Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-06
THE RAILROAD TAXES AND NAPA
COUNTY

The offer made to the authorities of
Napa county, by the railroad company, is
precisely in line with the spirit and mo-
1yes that have actuated the corporation
IN all its contest with the local and State
authorities about taxation. The dema-
So9ue has diligently fostered the idea that
all the railroad people desire to accom-
piish Is escape from taxation altogether,
o: at least of so much of it as to reduce
their contribution to the support of Gov
ernment to an unjust and unequal mini
mum. But this is untruth, for the sole
endeayor of the company has been to Sc
cure only talr treatment and the protection
accorded 1t under the laws of the land and
the preservation Of its constitutional
guarantees. In very many ways besides
open and repeated iteration of this state
laent has the railroad company manifested
this. Recently it has become apparent
ihat the people have begun to realize the
sincerity of the corporation in this regard.
and to give the cold shoulder to the vicious
suggestions, false interpretations and mis-
representations of the political sche,aer
and the ambitious demagogue Over and
again have the representatives OF the rail
road organization testified in the warmest
possible language TO the sole and single
desire Of the company to pay all Just
taxes, and most frequently has the oppor-
unity offered and been embraced by them
20 give palpabie evidences of this sincerity.
The latest instance of this is found in an
account we take from the columns Of the
Napa Reporter ofJanuary I'd, and published
elsewhere in this issue of the REcoRn-
UNION. After reciting what the authori-
ties of that county have ascertained re-
garding the status of the railroad tax cases
so far as they affect Napa county it is re-
lated that the county officers accepted the
tax money due for certain years to the
State and county, for assessments on prom
erty N Napa county, from the railroad
company, and that so much rs belonged to
the SAFE was received with the under
standing that it was only "on account
These were cases in which the Controller
refuse to receive the money because pen
alties and interest were not included. This
action certainly did not testify to an lib
eral or insincere spirit on the part of the
railroad company. But there followed
other action of a more striking nature.
There WIS another case-taxes of lSSl-in
which the raj road has judgment against
the county. Instead of resting on its
rights, the company, on the application of
she county for adjustment of the matter,
has offered to pay over the full sum of the
county tax to the county "on account"
and If the railroad company loses the suit
on appeal the county is to give the COM
psny credit FOR the sum paid. II. on the
other hand, the company wins, the county
Is to still retain the money, and only the
question of penalties and interest shall
abide the &c sis;on Of the Court. But the
disposition to deal honorably, Justly aad
literally with the county of Napa did not
stop here. For the attorneys of the COM
pany, in the matter Of the money referred
10 as la'd in for State taxes, and which
still rema rs in the treasury of Napa coun-
ty because the Controller will not accept
It, offer to Napa county that if the railroad
company WINS IN this contest, it, the rail-
road company,w.ll assign the money to the
county OF Napa for the benefit of its school
fund, and the company stands ready, says
the reporter, to bind itself to do so, if the