The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-08
TAXES on RAILROADS.
To thc Editor Of Tho Appeal

Inc MISSISSIPPI senate, now IN session NJ JACK
son last Wednesday, by vote Of 10 to -, passed
bill repeating the clause In all charters graniingex
cmptions from taxation. give you an extinct
from the charter Of the Memphis oxford & colum
bus Railway Company:
THAT In order TO encourage the Investment. of
capital In the works which said company Is hereby
authorized 10 construct and maintain, and TO make
certain In hiyancc OF such investment aud NJ an
Induccmcnt and consideration therefor the taxes
and burdens which this state viii and will not i'm
pose ihcron, II Il hereby declared that sald com.
pany, IL stocks. It's railroads aud appurienances
aud all IN property IN this State necessary or Incl
dent 20 tho full exercise Of all the powers herein
granted, shall be exempt from taxation for term
Of twenty years from the completion Of said rarl.
way 10 the Mississippi river" etc. tsee Page
go, Lawn OF Mississippi. ISL
Similar language used In other charters Of roads
now In operation and built on the faith Of this
pledge. A statement OF the case contains the cnor-
nifty Of the proposition. Memphis Is deeply inter
cstcd In this most unjust legislation. The House
ought not 10 pass the bill The Golernor should
veto II Il passed, as Il Is au outrage. Very truly
:. A. oRR-
The Senate OF the Legislature Of Missis-
sippi, as Mr.. Orr tells US, has passed bill
repeating the exemption from taxation
clause in all charters granted by that State.
This, TUE ArrEAL thinks, is just and fair
II has always been cardinal doctrine with
the Democratic party that no man or body
Of men under any pretcnsc should be cx-
empted from any OF the burdens OF the
State, All taxation, says the constitution
Of Mississippi, must be equal, and the
legislature had no right at any time TO
make exceptions TO law that Is an essen.
,ial guarantee Of equality. II Is deeply TO
be regretted that this fundamental law was
ever violated, but Legislatures like individ.
ualsshould always be in theway Preparing
a wrong Tho present Senate Of Mississippi
seems TO be OF that mind, hence this bill
which Mr. Orr, Of the Memphis, Oxford &
Columbus Railroad, complains Of above
Il may, ut flst blush, seem hard on an
enterprise like this, just in the seed, but a
matter Of comparatively 80 small moment
rs tax ought not 10 rctard II n second,
and will not In the estimation Of men Of
enterprise who have sense enough, as all
such men are likely 10 have, TO appreciate
the advantages Of railroad running
through one Of the finest agricultural re-
gions ON the globe, peoplcd by intelligent
and industrious men and women. Until
the people, get down TO Henry Georges
theory Of taxing land alone, aud NO
long as they insist on taxing every.
thing aud everybody railroads must
expect 20 bear their share OF
that public burden. Resulting from the
exaciions Of the Trusts which arc now
controlling everything but the air We
breathe, there is growing feeling against
corporations, and there Is rcason to fcar
that the pendulum Of public opinion may
swing 10 Gar the other way rs TO encourage
hostile legislation. This TnE APPEAL will
struggle against. II is for fair play for cor.
pon,ions as for individuals, aud Is for the
psoplc, for truth. right and justice. The
Columbus Railroad Is n great enterprise,
aud h certain TO bc a most profitable one,
Thcp Is not today one Of moro promise
before the American people. II needs nc
aid In legislation 10 strengthen II for the
acceptance u capitalists. Il can by any
thing like reasonable management be made
TO pay from the first day Of iis opening
and We confidently predict Il will be.