Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-11
Legislating in the Interest of the
People.

IeOple.
Representative Crisp is making a repu-
tation as an able and conscientious legis-
lator. A few weeks ago he made a speech
on the subject Of pensions that was quite
generally commended for the sound views
it confined. On Tuesday be succeeded
in getting through the House bill re-
quiring land grant railroads to paw taxes
on their lands and to pay for surveying
the same. For years efforts have been
made to get Congress to adopt some such
measure as this, but without success.
The railroads managed in some way or
other TO prevent legislation of that kind.
The practice Of the land grant railroads
is to refuse to take out patents for their
lands until they desire to sell them. and
in many instances patents are taken out
years after the lands have passed into the
possession OF settlers. This practice is
followed TO avoid taxation. The lands Of
the government are not subject TO taxa
ton, and until there is eviden q in the
county records that government lands
have passed into the possession OF private
parties there is no way to levy taxes upon
them.
The practice of holding vast tracts of
lands free from taxation is manilestly I'M
just TO settlers as well as the taxpayers
of the counties IN which the lands are
located. 1t is unjust TO settlers because
it enables the railroads to retain their
lands without expense until their value
has been greatly increased by the settle
ment of the country, and it is unjust to
the taxpayers because IL imposes upon
them that part Of the burden Of taxation
which ought to be borne by the railroads.
II the bill that Mr.. Crisp succeeded in
getting through the House becomes law
the land grant railroads Will not be so
anxious TO hold on to their lands. Rather
than pay the taxes upon them they will
put them upon the market and dispose Of
them at the best prices they can get. The
taxes will he about equal TO the annual
increase in the market value Of the lands.
and Il will at once become ad Visable for the
railroads TO dispose OF them. This is a
condition Of affairs much to be desired by
all interested parties outside OF the rail
roads, because IL will promote the rapid
settlement of the sections Of country In
which the lands are located, aud encour.
age the making Of improvements Of all
kinds.
Theland grant railroads have been dealt
with altogether too literally. 1t is said
that the Pacific roads owe the government
as much as 100000, 900. There must he
something wrong somewhere, or else such
an immense debt would never have been
permitted TO accumulate. Perhaps Mr..
Crisp will be able 10 find a way TO make
the railroads liqudate their indebtedness
The government tea farm at Summer.
Vile, $. c., doesn't promise well for the
I iuture. The cold weather during the past
winter stripped the plants OF their foliage,
ana there Ia no doubt that some OF the
varieties are dead 10 the root. There In only
one variety that has notsunered severely.
Commissioner Colman IL understood to
ne Of the opinion that this experimental
Tea farm had better be abandoned, a. be
is having propagated on the grounds OF
the department tea plants M sufficient
number to meet all calls tor them. Thus
/ another OF LeDuc's dreams fades ont
and doubtless viii soon disappear. It's
D dream, however, that cost the govern.
! m0nt q good deal Of money,