Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-23

and other corporations to pay their
proportion Of taxes. II this Is to be
the case, justice being meted out on
all sides, there would be no cause for
an extra session. Had fairness pre-
vailed in all instances year ago there
would have been no fight Instituted
and the affairs OF state would be run
ming along smoothly enough.
In the first place we all demand
that corporations pay their Just pro-
portion of taxes. The Herald feels
they have escaped in the past. but this
has not been the fault OF the corpora
tions but the men elected to high po-
sit,ons. The state officers compos-
ing the state board of equalization,
| with corporation assessing power,
have favored the corporations to such
an extent that cry went up for
change. In this connection 1t is rath-
er queer. but nevertheless true, that
fusionists have never been able to
grasp the situation. They rant and
| rave about like a bull in a china
closet and when they get through
there is little accomplished-as vide
the revenue measure which is in
about the same condition as china
shop after a bulls visit. 1t took the
last session forty days to consider
the Montgomery bill, at an expense
in round figures of 100000 to the
state. Many members instead of ac-
knowledging their error and incompe-
tency are charging the present trou-
BILE up to the corporations and declare
they are going to get even" The
| Herald Is looking forward to some
more freak Legislation. We are
looking for anti-corporation meas
ures to be introduced and railroaded
through without consideration which
will not stand the test when taken
before the courts of equity. We
have but little doubt that the reve-
nue. measure will be full of loop-holes
and will go the same way as the one
passed year ago. This will be large
ly brought about because the members
will not cast aside prejudice and give
the subjects before them careful and
honest consideration.
A state senator remarked to, the
writer, who happened to be present
when the employers liability bill was
passed year ago, that he had to vote
for the measure, but he wished it was
at the bottom OF the sea. Members
will vote under the lash of Tom Pat
tersons newspaper or the yelping of
other sheets that no more live up to
what they preach than the alleged
Democratic daily of Durango, which
breaches economy and then combines
with the commissioners to loot the
county treasury. 1t was some ten
days ago this paper commented on
the Inconsistencies that permitted the
Denver News to escape on a valua-
ton of less than than ten cents on
the dollar. which daily roasted cor
porations for dodging taxes. We
say make corporations come to time,
but do 1t In a spirit Of fairness and
| justice to all sides. and at the same
time make the reform howlers who
howl to escape their just proportion,
come to time. Here in La Plata
county we have an editor roasting
corporations daily refusing to pay
taxes for two years on his plant.
Such is the Inconsistency of fusion
ism.
The Herald wants the members of
the assembly to vote their honest con
victions and not be led by the nose
by papers and schemers that do not
pretend to live up to what they are
preaching. but find it profitable fool
ing the people. Vote your honest
convictions. and we believe revenue
measure will be passed that will be
fair and stand the test, but just so
long as the members vote under the
lash of schemers they will -overstep
the mark and their work will be for
naught.
We occasionally hear people say
they hope the Legislature will soak
1t to them" meaning the railroads,
compelling them to make up for past
favors, etc. Because officials have
been negligent of their duties in the
past Is no reason why unfairness
should prevail at this time