The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1900-02-16

""'t pi'EI'I'i' iINl II Has also Dct
a great advantage to the State. Nov
suppose tie charter, under whir
these roads had been built promise
20 exemption, but by some lcgislati,
OycrStghtU or omission, it subsequent
~ had been discovered that the raj
a roads were not liable to taxation,
. there a man In the state with a
much brains as a leather winged bl
who believes for moment that thce
corporations moved by patrItoic an,
hpucSt motives would come IN nOy
and pay the taxes anyway? ,Of cours,
U not. They would not do IL any NOR,
than a private individual would do il.
And We know what Il private persot
would do under the circumstances.
Folks do not pay any more taxes than
they are compelled under the law t,
pay, Railroad corporations are ike
other people in that regard. It il a
plain business proposition and should
be determined by the cold law in the
case. am in favor Of doing unto the
railroads az the railroads would do
unto the State under similar cirCum-
stances governed by the law and
nothing else, A friend writing to
me on the subject reminded me that
when | was a member ot the Legtsla-
ture ! refused tn vote for a bill ia.
troduccd by Hon &, A. Wilson then
Senator from lt@~s~<s-~Hrsy. rausal.
ing these exemptions and he does
not understand huv | can reconcile
my views then. with the views enter.
tanned by ne now, He is right.
didrefusc to vote for a bill repeating
these exemptions. should not vote
for such a bill now, nor would ] vote
for q bill granting the exemptions.
| think all legislation exemptiny
such property is pcrnlcious, and It
usually results In turmoil and strife.
But our Supreme Court has said that
exemption exists. | want to say
just l.cre, that the decision Of Justice
Whitfield In that caSc Is one of the
strongest that was cycr handed down
by the Supreme Court Of Mississippi
1t Is sound law, sustained In morals,
aud by precedent. But.
some one may say; 1t rcycrscs the
rulings Of our court for years past.
lhat is true, But that Is pcrmiSSi.
Die. Courts change, progress and
grow wiser, Just ~ individuals Dc.
I'm not in favor OF mental or moral
.,tagnatiun, nor do ! think it best for
ourtS to persist in error. If the Ley.
stature had no right under the fun- ,
'amcntal law Of the State to make c
hose exemptions it is proper for the ,
curt to say SO. The Supreme Court
( the United States reversed It's !
oIIcy which it had adhered t. for h
early one hundred years on the tues, !
on Of an income tax; yet ! have not
Of n single corporation lawye. n
It Tor its perfdy, 1t /. alright >
hen the courts decide with the cor. +,
oratiou even II It involves n radical de.
arturo from an established policy, but s
is damned outrage when it goes y
,ainst it, The truth ia, the tendency :
most Of the courts OF this country il <
lem to the root Of all evil In their III
determinations They are u
imposed OF men who are but men, and ~
no nre enrrmbered with the fraI.ties !,
the race, 1t |. encouraging to find n :,
rrt made Of stuff stern enough to :,
and for the light even though II ST
ouid bring upon 1t the sneers and
lnuntes OF the great money power m
lich is growing and becoming n per. W.
tual menace TO free institutions Now le
TO the compromise proposed to the W
gislature by the railroad companie, 81
h!nk It would be in~cscusably ind,li.
e md Improper for the Legislature r.,
take this matter ont OF the courts .
I'll It has been definitely settled.
ere IL principle involved and ono VI
ich affects the integrity Of the State A'
preme Court, and to take the case
III the courts before the United ,r,
ties Supreme Court can pass upon It ur
! leave the State court In a most +,
nnrnp,I.In. nIILl.l. I'll ~ -