Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-02-10
Peculiar Powers,

AS an illustration of the necessity
OF vigilance in law making the re-
cent attempt to pass the act permit
ting railroads to consolidate in Idaho
is n fair one. So apparently inno-
cent and void OF guile was the bill in
question that it passed the Senate
without opposition or suspicion, and
then was sent to the House, where it
was on the point Of being passed I'M
des a suspension of the rules. AT
that moment Speaker Fem thought
he detected, beneath all the smooth
and slick verbiage, which adorns the
bill and conceals tho true intent Of
the act, clause, which it might be
as well for the interests of tho State
to investigate, and thereupon had the
bill referred to a committee where it
now rests. The Objectionable SEN
tence reads as follows:
"And such railroads corporation
may consolidate its stock, franchises
and property with any other railroad
corporation whether within or with
out tho State, when such other rail
road corporation does not own any
competing line of railroad, upon such
terms as may be agreed upon, and
become one corporation by any name
selected, which within this State
shall possess all the powers, franchise:
and immunities, including the righ
of further consolidation with Other
corporations under this section, ane
be subject to all tho liabilities ant
restrictions such as such corporations
peculiarly possess. :"
1t is a fortunate thing for tho Stat,
of Idaho that Speaker Fem did no
lat that act become law without in
vestigation, for it is without question
an attempt to secure the exemption
OF the entire railway system of Nortl
Idaho from taxation.
Speaking of the Northern Pacfi,
railway, Controller Wickersham say.
in his last report page lD "Thii
company claims an exemption from
taxation through its charter, which
was granted by act of Congress"
This exemption was granted for it
right of way 200 feet in width through
the Territory. The land necessar,
for convenient stations was also ok
empted from taxation. Practical,
the Northern Pacific railway has M
competing line, bnt it has man,
branches under other names in Norti
Idaho If the bill in question be
comes law, and it should be he'll,
by the courts that the exemption
guaranteed by the charter, stand
good under State law, the State o
Idaho would loose not only tho eighty
eight miles of road belonging to tn
main line for taxable purposes, bu
also every mile of road that belong
to the branches and leased oompanie.
For, by consolidation, these branche
and leased roads become a part an
portion of the main line, and til
main line bestows upon them tn
power which it claims to peouliarl
possess, to-wit.: Exemption froE
taxation in Idaho. The gentleman
who framed the bill is to be congrat
ulated on his adroitness in being abb
to conceal from the gentleman VIII
introduced the bill the bold attemp
which was contained in it to depriv
the State of its revenue and to fois
one burden more upon the tax payer
in favor of monopoly that has 70
years drained the life blood of tn
farmers and miners of North Idah
by its exhor bltant freights. Speake
Fem is to be congratulated for 81
quickly perceivlng the drift of tn
bill, aud for shielding the State from
the imposition attempted No doub
the bill will get plenty of criticism
when the committee get through wit
il.