The Dickinson press., 1888-09-29
RAILROAD TAXES.
The Northern Pacific Officials, County
Commissioners and Gov. Church
Hold Il Conference.


ence between the railroad officials.
the governor and commissioners from
the counties interested in settling the
tax question. us suggested 10y the
Press last week. \ condensed re-
port OF the meeting is gathered from
the Tribune as follows:
Bismarck wore her legislative gown
Yesterday and there Was us much
buZZing and excitement around the
hotels and capitol building ::as when
the great aggregation of law makers
is in session. The cause of the gath
ering was the notice Of Il conference
between the county commissioners of
the counties within the land grant of
the Northern Pacific railroad, the
| officials Of the Northern Pacific and
Governor Church with reference It IL
| settlement of the mach mooteu ques-
ton of the Northern Pacific tax. SO
liritor Mcknight of the Northern
Pacific had two propositions to pre-
sent. The matter had become So mixed
and cntangled that it WAS difficult to
understand just where the parties ut
issue stood. In the first place the
gross earnings law under which the
Northern Pacific has been PAYING
taxes on the earnings of its entire
road has been So construed us tn pre-
vent the collection of taXeSon amy lui-
Sine>s that does not originate and ter
animate in the territory. unless the
railroad sees lit to pay. Auditor
Ward issued an order instructing the
assessment of all railroad lands and
IN compliance with this order the
land of the Northern Pacific has been
assessed in ull OF the counties along
the line and within the grant. The
road refused to pay taxes on its gross
earnings mldrr the old interpretation
If the laws and also upon its lands.
claiming that the (, earning tax
is formerly paid was in lieu OF ali
other taxes. AS IL result the North
I'm Pacific has pAtd simply upon tin,
business originating and ending IN
Dakota and at present the company
Is in arrears over SlU3.UnU on the
a.nount due under the old interpret =
latlon. Til, WAS the status of aft MS
when the county commissioners, So
liritur Mcknight. General Manager
.\inslry. Governor Church and Audi
tor Ward. met in conference ye ter
day. Mr.. Mcknight submitted two
propositions, either of which .he rail-
road company would agree upon. The
first WAS that the county commission.
rlS of the several counties within the
land grant cancel the assessment,
made upon the land and the company
would pay the $lU3, 900 due under the,
old Interpretation of the gross rarll-
ings law, and would also pay the tan
rs of lSSS when due, amounting to
about $lUU,OUO under the SAINT system,
the county commissioner To postpone
the sale for tins years taxes. and
leave the matter for the legislature
to settle. The second proposition wa,
that the sale of the assessed Lands he
simply adjourned 10y the commissions
rrs until after the meeting of the leg
lsllt,rr. and III the counties will do
this the company will pay the gross
earnings tuo under the Interpretation
of the supreme court. that ii shall hr
UluIl business l,eyininy and ending ia
the territory. AS this tax has already
Been paid and as the taX for lSss will
not he uVr Sln,UUN. this would not
enrich the territorial treasury to amy
alarming extent. There were thin
teen counties represented in th,
meeting this afternoon, and on IL mo-
tion to accept the first proposition tn,
vote stood SIX ( l. and seven against.
At the evening session speeches were
made by Mcknight, several of the
county commissioners, Gov. Church
and Auditor Ward. \ settlement
with the counties along the line of the
road was finally effected by the pass.
age OF the following resolution:
Resolved. That we. us representa-
tives Of our respective counties, here
by make the following proposition to
the Northern Pacific railroad ro1npl-
NY. in adjustment Of the questions of
! the assessment of lis lands and OF thu.
payment OF Il tax upon It's gross earn,
lngs, viz:
That we will. Oh or before the Jlst
dav of October, a. ID. lsss. upon pay.
mcilt by said company into the ter.
@ritprial treasury of all taxes now due
or past due based lIpol! its gross earn
Iugs, inttI.stat. commerce. included.
: take such action us lo trtl5 of county
commissioners of ON respective coll,l'
! ties as Shall cause to he stricken from
the tax lists of such counties I'LL taxes
levied during the year 1851 and prior
f thereto. upon the lands of said rail.
road company lying in whole on IL
part within the limits OF Snch rou!.
/. ties. The vote 10y counties thereon
I being as follows: .A~yea-CasS, SUITS
q man. Bnrlcigh. Morton, Stark. Noes
Barnes. Counties not represented
e kIdler nMt Billings.
The action here today leaves thu
4, al tier of Ja.lio.,,i lax ttlum with Tho
legislature a!ni The liz lle>t tilt on th'
i, subject of railroad Taxation IN tn
1 history of tn" territory may be cA
I perttu when the sulols meet l.eXt
winter.
Choice residence property for sal
Ia.-