The state herald., 1901-04-26

In last weeks issue Of the doiyoke
Republican appeared an article in which
the writer advocates the repudiation Of
the bonded Indebtedness OF Phillips
county. The writer Of the article or shs
party who dictated the article takes mp
considerable space IN sn attempted sx-
planation OF the relation Of the B. 4 u.
Railroad Co.. to Phillips county and
Rives ss excuse for 80 doing bis state
ment that wrong view 10 entertained
generally BY the citizens OF the county
In regard to the rslstion Of the railrosd
company to the county. This. We have
reason to believe, is q mistake. We b.
lieve the Taxpayers Of the county under
stand this question fully - veil - tho
writer Of that article whather hs bs .
non-resident or for years resideutof our
county or but recently come r.
mong us from another county Of our
state. We have rcfrainsd from
commenting on this question for the
reason, as 70 believed, that oil parties
concerned fully understood tie situation
and We would not have taken up the
question st this tims had II not been for
the article appearing In the Republican.
The people Of this county fully under.
stand that the B. 4 N. Railroad Com
psny bsArs the same relation to Phillips
county that any individual taxpayer
bears and that il 10 entitled TO the same
treatment at the hands Of the county
thnt - accorded to the other tai. payers
Of the county and no better or easier
treatment. OF course any tax payer can
refuse TO pay the tsxss or any part Of
them levied BY the county commission.
sn. The b. 4 N. Railrosd Company.
after paying for time the boad interest
tax levied by the commissioners, took
the position that the bonds could not b.
collected by an action IN court and since
that time has refused to pay the bond
interest tax and this year. 10 addition to
ths bond interest tag. refuses to pay q
levy 70 pay . judgment obtained agains,
the county aod also the road tag. Tbs
other tsx-payers Of the county have
from year u year paid the bond interest
tag IN full. We hsvs no fight IN make
on tho d. 4 n. Railroad Co., ios refusing
" psy this tax fer. - - have said. any
Other Taxpayer could have done ths
came thing, 10 hs Saw NJ 70 take ths
chaDoss, but be might not have isred q
veil 81 the hspds OF the county - the
b. 4 n. has. OF courss the Il. Il. Co., In
making = rsfusal TO pay certain tag hss
great advantage over On individual tag
payer for the reason thst IL 10 n heavy
taxpayer and TO attempt to rus the
county without any Of the Cos, tax
would place very heavy burden
90 the other taz.pa,su Of the county.
whils the refusal Of any Individual tag.
payer 70 pay bis tax would make bot
little difference 70 the lnAnoss of the
county. The faot slso that the d. L n
Co.. 10 wealthy corporation and 10 we'll
prepared to tight to the highest oosr,s an
effort 10 collect ssx from IL wouid
also give II great advantage In making
~ rssussl effective over thst ei
any individual taxpayer.
A. the srtsr Of the Rspublicsp art,
Gle says, The u. 4 n. Co. hes oslersd u
iurpIsh attorneys 10 Hsht the paynspl
os sthsss bonds aud I've urges that thi,
offer " accepted. This sripes us fsos
TO face with The question ~ 70 whether
the people Of Phillips coVnty are rssA,
10 say 70 the public that We desire 10 d
tempt 70 rspudiass The debt Of our coun
". Our position on this question 10 vol
known 70 the people oi this county si
though We have never taken occasion Il
comment much 90 the question through
the HERALD. We are opposed 10 the 70
putliation u public debt. Even II We I'd
init, which ws do mol. that II " possibl,
for the p.cpls of this county TO ssosps
the payment Of tho.s bonds. the psopl,
canuot afford 10 attempt 10 dc 20. Ei
sctly the sane od,um should attach 4
the rspudiatiou Of . pablo debt that s,
tscbes 10 the vspudiation of u private
debt. Let oas u lbs business wsa q
Ho.yoks oeassset debt whoa By sons
n nonnicslity Of The Law hs sscspss tbs
. p'vmcnt n! ~bile hc continues 10 d.