Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1897-08-06

r
If the Northern Pacific intends to in
fluence politics and legislation in North
Dakota, its efforts should be promptly
met. Has it not done SO in the recent
past2 Let us see. 1t pays a good.
sized salary to Alexander Hughes, of
Bismarck, as its attorney. What are
his duties1 Principally to influence leg,s
islation. Whenever anti-railroad legis.
lation is before either house, Mr.. Hughes
is abnormally active. You will find him
at the capitol and in the committee.rooms,
button.holing members, and seeking to
divert them from allegiance to the duties
they owe TO their constituents. he Jumps
from faction to faction with the rapidity
and uncertainty of q flea, and no candi-
date, from an aspirant for a district Judge.
ship down, can secure his support unless
such candidate is persona grata to Fernald
and his confreres. 1t is we'll known to all
factions in Burleigh county that Mr..
Hughes is wholly unreliable in politics
wherever and whenever the interests of
the Northern Pacific intervene. Does
not it stand the taxpayers we'll in hand to
be ever alert and careful whom they
elect when the company keeps high
salaried attorney in their midst for the
purpose, of influencing their conventions
and elections and multiplying their laws
providing for equal taxation1
w.
The man who. more than any other
N. P. official, seeks to interfere in the pol
itics of the land-grant counties, is G. s
Fernald. He is the head-center Of the
Tax-Dodging Department of the com.
pany. It was Fernald, backed by Alex
Hughes, who roamed up and down the
line, last summer, seeking to defeat
Judge Winchester and to elect county
ticket of bis liking in Burleigh county.
He is we'll qualified for his work. 1t is
possible that the chief officers and leading
directors of the company are, not cogniz-
ant of his methods, and that they would
not approve Of them if they were. Less
than year ago Mr.. Winters, the presi-
dent Of the road, stated that only fort
night before hadit come to his knowledge
that the company's taxes had not been
paid.
*x#
What should be donei Stutsman and
Kidder, as we'll as Emmons, have declined
to sit supinely down and allow themselves
to be robbed. by Fernald and his tax
dodgers. The officials of the three
counties should at once enter into an
understanding under which the expenses
of fighting the Northern Paciflc's suits
against the counties named would be
proportunstely borne. Competent at
torneys state that there is no question but
that the Northern Pacific will eventually
have to pay its taxes, with penalty. in
terest and costs. It may take several
years; but what Of it, There is no other
course to be pursued. The company
offer to Emmons county. given through
the state tax.commission, is too small an
amount to help much financially, and it IL
coupled with an iusistence that hereafte,
their lands be assessed at value Of from
25 to SO cents an acre. There is nothing
to do but to fight.
~
] And during .ehe pendancy Of thesuii
every patriotic settlerought to go out Of
his way Q little to patronize the Mil.
waukee road al Eureka or the $500
road at Kuhn. II you are stockman,
drive your stock to the nearer of these
stations. II you or your family are 60
| ing east, take the train there. Be.
sides the rates are lower over these roads
In fact, do everything that you can do il
the way Of reprisal against the con