The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-12-17


and should do SO; but instead of seiz-
ing what belongs to them, or, at most
buying them at the value at which
they are listed on the assessors books,
they will be purchased at such ex-
tortionate figures rs their present
pretended owners shall put upon
them.
But our people are beginning to
learn that roads are public highways.
and that railroads are roads in
precisely the same sense that wagon
roads are, and are therefore public
highways. Public highways cannot
legitimately be made private property
Hence the conversion OF the roads of
this country into private property
was an act of spoliation and of
usurpation to which people ac-
quainted with their rights, and aware
Of their wrongs, would not submit for
day. Our railroads we're built by
the government and paid for by the
people; this in law, equity, good
morals and correct business principles
would make them the property Of the
public, were they not public high
ways. Taxation is the most danger
Gus power exercised by government.
1t is a power so dangerous that it has
never been voluntarily entrusted to
or conferred upon any but govern
ment by any intelligent people any
where. War chiefs and robber
knights usurped the privilege in the
old world, and in this and the Span
ish American countries it came to
their descendant by inheritance and
was fixed upon us By tho power Of
custom.
We of the United States did, indeed
attempt to limit its employment by
our government to the necessary
purposes to revenue; but the attempt
has been futile. Not only has our
government taxed us for its proper
support, but it has taxed us to build
and equip railroad to subsidize
steamships, to pay bounties to sugar
makers and for many other unlawful
purposes. and has then authorized
these recipients Of its unlawful
benificence to continue the taxing
process the to fullest extent OF theil
greed, until millions have been hope
lesely impoverished by the wrong
And this farming out OF the power o
taxation to corporations was q
greater wrong than was that Of tax
ing the people to endow them.
Exerting this stolen power Of taxa
J ton, the railroads, under their presen
management. exact from the public
: and from each individual membe
} thereof, double to triple value TO
every service rendered, as is provel
{: by statistics and by the rates charge'
5 in New South Wales, where raildroad
8 are under public control and manage
:: ment. BY there expressions and ex
e tortions they have acquired and no'
possess property to the value Of owe
r ten billions of dollars, and this ha
e been accumulated in less than sixt
b. years. The rapidity Of their &C
I cumulations, obeying the law O
0 gravitation, will be augmented a
S their possessions grow in immensely
v Their property is assessed at les
s than twenty five per cent, OF its value
$ They refuse to pay the small sum
o assessed against them.
4 They refuse to pay the interest du
C the government on money cmploye
: in building the roads.
!. They shirk responsibility for dan
It ages to persons, property and life
c whenever and wherever it is possib
It for them to do so.
: They discriminate against firm
o and communities and levy blackma
r on the inhabitants in all sector
a where a new line of road is COZ
d structed.
They corrupt legislation and I'll
courts by bribery aad otht
' reasonable means, making the law
IS defense OF rascality and snare
l. honest citizens.
e They employ things to comm
4 murder in pretended defense of the
property, without, as good citizens
= first calling upon the officers Of tt
'e law to protect them.
y They violate and override the la
ar whenever it comports with their inte
l. ests to do so, and generally demea
themselves at freebooters and pirate
III in the domain of travel and commerc'
e That roads so conducted will soon'
ID OF latter come under government col
at troll. cannot be doubted; for it