Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-27

| flltSt III d SIttCH II llNttSo III
1898, made the astonishing statement
hat there were from $500, 900, 900 to $780,
100000 of railroad property in Pennsyl-
vania that pays no tax whatever, either
locally or to the state. In New York
state the dollar of value is the basis
upon which taxes are levied real and
personal, and no corporation of any
kind can escape paying its share of
taxes. But, by the statement of ex-
Auditor General Niles, in Pennsylva-
MIA, through discriminating legislation
passed by the machine, and purchased
by the corporations, one-half billion
dollars worth of corporate property es-
capes all taxation. The fairest way to
show the difference In taxation of
steam railroads between Pennsylvania
and New York is to take the trunk
lines and lateral railroads that lead out
of Pennsylvania into New York, and
compare the taxes they are compelled
to pay in each state.
The Northern Central railroad, from
| Williamsport to the New York state
line, near Elmira, distance of 20 miles,
does not pay one cent of taxes upon
Its roadbed and other real estate used
in the exercise of its franchise in the
Pennsylvania counties of Lycoming,
|
value of $20OO,00O But when it reaches
the township of Southport, Chemung
county, New York, 1t contributes in
taxes to that township $372.40. Passing
| through the corner of Southport,
| through the city of Elmira, into the
| township of Horscheads, 1t pays to that
| township S637. 81. 1t touches the corner
OF Catlin and pays $36.64, and enters the
| township of Veteran, in the same coun-
| W, and pays to the township treasury
S1,O3S.SO Then it passes through the
| counties of Schuyler, Yates and On
tarlo on to Niagara Falls, paying at
the same rate in all counties named.
Then again take the Lehigh Valley
| railroad which does not pay one cent
of tax on its roadbed and other real
estate for local purposes from the Del
aware river at Easton through the
counties of Northampton, Lehigh, Car
bon, Luzerne, Wyoming and Bradford.
When 1t reaches the township of Van
Etten, In the state of New York, it
contributes $1,902. 33 to that township
treasury.
ANOTHER ILLUSTRATION.
Then take the Delaware and Lacka-
wanna railroad, which contributes moth
ing to the local treasures in Pennsyl-
vania. When it reaches the township
of Ashland, New York, only touching
one corner, 1t contributes 1925. 60 toward
township taxes. To the township of
Elmira 1t pays $425.S2, to the city of
Elmira $1,199.70. to Horseheads $926.O6,
to Big Flats $1,15720, and so on to
every township it passes through.
Then take the Tioga branch of the
Erie railroad, which runs through Tio-
ga county, Pennsylvania, and does not
pay one dollar on its so miles of road
bed in that county. When it reaches
, Southport, in the state of New York
! on a valuation of $63, 900 it pays to the
township treasury SAL.
t Then the Fall Brook railroad and
2 leased lines. which pay nothing or
l their roadbed in the state of Pennsyl
= vania. the moment 1t reaches the town
= ship Of Lindley, in New York state
e contributes $1,000 to the local treasur!
, of that township.
. 1t should be remembered that in New
} York all these railroads, in addition t
the local taxes specified, pay also
state tax for the general purposes o
! state government. Yet all the railroads
\ l have mentioned pay no more or n,
= less in the state of New York than tn,
-
: money lender on their dollar. So agair
4 Candidate Stones statement that cor
4 porations pay more taxes in Pennsyl
vania than in other states is proven
u | false.
, This is Candidate Stones misrepre
= sentation number 2.
Again, Candidate Stone asserts thai
+ the corporations in Pennsylvania pay
, their full and equal share of taxes
? Now, under our state law, they pay
but four mills on the dollar of their cap.
ital stock (not counting the $500, 900, ,00t
that escapes altogether); but does no
, every farmer here know that he pays
from Is to rs mills on every dollar OF
, his capital stock? Is this equal ant
, fair taxation? This proves the falsity
, of another of Mr.. Stones statements.
, This is Misrepresentation number 8.
FARMERS IN OTHER STATES.
Again, Candidate Stone asserts tina
the farmers of Pennsylvania are NJ
; more heavily taxed than those of othel
| states. Yet the average tax in Penn
sylvania on your land, for the past ter
l years, has been from Is to 30 mills OF
the dollar, while in New York state il
has averaged from three to ten mill.
on the dollar and In some townships
and cities in that state almost the en-.
u tire local taxes are paid by the corpora
tions. This proves the falsity of Mr.
Stones statements, and is misrepre
sentation number 4.
l might continue the list of his mis-
representations on this subject almos
indefinitely, but time will not permit
You farmers who live in interior coun
ties do not fully understand the wa,
} you are Disseminated against, but tn,
; farmers who live along the New Yorl
4 state line, in the counties of Erie, War
1 rem, Mexican, Potter, Tioga, Bradford
i and Susquehanna realize how the ma
: chine made laws of Pennsylvania TAX
8 the burden off of the corporations AM
|, place 1t upon the backs of the tilers o
8 the soil.
d All along the northern border thu
!, farms in New York state are more val
liable than those of the same size ant
t kind in Pennsylvania. A $5, 900 farm II
q Tho etata of Naw VorL ie MOI to,oa