Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-28

,679 20
The foregoing-entitled corporations, IN
der recent consultations, represent all rail-
roads owned or controlled in the State of
California by the Southern Pacific Com
pany.
Mr.. Ryan being asked last night concern
ing the proposed payment, declared that if
there were any who doubted it they could
satisfy themselves by coming to the Treas
urer's office and seeing half million dol
lars paid over this mornings good, fat
sum to look upon in one pile. In making
these payments the Southern Pacific Com
pany says it is by no means waving any
objection to the injustice of the assessme nt,
or making any admission that the assess
ment is fair. 1t is fact demonstratable by
reference 10 the records that in no State
in the Union are there railroad companies
that are so searchiDgly examined, or so
rigidly put under inquisitorial tests by
assessing powers as in this State. Here
the inquiry into earnings and values and
the search after supposed but not apparent
values is OF the severest character and then
the State Board, after the facts are laid
bare, proceed to assess as it sees fit. These
assessments have been unfair and out of
proportion to the assessments BY local
assessors made upon other property. hut
tl4C DOutAClh OO1lpdQY Is UNDER
stood to pay its taxes, excessive as is the
sum exacted intending to continue to an
peal to the sense of justice of the people for
reduction in the future to a fair and
impartial assessment of its properties, on
the basis OF the assessment of other
values owned by other citizens. The
assessment of the railroad property by the
State Board of Equalization for 1SSS-S9 is
less in the aggregate than for the preceding
fiscal year, because of the elimination of
taxation OF the Government franchise for
the roads, the Supreme Court of the United
States having held that the State has not
the right TO tax the Government franchise.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL CROKER.
The following appears in the San Fran
cisco Chronicle of Thursday relative to the
tax matter:
When asked yesterday if the State taxes
were to be paid, e-President c. F.
Crocker replied:
Yes, there will be no trouble about that
matter. We have decided to paw both TO
the State and the counties all that we owe,
or that they claim we owe, in the way of
taxes. In fact, we have already begun to
make payments to the State, so that in q
short time the whole bill, which for the
States portion is between $500, 600 and
S55OOOO, will be settled. It's quite large
sum to pay out in that way, and we do not
say that it is entirely Just that we should be
compelled to pay so great an amount, but it
will be paid to the last cent"
" Under protest?" asked the reporter.
"Oh, no. Weare making no official pro-
test-nothing Of the sort. We think the
assessment is too high, but we are not 60
ing to make any fight" said the gentle
man with pleasant smile. You know
we have never raised any objection to the
payment of county taxes that were based
on a reasonable assessment, and there
would have been no trouble with the State
if we had believed that the assessments
were made in full accordance with the law
! and our rights under it. Before deciding the
matter of payment this year we had to con-
slider how it would affect our position as
determined by the United States Courts.
That was the only question involved, and
as that has been fully settled in our minds.
we are now prepared to accept the situation
and pay without protest"
There was some hesitancy then on the
companys part about paying the amounts
due on this years assessment"
Well, yes but we have never for one
moment contemplated any action that was
not perfectly fair and Just under the Law.
We realize that the eyes of the public are
upon us, and, in any case, we want to do
what is right. We regret exceedingly that
there should have been any trouble about
this thing in the past and we are fully de-
termined that, if any further trouble
! should arise or contest be precipitated,
it will not spring from any fault of
ours. OF course we do not say that in the
future we will submit to any rate Of tax
alton that may be put upon US, or we will
not say, for example, that we will accept
without protest any unreasonable order
that might be made by the Railroad Com
mission or any other body that may have
power over us. We will, however, always
be found ready to do what we conceive to
be our duty under the law, whether it is
IN paying taxes or to make rates of freight
or fare"