The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-12-19
TRUE BASIS OF DAMAGES.

Under the above head the East
Oregonian comments as follows:
.Messrs. Seufert Bros. and I. H.
Taffe, both of The Dalles, have OBJ
tanned judgment for $4,000 and
$4,000 respectively against the gov
ernment for right of way OF, the pro-
posed portage at Cello. Judge Bel
linger, of the United States court,
before whom these cases were tried.
interposes his objection to the ver-
diets of the juries and has set one of
the judgements aside and will proba
bly, take action regarding the other
with the view of protecting the
preople against such unreason. The
Dalles papers, published il the envir-
onment of the beneficiaries of these
judgments, complain against Judge
Bellinge1's action and attack his
motives. The Dalles Times-Mount-
aineer intimates that the ''twelve
honest men composing the juries
have a better idea of the extent of
the damages than Judge Bellinger.
This sounds reasonable, and would
appear to be the case; but is it true?
Will The Dalles papers, that have
taken up the cause of these claimants,
please inform the public to what ex
tent the Messrs. Seuferts and Taffe
contribute to the support of govern
ment.? What are the taxable values
of their properties, both personal and
real estate? Do they pay taxes
based on valuation of real estate, to
the extent of the sums awarded
them as damages for only a small
part of their real property? Were
the values on which the damages
are based creations of industry or
enterprise? If they have not con-
tributed to the support of govern
ment through the taxation of values
which they claim will be diminished
by the building Of the government
portage, or if the values on which
the claim for damages was based
were never created by industry or
enterprise, but are of the forms of
wealth bestowed upon man by
Mother Nature, which they have mo-
nopolized to their enrichment, why
should they be entitled TO damages
in excess of their real injury, or in
excess of the destruction, or taking
for government uses of their prop
erty, the product of their own toll,
or others toll working for them?
"With these points fully consid-
cred, just claim for damages could
be arrived at, and the East Orego-
nian ventures the assertion that the
twelve honest mem composing the
Juries gave no consideration in these
Important particulars, and Judge
Bellinger recognizing both neglect
and ignorance in this connection,
has taken the action attributed to
him and, in doing SO, has done his
duty faithfully in the interests of the
great mass of the people en- whom
the burden of payings such unjust
damages falls"
The editor of the East Oregonian
has peculiar views concerning taxa
tion, being an ardent disciple of
Henry George and an earnest advo-
cate of the single tax. He discusses
the measure of damages, not from
the standpoint of things as they are
but from that of things as he would
like to have them.
We do not care to enter into a
discussion of the single tax question,
but without looking at the tax roll
we will say that the gentlemen
named are heavy taxpayers. They |
pay taxes on their property, but not
on the rights and privileges that
''run with the land" The damages
in these cases are not caused by