The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-02-12
TdcHING RAILkOAD LANDS.


of Winona, to tax certain railroad
lands, has excited Il great deal of inter-
est and alarmed Il good many people
in Southwestern Minnesota who are
interested in immigration.
That the lands should be put on the
tax list by some legal and just means
there is no doubt.
1t is claimed by the best lawyers in
the State that the question is now one
for the courts and not for the legisla
ture. The St. Paul Dispatch says:
1t is we'll known fact that by an
agreement voluntarily entered into
with the attorney general of the State,
these two roads have eac, Il test case
in court, and agree to abide by the de-
cision. therein. The argument was
clearly set forth 10y Senator j. B. Gill
iillan as the law OF the case, and while,
us we have previously said, every acre
nf taxable land should be upon the tax
list, there are intricate questions Of
law involved here, and also questions
Of wise State policy. Ii the Chicago 4
st. Paul and the ST. Paul & Sioux City
railroads are legally exempt, the pro-
posed bill of Senator Wilson will only
entail Il large expense upon the cOmpa-
nitS, anii upon the counties, in an at
tempt t" do that which is already
agreed t" /" done with the cases now
in progress in the district court. which
cases have been submitted and are
waiting the decision OF Judge Young.
Meanwhile the eff ct of This bill, it is
to be feared, would he to cloud titles
and e;n.Hrra*s The large immigration
mcv-lntnt whicI, brought hundreds OF
families into Southwestern MinnesOt.
during the past year. and which placed
over o., 900 acres of the St. Paul and
Sioux CITY Railroad lands upon the tax
list during he year 1884 1t is strong
" urged that tins bill involves extern
stance. in an attempt to hasten u de-
ciSiOn which the courts alone can give.
According to y letter received from
Senator Crosby the bill was to have
come up yesterday for Il third reading
and passage in the Senate. We under
stand that he will vote for the bin in
Difference to the wishes of lis cunstltu.
ents, although atisGed that it is not a
wise measure.
We question whether The posted por.
ton of Senator Crosby's constituents
wis1. Linn to vote for the measure.
There are certain demagOgues in every
county, who, to make votes among the
farmers, are always crying "Tax the
railroad lands.'' rs though it could be
done all 1T once and in defiance Of law
and all obligations and contracts. But
the intelligent voters know that if
their lands are to be put on the tax
list, it must he done in a way honora-
BILE to the State and just to the rail
roads and all concerned.
The best of all ways is to hurry ny
the sale Of the lands, but if the Wilson
and similar bills are calculated to clouG
titles, involve the lands in long litiga
tion, and shut out immigration, tht
incubus which has rested Oh us fol
twelve years will settle down fol
a stay OF twelve more.
Since the above was typed Yesterday =
dailies have :come to hand and repor
that the bill passed the Senate OF
Tuesday, Senator Crosby voting in tin
negative, giving his reasons as follows
Senator Crosby considered it in tn
interest of his constituents to OppOs
the bill, since about 10000 acres of TIN
Sioux City land company's land wa
situated in Mobiles county, and woul'
be rendered unmavketable. The lands
he claimed. became taxable within
specified time anyway.