The St. Johns herald., 1888-02-09
''T1o People Of Apache County are
 q Set Of Robbers"

zen8 and officials, as well.
 Two weeks since, county off cial, having business in Albuquer- que, while there, called upon Gen. Williamson, who Is at the head of the land department, and William Cotton Hazledine, who manages the law business of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company, both prominent officials of the com pany, and presumably voicing the sentiment of the corporation, and the following conversation, in sub stance, occurred. We think 1t preg- nant with Suggestiveness, and we hope that every taxpayer in the county will read it and remember it. The county official suggested, that as the Railroad Company, for several years, had been carrying or expensive litigation with the coun- ty, in regard to it's liability to tax ation, he hoped, that for this, and possibly the next ensuing two years, some amicable adjustment could be reached, and further liti- gation avoided whereupon, Will Hanson, with much heat and feel ing, said in substance, that fever since the road struck the county, the people of Apache county have persecuted it-tried to tax 1t out of existence before 1t was earning en- ough to pay for the oil used on its spindles. We have furnished them cheaper service than they ever could have had otherwise, or than any other people similarly situated ever had. Our chief regret is that we are the owners of a mile of road in the county. We can still make bonds, and will insistupon our non liability to pay taxes until siIenced by the United States Supreme Court. The people of Apache coun- ty arc a set of robbers. "
 Later on, William Cotton Hazel dine, said, ill substance, the same thing; and added, that "he never had had any transactions with the officials, that they did not act in bad faith with hin-that threats to wreck their trains had often been
 made by citizens of Apache county.
 In other words, the two most prominent officials of this corpora tionin our section, openly denounce the people of this county-the peo- pie, upon whose patronage the road must largely depend forits support, as set of robbers. What cause of. grievance has the road? None, absolutely none, except, tkat as they share the benefits, the people think they ought to share their proportion of the burdens, of our government.
 The private citizen, who owns small rancle, a few head of stock, and a saddle and horse, must pay his taxes or see his property sold at sacrifice. But a corporation, owning hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property, enjoying ten privileges, where the individual has one, having millions of acres of land given to it, forsooth, because 1t Is rich and powerful must not and will not discharge the first duty of citizenship-pay taxes. They refuse to pay taxes on this land, and yet the Aztec Cattle Company, and all others, who paid the Rail- road money for this very land, as they own it, do not hesitate to pay taxes on it.
 The Railroad claims that ii should not pay taxes on it's roll ing stock in Apache county, because it is situated in Albuquerque. The truth is, it is being sued for part oi this very tax on this rolling stock by Bernallilo county, because it will not pay taxes there. The re- lation of the road and our people Is unfortunate; but the strained re- lation is the result of the utter in-