The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-02
TAXATION OF RAILROADS.
Protests Before CaTOlina'S Board Of
Equalization.

The Claim Made That the Roads Are
Assessed at More Than Their Value
While Other Property Reports at 90
Per Cent.-The Roads Given an Addi-
tional Slap by the Fixing Of Ruin
ously Low Rates on Freight,
Columbia, s. c., juno Tho meeting
Of the state board Of equalization today,
to hear the protests OF the railroads
against the raising of the assessments on
railroad property for taxation was very
lively, and several of the lawyers appear
ing for the roads used some very strong
language. Indeed they went so fur as to
announce that they realized that there
was no Justice in the board, and that they
would carry the matter 70 the courts.
Supt Moore Of the Port Royal and
Western Carolina road showed that his
road was not making operating expenses,
and said that an inspection of the road
would clearly convince The board of its
error
Mai Shollman, trafllc manager Of this
road asked that the valuation be reduced
from $4,000 per mile to half that amount,
as the road had been losing during the
last two years.
State Treasurer Bates asked what
would be tho effect Of the release Of the
Port Royal and Western Carolina from
the Georgia Central.
Maj. Shcllman said it would not have
any, and Mr. Moore said it would relieve
the Georgia Central of a very heavy bur
| den.
DISCRIMINATION IN TAXATION.
Joseph w. Barnwell, representing the
South Carolina road, made an interest
ing speech. Ho showed that other prop
orty was not assessed at over 30 per cent.
OF its true valuation and read aflidavits
| from the supreme court proceedings
| where three of the members of the board
| declared that the railroad property of
| this state was taxed upon basis OF its
actual value"
| Judge Cothran for the Richmond and
| Ddnville road then fired heavy shot at
! the board. He said that IL was only a
! question Of time whom the point would be
| reached that would grind this valuable
| enterprise TO powder between dis
eliminating and excessive assessments
| of its property for taxation and
| reduced rates of freight The
! insolvency of the road shows every one,
| except the board, that that point has
| been reached. He referred to the fact
! that the controller general had adj
| mitted that the assessment was compara-
! lively excessive and that he had intro
! duced a bill in the legislature to bring up
! all property to that standard, which was
| ignored by the legislature.
RARE OCCURRENCE.
Judge Cothran then said: ut is Of
rare occurrence in the administration of
either public or private affairs that an
act Of admitted injustice is persisted in
by those who perpetrate it, A course of
expensive litigation has been entered
upon which the state ought not
| in wisdom to desire, and which the rail-
roads, above all others, are most anxious
to avoid A respectful proposition for the
| arbitrament of these differences has been
made by the latter, which was met ON the
/ part of the former with scorn and de-
| risiOn ] believe there is a principle run
ming like a golden thread through the
warp and woOf Of the equity imispru-
dcncc of this country as administered in
in the state and federal courts, which for
bids the destruction of lawful and valuable
! industries by the imposition Of unjust
burdens and oxactions, princi-
| pie which will insure to
all enterprises, and especially to
! those which owe duties to the public,
! when Skillfully and economically admin
! istered, the right to earn a reasonable in
! crcmCnt for their owners, as well rs
means Of rendering to the public the full,
| efficient and valuable service required of
! them by their charters Judge Cothran
| then stated that after despairing of OBJ
! tanning any relief he would advise his
road TO 'inyoko the aid Of that equitable
principle" referred to, and filed protest
| against what he conceived to be "ap un-
warranted, unconstitutional, illogical and
ruinous invasion OF the rightso Of prop
! crty"
made remarks to the effect that they had
no war to make against the railroads and
that the board was not going to discrim-
mate against anybody. The board was
adjourned without giving any intention
as to how they are going to act