Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-07-23
A NORTHERN PACIFIC TBTLE-Irs
EFFECT UPON THE REVENUE.
Walla Walla Watehman.

During the week there has been heard
and determined in chambers before
Judge Wingard snit of vast import
ance to every member Of this Territory.
Ii IL we'll known that the Oregon I'm
provement Company has been engaged
in farming operations in Whitman
county on lands purchased from the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company.
In 1881 the authorities of Whitman
county taxed these lands to the Oregon
Improvement Company, and when TIE
taxes became delinquent, levied upon
personal property belonging to the
company. The company paid the tNxes
To Sheriff Marsh under protest, and
commenced suit against that official for
the recovery Of the taxes and costs,
amounting to about 5000. The Ceurt
rendered n decision against the Sheriff
in favor of the Oregon Improvement
Company for tho amount claimed.
The ground upon which this decision
was rendered was that the Government
had never issued patents To the lands
taxed, and that under tho charter of the
Northern Pacific, suoh lands were ex-
empt from taxation. These lands
bought by the Oregon Improvement
Company are as absolutely their prop
ertv ~ any piece of land bought by a
citizen from the general Government.
IL Is as inheritable. transmissible and
assignable AZ any piece of land held in
fee by any citizen. The private citizen
who buys land of the Northern Pacific
should enjoy as great immunity from
taxation as the Oregon Improvement
Company. The logical conclusion from
this decision IL. that there is privi-
gsd class In the country. Ii is pos
sible under this decision for any III IN
purchasing lands of the Northern Pa
cific TO so arrange the question Of title
as to forever defy the tax collector. II
introduces a civil condition that is out
reHeous in free government in an en-
li2htened age. IL Is scandaious, even,
that the Northern Pacific should hold
free from taxation large body Of land,
while industrious citizens, whose only
crime is that they live on even number
ed sections, are taxed to maintain the
machinery OF Government and the
foundations Of society that are contin-
ually enhancing in value correspond
ing quantity of land held by an untaxed
and assigns OF such corporations shall
0hJoy AA0C PttfA'&tHs ouCAAn Atav S0At
ing the joke of corporate impudence a
trifie beyond the point Of human en-
duranoe.
This decision is justified on the
ground that IL Ia matter res ddjadicdtd
that the Suprene Court of the United
States has twice deoided this identical
question. The pcop'e have long grosned
in spirit, aud cried. How long, u
\ L.. ,s, h..
pie themselves, and the Frightening
skies in the political firmsment indicate
that y monopoly outraged and corpora
ton ridden public Is possessing its
heart with sublime faith that its re-
deemer liveth. Political platforms
everywhere demand the forfeiturs OF
unearned land grants, and 1t IL proba.
BILE that the next administration will
not have plant Secretary OF the In
terror who will certify lands TO corpora
items whose land grants have expired by
Limitation OF law. And IN the sweet
by-and by there will not be found any
courts anywhere upholding by judicial
decision the claims of corporations tu
lapsed land grants. When tue North
ern Pacific was praying for an exten.
sion of time, it did not, among its wild.
est conceptions, entertain the belief that
coarts aud departments Of the govern
ment could be induced to assume leRis-
lativc fontions in the Gift OF lands that
had reverted TO the government. There
In beginning to be settled determiua-
ton that th,s sort of foolishaess must
stop and there are people in this Ter
ritory, even, who ferventiy pray that
God in his infinite mercy may hasten
admission, 50 that an opportunity may
be given TO smite wickedness in high
places.