The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-29
PAYS UP AND TALKS
EXPRESS COMPANIES COME DOWN
WITH THEIR LICENSE.

of the Wells Fargo Company Explains
the Position of the Express Companies
in the Controversy-Ke Says the Com
panies DO Not Object to just and Equit-
able Tax, But TO an Unreasonable Levy.
The express companies of Wichita
yesterday complied with the require
ments Of the license ordinance which
went into effect by the action Of the
city council, and in another column
have published their intention as TO the
limits of the free delivery district.
Mr.. Campbell Of the Wells-Fargo &
Co. express, was met yesterday by a
reporter and when asked as TO the
outcome Of the ordinance and VINO
would finally pay the bill, etc, said:
We'll, our company IS always ready
to meet ali obIiga tions and for time
we believe we mad a better plan 10
offer the council and asked for a con-
ference with the members Of the fran
chise and license committee which was
granted, but the committee decided
that the ordinance should stand, and
We readily complied.
Nov, l desire that the citizens of
Wichita should understand just the
position Of the express companies and
believe that the Express Gazette puts
the question in a clear light when il
says:
The numerous attempts in differ
ent states TO impose additional and
onerous taxes upon express companies
is in line with the periodical policy Of
hostility manifested in some localities
against corporations-and transpor5aS
zion companies in particular. No rail-
road or express company has ever OBJ
jected to the authority of the taxing
powers in assessing taxes on their
property but they have insisted that
all such leVies must be based on reason
and justice. There has never been any
disposition to evade an equita bic as
sessment for the purposes of revenue
TO carry on the functions of govern
ment. In fact, in this respect, il viii
be found that railroad and express
companies have responded as freely
and honorably as any other class of
industries.
THE payment of tribute to the state
has never been a labor of love 20 any
body in any country or any age. Tax
es are just as unpopular today as they
were thousands of years ago. The Wis
age of the taN-gatheTer has always
been unpleasant to look upon. But
GOVERNED under civilized forms,
must be main tanned, and revenues
raised to support the police and fire
departments, the courts, and other pub |
lie institutions. How best TO raise it |
has been a problem of dissension for |
the centuries. And 1t Will frequently |
be found that the citizen who is most |
clamorous against some of his fellow |
men because they do not, in his judg- |
ment, pay enough to suit him, is de- |
nnquent in his own personal duty. He |
never questions his own acts, but is |
continually looking for some one else
at whom he can aim his poisonous ar
rows of annoyance. Particularly is
he pleased if he thinks he is appealing
tc,public favor by attacking some cor
porafion, and ii is then when dreams
of future honors magnify his seIf-im-
portance.
The statement of taxes, under var
ious forms, paid by the railroads and
express companies in the several com
monwealths of the union, exhibit con-
vincing figures that they contribute
proportionia tely a liberal and equitable
share of the public funds. But our
legislatures meet 50 frequently, and
the average legislator feels that he |
tAbNSI dO StlIieAIlltlS " Keep himself De- |
fore the public mind, and, in looking
around, no field seems more inviting
than some corporation. 1t has become
a hobby with a class Of representa- tiVes
who consider st their own and sole mis-
sion TO harass corporations. To reason
with them is folly. 1t is one of the
idiosyncrasies of American public life
that legislation is in many instances
advocated not because of any sincere
and patriotic motive, or honest person
al conviction, but because it may strike ,
the popular fancy and promote an in
dividual, selfish ambition. In this ex-
tremity, the widest fallacies and the ,
most perfidious ideas originate in the ( /
brain Of diseased ambition.
In levying what at times amounts
10 eXtortion upon a railroad or express j
under the plea of taxes, facts }
are not considered and the judgment
Is perverted. Il is sufficient to say Z
that II is corporation whom il is ]
sought 10 reach, and insane hostility {
envelopes at the mere mention of the !
name. There is no brOad-minded I
craftsmanship in such a policy. 1t is |.
founded upon ignorance, prejudice.
and Seif-interest :
Why should there be recurring as
saults upon corporations under the :
plea u taxation? If there were a will ,
-ul evasion Of payment of their equi- {
able Share # taxes. the situation 7
night Toe different. But not a single $
ASA can be cited where an express a
company ever attempted 10 nuuify its c
iuty 10 The state IN paying its due
proportion. on fair and reasonable j
comparison with The assessments of /
lTner citizens.
Because an express company does a !