Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-29

prroR Posr- -TNrKLLIoEsorn !:

EDITOR Posi- sT-iNTKLLIoKScER
Admitting, for the sake OF argument,
that the income tar law" is not an
unjust law as set forth by railroad
companies having no other property
but the necessary rolling stock, road
bad and stations, how stands Ii sa far
as land subsidy railroads are concern
cd As applied to this last mentioned
class of railroads, is il just and equal !!
We have shown that the Northern Pa
citic Railroad has, ia addition tn its
rolling stock, road bed and stations,
$500 acres of land per mile. The first
class of roads have no lands. IL the
same income tax applied To both just
aud equal 7 To say that IL ~. is an In-
salt to every mans sense of justice and
equality. Although the mere statement
of the proposition ought TO be sufficient,
vet for fear it may not be let me illus.
trate: A and B own each a mill site
aud mill thereon. A has no property
ia connection with his mill. 3 has in
connection with his mill % 600 acres of
land. Now. law Is passed To tax these
mills on their gross receipts, and in
consideration thereof exsmpting the
real and personal property belonging TO
each from taxation. Is such a law Just
as between A aud Bg A has a mill site
aud y mill--B has mill site, a mill and
25,60O acres o! land connected there
with. Supposs the sites and mills to b.
of equal value. and the quitting capacity
equal They each pay tax OF $500.
Il sueh tax foandod on any principle
of Justice and equality Is 10 1, in
other words. the exemption of the 25.6o1
acres OF land from taxation 2 The or
e,nie law of this Territory requires
tsxs> To be equal and uniform. and 40
cordlpg TO tue cash or real value of tue
property on which 1t Is levied. In the
case have supposed the value of the
mills and sites are equal-to the value
of the one, however, u To be added the
vaiac of $500 asres of land, snd yet
the one pays just as much TAX a. tue
other Where II your boasted equality
aud justice here
But there Is another consideration
that addresses itself with cagefit signifs.
canIe 90 the public spirited people OF
this county. think am not going too
far in making the assertion that the
Norsheru Pacific Railroad Comrany .
hostile 10 the people and interests dt
Seattle aud King COUNTY, Thst hos
tilily ia potential and untiring. IL has
compelled the people Of this esiy and
county, for their own profession, 20 Q
down into their pockets and TO bald
| railroads for the transportation of the
| producss Of its uaines, farms ard for-
| ests. These railroads we're not bailt by
subsidies donated by n generous Gov.
ernment, but by the hard earnings aud
savings of pioneers, whose suffering:
and priyafioes made the settieisent oi
tie country and she building OF rAai-
roads possible. These railroads, made
/, necessary by the unnatural hostility ai
the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
many. and built with money which
ouyht to have been devoted 20 the de
yeIopment of the magnificent nAtarA
resources of this county, are bv tasi
insidious discrimination 10 hesr th'
same burdens and to pay ihe same rat
Of taxation as the roads bulls by "a
absidies of the Government AGs
his il defended as tine embodiment o
Justice and equity. II is rather re
/, pressive attack upon the public spirt
4, a cemnsnd able enterprise OF tni
reopie.
Waiving. then. the question: of 10
vxlidity 81 this lav nuder the pro
. ions OF the Organic Act. u Is sn iI
, siSicus and dangerous attack ueon fAi
TO ds built by the pluck and energy an
! eArital OF the people OF this lssssio'
! 10 rotect themselves aeainst tne ma
i chi, ations of suborned power.
vTSDEx.