The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1902-11-27
A LIVE ISSUE.

The people OF Nevada have 50 long
been threatened. and in some instances
frightened, with false issues, aud COM
paratively unimportant ISSUES. by po-
litieans and political parties, hat they
have come to regard political issues a.
something not necessary to understand,
but which must be accepted on faith.
Leading candidates for of1iee discuss
national questions at great length, and
very learnedls. undoubtedly. and
whenever possible they give them shape
that is supposed 70 make the applica-
tion appear local. hut after al the one
subject nearest and Of most importance
to the people of Nevada has been stu
diously neglected by the eamnaign or
ator.
The live question IN Nevada today.
ranking far above the bugahoa Of the
dead and buried Fowler Dill; above the
question Of Governmental aid 90 irriga-
tion; above the dead issue Of free coin
age of silver; above the much talked Of
trusts; above every other discussion, is
how shall Nevada secure fair treatment
from the great continental railroad
running through is middle.
When it Is considered that this rail-
road the Central Pacifc-enjogs an
absolute monopoly Of She transports-
tion business Nevada has with the
world at large, 1t is seen how important
are its relations with the Development
and progress of the State. The matter
of the terminal point Is an old story,
but one that should be repeated until
every citizen OF Nevada is made 10 I'M
derstand how he Is being literally held !
up and his money taken away from
him for a service not performed. For
example. every bin Of freight for Ely
and vicinity from Chicago or other /
eastern points, comes to Wells. and /
then. instead of being uuloaded and
shipper directly, It Is hauled 10 Sacra-
mento and shipped back to Wells again |
at an estra cost to the consumer of |
nearly $40 per ton.
This system Of brigandage eompels |
you to pay two cents pound more for
all of those articles made in the East
which you consume. There IS not
trust in the United States that has
raised the price Of any commodity per
ton Many Nevadans complain bitter
ly because they were obliged 10 spend a
dollar or two per year for revenue
stamps during the period Of the war
tax, yet this system Of freight traffic
is direct tax upon every man. woman
and child in Nevada, amounting in all
to many hundreds OF thousands Of dol
Jars per year. and where IS the cam
paign orator or political party that has
the courage 10 present this real live,
burning issue: The forcing OF this is
sue upon the people would ouble Ne
vada's wealth in a few years II would
enable Nevada to purchase in the
cheapest markets Of the country.
Again, it has been pointed out many
times that certain great benefits are to
be gained by low tax rate and fair
valuation. The Central Pacific road |
running In Nevada is bonded for and |
worth more than 1920, 600 per mile. |
Yet 1t is assessed in every county but |
one at sl5 900 per mile. or twelve and |
one-half Der cent of It's lowest possible |
value. Does the resident taxpayer get |
of with valuation Of 124 per cent? !
Does any man living in Nevada owning
worth sl20. 200 escape taxa
tion on all but sl5, 600? Does any resi- |
dent OF Ely owning house worth 81,
200'pay taxes on a valuation OF $3.50
only? The News thinks not.
Can any member OF the State Board1
of Assessors. or can any citizen of Ne |
yada give any reason why this foreign |
with no interest in Nevada,
save selfish one, enjoys this special !
privilege at the expense of every other
taxpayer In the State? If there is any
reason all would be glad to hear. Is
because this corporation IS so friend
iy to Nevada, nurses its industries and
abors for its welfare and advancement
so assid uously that the people of Nevada |
desire to grant it special privileges?
Is there reason why politicians seek |
TO frighten the people into supporting |
them at the polls by narrowing tale |
OF what might happen to silver; Of the |
actions Of the trusts, which are OF little
concern to Nevada, OF the alleged |
wrongs of the Filipinos, Of the alleged |
benefits OF irrigation, and dozen other !
topics OF little home interest, and vet |
ignore this most vital matter, which |
means everything to Nevada? Ifthere |
Is such a reason the people should be
taken into their confidence Suppose
the people OF Nevada let the politicians
go their way hereafter, and supply
their own issues. Let them organize
themselves into bands OF Neyadans,
a part from party, and look at living
home questions. Let the Filipinos take
care of themselves. Let the balance
Of the world paddle It's own canoe, and
let Nevada heed the adage that char
ity begins at home
E@ 70
The Central Pacific railrHtd WAS com
pleted to Ogden ia 1s7O-32 years ago.