Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-03
The Railroad Taxes.

Inc san Jose mercury OF the ISL
inst, under the heading of Gen
the lule for a nan to pay a debt
when the Court has declared that the cred
itor has no legal claim. Instances of indi-
vidual generosity of this character are rare
indeed. What then must be said of cor
poration, which is popularity credited with
possessing no SOUL that will do this thing
And yet the rule has been broken by the
Southern and Central Pacific Railroad Com
panies, which, through their agent, paid
into the County Treasury on Wednesday
nearly 1000 as q first instalment of taxes
which the highest Court of the land has
said need not be paid. The action evinces
a liberality and "Reminiscences that en-
title the donors-ior such in effect they are
to the lasting gratitude of the people OF
Santa Clara county. The adoption of
policy of paying what is due. regardless of
legal bubbles or interpretations, will re-
dound to the credit Of the railroad COM
panies 1t is by such evidences of fair and
liberal dealing that the good will and con-
fidence of community are gained And
it may be said in this connection, that for
many years the railroad companies have
aimed to deal squarely with the people.
They may have resented the uncalled-for
interference of selfish and money-getting
attorneys, but they have not sought to
eyade the payment of what was Just and
right. They have proved by their acts that
they are the friends of California. and are
doing all in their power to develop its re-
sources and increase its population"
The Daily Herald, of that city, on the
same date said: " 1t seems that the mana
gers of the railroad companies have at last
determined to take the reiterated advice of
off. TO- h
lie approval by policy of Cancellation.
Last night the agent of the companies paid
into the county treasury nearly $40, 900, and
this amount is under stood to be but an in
stallment of what is coming in the next few
months But, of course, the time and the
manner of payment is matter OF no mo-
ment in the minds of the people generally.
The Courts have decided that the taxes
need not be paid at all, so that all the
money that is received from the companies
must, in strictly legal sense, be taken as
donation But all that the people gener-
ally will care about is that the money has
been received, and can be used for the ben
eft of the county. When disposition is
manifested by the corporation to be fair,
and even generous, the public is not likely
to bubble about matters of detail.
land if this be, as we hope and believe,
the beginning of new policy on the part
of the corporations, we venture to assure
their managers that the change will be
fully appreciated by the people of this
county. There never has been any dlspo-
sition here to quarrel with the railroad
companies. In fact, when the high freight
rates on fruits are reduced, as We are prom
ised they shall be, our people will have no
cause of complaint at all. now that this
matter is to be settled. They are fully
aware of the great advantages OF railroads
in the development of the resources of the
county, and they desire that every en-
couragement, consistent with wise and
prudent regard for public interests, shall
be given to the companies. And the ex-
preston of this feeling has been more
emphatic than ever since the beginning of
the work on the new line through the
southern counties, which, when completed,
will Mace San Jose on the great highway
of Eastern travel, and give tremendous
impetus to the development OF this valley.
q And what grand thing it will be-ior
the corporation and its managers to have
the goodwill and confidence of the peo-
pie. instead of their hatred and opposition.
The prosperity OF railroads more than that
of any other public enterprise must de-
pend upon the good will of the people.
policy of extortion and oppression may
prevail for a while, but in q free country its
triumph must be short and its results dis
astrous. And on the other hand, policy
of goodwill fairness and Cancellation,
must result in enormous advantage to the
railroad companies. Every step i'll develop
ment must be profit to them every new
settler must be customer. They, therefore,
more than anybody else, are interested IN
the increase of population. and the utlliza,
ton of all the manifold advantages OF
California. And they are evidently began
ming to realize this fact"
The San Jose Daily Nescs of July LIST has
this upon the same subject THE action
of the Southern Pacific and Central Pacific
roads in paying money into the various
county treasures is deserving notice for the
reason that it shows clearly that the rail-
road people are not seeking opportunities
to take advantage of legal techincalitles
and are determined to strain point IN
their efforts to bring about an amicaoie
understanding. The payment Oh tne
moneys made by The financial agent OF lne
railroads to County Treasurer McComas
Yesterday evidently means that the inter
ests of the county shall not suffer through
the railroads on account of blunders mace
nv the State Board of Equalization IN nx-
;11o the assessment on railroad property. III
II was generally understood that the inter
asts of the people and of the railroads are
identical, and that they are depending ior
success upon each other, all misunder,
Standing would soon come to an end and
the suffering would be confined to the
army of political demagogues and I'M
nrincipIed lawyers who in their efforts to
make capital ont of the railroads, compel
the latter to act on the defensive. Ii the
railroads were not compelled to invest so
much TO protect themselves against the
mob. they could probably afford to reduce
the rates of freights and fares, and Judging
| from their conduct in this tax matter, II IL
not unreasonable to believe that they
would do it.n