The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-02-23
RAII,RNAn TAXCiSrrS

The railroad tax cases were heard before
| Judges Gof and SinCnton in the United
States Court at Charleston last week. and
ended about as We had anticipated Nc
| question of jurisdiction was raised Ivy the
State in these cases and could no. I've. We
gave full account on our first page
last week Of the matter. How that Gov
PTnNr Tillman had SAINT secret circulars tO
the ShCritfs inStructing them to seize rail
road cars and engines and other property
for taxes: how the SheriffS in some coun,
tics UhcNr the instructions and tho order
! Of Judge Simonton requiring them to APP
pear before him to answer for contempt of
court. 4 sreciai To the Grccnvillc Daily
News from Charleston, dated February
, 18th. says:
The United States court today announ-
ccd its decree dccidiug the rail road tax
case against the State. The Marshal has
been ordered to place the property in the
possession of the receivers and tho
Shvrifs have been fined $500 each for con
tempt and will be imprisoned until the fine
Is paid and they have purgCd themselves OF
The high contempt Of which they are dccur
&C to be guilty. The decree is quite wig.
0rouS in its cXprcssions.'
In special to the same paper from Col.
umbla it is stated that the State officials
are as blue as indigo over the decision bu,
Governor Tillman announced his intention
to fight it ont to the bitter end and has i'm.
struCtcd the Attorneys for the State to on
peal 10 the United States Supreme court
We admire Governor Tillman's pluck bu,
think his judgmcnt.bad.". The real point invol
we'd in these cases was whether the Sheri(fs
in refusing to obey the order of Judr,
Slmonton to release the property of tho
ralroads was guilty of contempt 1t wns
clearly shown that they we're and were &C
cordrgly fncd The question of the le.
gaiity or illcgality of the tu.cs had moth
ing to do with these cases, but the Attor-
ncyS for the State tried to shiftthc issue to
this question. If this question does come
up, however, we think the State will be
rs equally unfortunate, for we do not be-
Ilcvc that the constitution Of South Caro-
lima or of the United States will sec rail
roads imposed upon, and made to pay an
unjust proportion of taxes. 1t is worse
than tyranny to opprcss one class and make
them paymOrc taxes than another class.
We believe the railroads and other corpOr-
"lions :should. hc made to pay equally with
the citizens of ''Sovcreign State" If
TIL Governor and citizens return their prom
e'' , for taxes at one fourth or one th rt
of tAc actual value the corporationsss should
do tl!c same. 1t WAS also stated i'm the dis
patches that Attorney Jones had given ul
the fight for the State and had advised the
Shcritfs to surrender the property and pay
| the fines.
The latest news in ilc railroad tax cases
is that Governor Tlllman has decided to car
ry the matter to the United States Suprcm,
Court Attorney General Townsend will b,
assisted by Mr.. Samuel Lord, of Charleston
Speaker Ira B. Jones, Judge s. w. Melto,
and possibly others, as the States resource
are unlimited. Senator Irby will pull th
wires in Washington and if Governor Till
says so will employ counsel there to assist
! The fuEd for lawyers fees seeing to be in
cNhaustiblc. But it is all right SO long a.
Governor Iillmun does il