Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-19
"Uneeuai Taxation. by Rsiirosds.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:


To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
That our railroads have been ne
cessity in the hands Of capitalists can
not be called in question. But Tor
capital having accumulated in large
amounts in few hands our railroads
could not have been built. The ne
cessity Of finding profitable employ
ment for accumulated capital mas
proven the main factor in their con-
struction, for capital is not only useless
but q burden, if it can not be made to
earn Interest. Hence it is ever seeking |
safe channels Of investment where us
reward or interest would be secure.
Railroads have offered one OF those
channels, and they have been accepted,
though frequently the State has had
TO offer additional inducements IN order
to secure these investments. Very Ia
vorable charters have been granted ana
the State has contributed literally to-
wards the furtherance Of the object.
These have been the past factors in the
premises and the roads have been a
great convenience. But now the ques-
ton presents itself--Have not the exec
utiyes of these roads violated their char
tiers and indirectly assumed the pre-
negatives of the General Government,
and levied unequal taxes on the citizens
Of the State? This is the question |
wish to argue. learn by the agricul-
tural reports and other sources of IN
formation that grain is transported
from the most distant fields Of produc-
ton near two thousand miles for fifteen
cents per one hundred pounds,
our roads receiving only their pro-
rata proportion Of this amount for
the distance they haul. Now they
are by this transaction levying an I'M
equal tax upon us who produce grain
here, because they charge me ten cents
per one hundred pounds for thirty-six
miles of hauling. Are they at liberty
to lew this unequal tax on home pro-
duets. when both General and State
Governments are cOnstitutionally for
hidden to do this: Or can the State
confer the right to do indirectly what
it is forbidden to do directly?
If the charters of these roads grant
these rights, they are unconstitutional
and void. If the charters do not grant
these rights, then the roads, by their
discrimination in favor Of foreign grow
ers--so far as the State is concerned
have forfeited their charters.
If it be said that the business of the
roads does not justify them in hauling
freight at these low charges the answer
is, any road to be entitled to'a charter
must do the work as low as it can be
done by any other road. In other
words, we farmers claim that our roads
must transport our produce as low as
any road transports produce, or they
must transport our produce at six mills
per ton per mile-the rate Vanderbilt
charges over his roads-or they become
unequal tax-leviers and loose their
rights. Ii they cannot do it they must
stand aside. and the State must do 1t.
If it imposes charges for Deficiencies
upon the State she must bear 1t, as the
General Government bears the dehcien-
cies of the postal service, and If
the State is not prepared to do
this the General Government must,
as she can never be party to or per-
nit unequal taxation either directly or
indirectly in freight or passenger fares.
Hence, as Vanderbilt can afford to carry
passengers for two cents per mile, every
other road in the States must do 1t or
forfeit their charters.
1t is true that these transactions have
not been looked upon as tax-leyies, but
what else are they? If you call an
apple by some other name is it less an
apple because it is called by some other
name? The name by which you call a
thing does not change its nature or its
character. The things the same,
though called by any other name. y
There is no rubbing it out, these
railroad charges are practically
and really unequal or discriminating
taxes. Webster defines = tax" as "a
term of general import, including almost
every species of imposition on persons
or property for supplying the public
treasury -; "to lay, impose, or as
sess upon citizens a certain sum oil
money or amount of property, to be
paid to the public treasury, or to the
treasury ola corporation or company,
to deiray the expenses of the govern
ment or corporation" &c. Thus the
imposition of these discriminating freight
charges or passenger fares is the impo-
sition Of unequal taxes.
| insist that this is the true ISSUE
and it must be made. There is no pos
sibility of evading this phase of the
question. We have entered the period
allotted in the Divine economy for the
settlement of the principles upon which
! these and all oppressive exactions must
} be adjusted. No power on earth can
prevent the discussion, the thorough
and exhaustive examination of all these
= subjects, and the settlement Of the
principles by which they must be equi'
tably arranged.
The long-lOoked for good time is fast
approaching. Men are beginning to
comprehend that the true individual IN
; terest of any member Of the community
= cannot be normally promoted outside
of or not in conjunction with the gene
raj interest of the community; tina
all true interests are harmonious anC
: equitable, and that any interest tina
rests upon any other basis than equity
must sooner later collapse.
/ G. Il. STACY.
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