Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-04-03
DAILY poS1.InIEluGtNCER.
n FEARS yE1T0ER DEATH NOR
TAXGA


absolutely certain. towit.: death and
taxes. These cannot be avolied from
them there is no escape. Like the d sv5
of heaven they fall alike upcn the Jas'
and unjust. That this il tie rese VIE
the living. moving beings xho IN on'
country. are invested with citiz-ii7A1P
vii, M. he denied. We are all sure ~
die. and 1aring our existence contribute
daily in some form 70 the maihieiIe.il'7
- onvsynmeu,. If We have not iaHoed
property, nor money TO De taxed We
render service OF some sort or railing
even in that, upoa the clothes We rear
and the food we eat is levied some -
ton of the tribute required for the
needs OF government. Every man
woman and child. from the cradle 70
the grave, pays taxes. II Is necessary
and therefore right that such should Be
the case.
Bat there has been created and IN
;ac,ed into orr governmental system a
ouasi citizenship, against which neither
death nor taxes appear TO have mnsh
effect. Artificial beings, endowed with
MANY Of the main attributes Of citizen
shin. have been created, invested with
uerpetual existence, and burdenod with
mn onerous duties s1ch "a are incum-
bent upon other subjects ~ govern
meat. Corporations have been born
into existence. over whom the rider OF
the pale horse can achieve no victory,
and against whom the efforts OF the tax
collector are equally impotsnt. These
coyuorations have no moral sense. no pa
triotism, no gratitude. They are blood
less, soulless, human inventions, moral
" irresponsible, amenable TO no social
restraints, resp ,nsible but 70 themselves
and those who Temporarily bold the
levers by which their movements are
controlled. Their existence and pres
ent management in this country are
menace. and will, unless radical changes
are made, ere long try the strength OF
our government as it has never been
tested before.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany il one Of these favored creatures
of law. 1t has no f,ar OF death. Its
tenure OF existence is practically per
petual. Neither does it fear taxes at
least, it should not. since it constantly
and successfully evades their payment.
1t assumes none Of the burdens Of gov
eminent in the commemorative through
which it's line extends. With head in
New York and tail in Tacoma, it
stretches crookedly across the contI
Rent, taking tribute, paying none. 1t
persistsntly refuses TO secure title to the
lands it claims to have earned until
after il has sold them. II has waited
year after year for settlement upon the
even sections within the limit Of its
grant, to enhance the value Of the odd
sections contiguous, permitting the
hard working homestead and pre-emp-
ton settler TO pay all revenue necessary
to support the schools, the courts, and
other necessary and benefcent civil in
stitutions, while the value of its lands
has appreciated and it's property has
been protected. When il sells a piece
Of its land IL obtains advanced prices,
owing 20 adjacent improvements. yet
never retains title in itself longer than
necessary for transfer to purchasers, SO
that 1t need pay no taxes thereon
Since the completion of the Tacoma
kalama section of its road. upon how
many acres has this corporation paid
taxes :? II claims for constructing that
piece Of railroad 2.GSs 600 acres Of land
Ii has held these lands under this claim
for eleven years, without contributing
any SUN worth mentioning. either to
the support Of the Territorial govern
msnt or Of the counties through which
itpasses. Meanwhile purchasers of its
lands in those counties, and occupants
OF contiguous property obtained from
government, have been compelled 70
contribute yearly to the public revenue.
For them there has been no escape.
The same is true as t. the lands claim
cd for construction of other sections in
this and other Territories through
which its read has been extended. and
Tor which II claims bonus in public
lands. II IL the policy which has been
adopted by every land grant corpera.
ton in TIE United States. II ia a sneak
ing, dsspicable policy, and Congress-
should compel its abandonment.
Fearfu! that this would be done, tina,
Congress would, during the present SEES
ion, pass law which. by compelling
1t to obtain title to its lands, would nj
once subject them to taxation, the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
through its attorney, successfully be-
sought the Legislature Of this Territory
at its last session to aid il in. further
evasion Of its honest duties as a tax
payer. Hence the passage of law ex.
emptinH all its lands from taxation, and
substituting therefor revenue TO be de-
rived from the levy of a percentage on
the Rross earnings Of its operated lines.
substitution which means and is prac-
hcal exemption, and, in view Of the
price which it il charging fer its lands.
apatent attempt to perpetuate its non
saxpaying policy. We do not believe
that law is in accord with the provis.
ions OF our organic act. II is unjust,
discriminative, and oppressive. II seeks
to exempt vast body of lands situate In
this Territory from Territorial, county
and municipal taxation until by sale
they have ceased to be the property OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany, substituting therefor a special
form Of taxation. forbidden by said or
ganic law. the revenue from which must
be nuctuatina and in no event can equal
what would be Justly due were its land
ed estate taxed like that Of other OWN
orS. 1t ought not To hav,, hsSr ara.,s,