The St. Johns herald., 1892-05-19
The Atlantic and Pacific Assess
 ment.

ally signed by officials, and lndlvld- ual taxpayers in Yayapai and Mo- have counties, asking the Territo rial Board of Equalization to assess the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company on a basis of $5,000 per mile We are also informed that similar petitions are circulating in this county, and we hope, with like result.
 In the past our position has been, that the railroad, as it participates in the benefits of the government, should bear its share of the burdens necessary to maintain that govern ment; that it should not be exces- sivelv taxed because 1t was a big corporation, on the one hand. and that it should not be exempted from taxation because of it's power and possible influence, on. the other hand.
 As a taxpayer and citizen, we have advocated that position-have advised the payment of attorneys to enforce the right of the county, and have encouraged the litigation un- til two good results have followed. The road has practically admitted it's liability 10 pay taxes, and now indicates it's willingness to do so in the future, upon what we regard as a reasonable basis. These results have justified the money expended in producing them, and we hope that they will be lasting.
 It is proper, and we think mutual ly beneficial to the road and the people, that amicable relations should exist between the company and those who live along the line, and circulating these petitions is q move in the right direction.
 All things considered, upon the information that the company will pay upon this basis, we advise the signing of these petitions, and be- lieve that the best interests of both the railroad and the public will be subserved by the Territorial Board of Equalization needing the prayer contained in them, for, in the lan- guage of the petition, we believe that the assessment is equitable to the tax collecting power, fair to the other tax paying power, and just to the railroad company.
 Moreover, it will get rid of all pickering and harsh feeling begot- ten of past litigation, and it will be positive relief to the balance of the tax payers of the county,
 We understand that this policy is the idea of Judge c. N. Sterry, the recently appointed General So- licitor of the Company; if so, it re- fleets credit upon his good business judgment.
 Believing in the aphoTism of ''Nil de mortuiS nisi bonum," we have naught to say of the course pur- sued by his predecessor, except that we did not approve it, and believe it was a mistake, as all attempts at force in this enlightened age are mistakes.
 We have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Judge Sterry, but from what we have heard of him, we believe him to be not only pleasant, genial gentle man, but a learned lawyer, and il we are correctly informed as to the authority of the measure we are discussing, we are convinced, that though comparatively new conner amongst us, he has sized up the sit. uation correctly, and is showing fine discriminating power in adopt, ing a sensible course of conciliation
 We offer him and his company our compliments on his course, and hope that later on we can offer oul congratulations upon its results.
 THE oldest inventor in the coun try is supposed to be Mir. Josepl ,,.lo Il