The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-04
THE TANES ON RAILIiOA IDS.

III CUIltlCutiLS oh via q NV IN
the subject of railroad taxation in the
southwestern part of the state by y. f.
Collins. the Dillon Tribune wakes very
warm and expresses itself with extreme
brashness. Its exact language is: Can
didate Collins simply lied. or did not
know what he was talking about"
Whoa! boy! Go IA little easy. Great
er men than yourself have made mis-
takes. and you are liable to if you live
long enough.
1t appears that Mr.. Collins said some
thing about the peculiar method used
by the state board of equalization in
taxing railroad properties. The tax act
passed by the legislature in 1891 provides
that railroads shall. be assessed at the
uniform rate Of 5000 per mile. 1t ap-
pears from the Dillon Tribune that State
Treasurer Hickman was anxious to get
into this discussion. and now that he is
in perhaps he can explain how it is that
while all the other railroads of the state
are assessed at the legal rate the North
ern Pacific company is rated at only
$500? This. we are Informed IN the
highest authority. is the exact state of
the case.
Now. It is the opinion Of the highest
legal authority in this state that the
Northern Pacific company should either
be entirely exempted from taxation here
or else it should be required to pay the
same rate as other roads operating with
in the boundaries of Montana. For the
board of equalization to fix the rate TO
suit its own sweet will. without regard to
the act of the legislature, is to usurp the
power of that body. and to set itself up
as superior to all other power inthe state,
enjoying the functions which brought
Charles !. to the scaffold-that of taxing
one class Of property at the expense of
others.
1t is ii curious thing that while pro
testing that its charter eNempts it from
taxation. this railroad submits to being
taxed at half the legal rate. As above
said it should pay the same as other
roads or nothing.
70 make a clean breast Of the matter,
here. in ii few words. is the situation. y
majority of the board Of equalization as
at present constituted apparently be-
longs, body. soul and breeches, to the
corporation which Charles S. Hartman,
republican candidate for congress, repre-
as legal counsel. The members of
the board so figuring as chattels of the
Northern Pacific company are Secretary
of State Louis Eiotwitt: Treasurer Il. O..
Hickman; Attorney General Henri j.
Haskell, and Auditor T.. a. Kenney, all
republicans.
These gentlemen with the governor
constitute the state board Of equaliza-
ton which is empowered to assess the
taxes on railroads, but not to fix a rate of
5000 a mile, on roads IN general. and
only $500 ii nile on the Northern
Pacific. The rate should be the same
for all. and the people wantto know why
it is not SO:
Perhaps these gentlemen will rise and
attempt to explain when this little
sketch reaches them. and then they may
join the band with Richards and the rest
on a tour Of explanation about the state.
These four high republican officials
naturally had things in the board about
as they wanted them, and Governor
TOole. their only democratic associate.
was decidedly lonely, On at least two
occasions he has made formal protests
against the course of the majority in this
matter. and his resolutions are on file
with the proceedings Of the board. When
the governors appeals could be no longer
quietly ignored the republican majority
with characteristic gall, placed on file 4
resolution Of its own to the effect that il
was not deemed advisable to force 4
settlement of Northern Pacific taxation
as it might involve the state in expensive
litigation.
Is not this the very height and pima
Gle of richness for a state board OF equal
izatlon: Is it not Dogberry gone to seed
and all other legal buffers wrapped int
one: Think of a board OF this kind,
it had the power. saying to the citizen
Of one county: "iou shall pay AS take
five mills on the dollar And to thos
Of an adjoining county: You shall pa.
ten mills on the dollar" This is exact.
what our sapient republican board ha
done with the railroads. and they hav
carried it along as if they feared no fu
ture reckoning.
These are the facts according to yer
high authority. The republican mem
beers Of the board can not gainsay or ex
plain away these facts, ana the peopl
demand to know at ono what they ar
going to do about it.