuation and
that is made conclusive. However unjust
", enormously or ignorantly the estimate
Of railway values may rs made, the
companies ara forced to submit No
appeal is allowed In the case of
private individuals. entitled to no great
er measure Of justice, every safeguard
| TO prevent abuse is furnished: 1st the
assessor. Cd. The board of supervisors
with so days notice; and lastly "a appeal 70
the oiscutt court Il would seam that this
feature Of the bill, even assuming that fair
minded and honorable men would always
4 constitute the commission, should lead
every member, ON account Of the liability TO
abuse and injustice, TO vote ts sustain the
Governors considerate and enlightened
veto.
Recurring "a the argument made that
even il the bill was unconstitu utional. the
q railroads could find an ample and prompt
remedy IN the chancery courts to protect
them aeainst the maltituds Of vszatious
suita. tie speaker said that while that
might be true, stiIl the risk was alarming
10 contemplafe because Of the savage PEN
& allies Indicted, and I'd. Equity could not
restrain at had no iHrisdiolipn "a inter-
fere with-tha thousand aud one criminal
prosecutions that would Be commenced,
the minnta Che commissioneEs ahould -
sumo ID hx tariN. il the 1aEions eqazs
and hefql the justices s. lae psssa. p.s.. ~.