The Meeker herald., 1902-02-01

Tho Revenue Bill. the Corpor-
a&ions, and tho Courts.
The events Of the past six months
haye Strengthened very much tho good
opinion Of the taxpayers Of Colorado.
for the late revenue bill Of the Thir-
teenth assembly. That the bill ~ .
whole. ID long stride in the direction
of Just and equal taxation in Colorado
cannot for moment be questioned.
But IKE al such measures in these days
Of the doainion of the money lords over
the common people, the bill is now, and
has besn strenuously fought BY the
money lords. i. g., the railroad corpor-
atoms in and out Of the state, for the
very good reason that these big corpor-
ations are compelled under the hill In
question to contribute their just share
Of the money necessary to maintain the
government Of Colorado.
Tho feature Of the bill intended to
make the big railroad corporations pay
an equal and just share Of the states
expenses. is that one known ~ the ~
SCISSORS feature. and It is this feature Of
the bill In particular which IL the object
Of attack. 1t was to be expected that
the big corporations would fight for
money. They always do, and II any
ono nowadays expects to win . victory
In behalf OF the equal rights Of the COM
mon people with the wealthy portion Of
tho community, without fight, and
generally long and hard one, that
one Is not a close observer Of reeent
events. The United States government
has been run for many years past in tho
interest OF those fortunate enough to be
possessed of goodly portion Of tho
country's wealth, and at the dictation
of this class.
This fleht in Colorado is In exact line
with the light all along the line with the
dominant party Of the country. and not
withstanding the fact that the big rail-
road corporations Of Colorado are ar
rayed against the balance Of the tax
payers, the fight in our opinion will be =
winning one In the end.
In this Same connection tho decislons
Of tho courts in the controversy up 70
date. in our state fight for equal taxation
have been quite disappointing, and have
not won the respect Of either tho good
lawyers Of Colorado, or Of the people.
The punishment Of the Taxpayers Of
Colorado. in lieu Of the Punishment Of
General Post and the state board Of
assessors, BY decision Of our State Su-
preme court, for supposed contempt,
may be good law, but the average tax
payers fails to appreciate it; and the
decision of Judge Riner Of the United
States court denying the power Of the
state legislature to impose upon the
body Of the county assessors Of Colorado,
the duty Of filing value for assessment
upon the railroad, telegraph and teie-
phone property of the state. in connec-
tion with . decision Of our State 1u-
preme court declaring valid adl consti-
tutional the granting Of the Same power
to state board of equalization is neither
appreciated. nor understood by the aver
age citizen. Should, however. tho whole
revenue bill of the Thirteenth General
assembly. or the assessors feature Of 1t
alone. he declared by proper authority
to be not valid, the legislature now
Democratic can find some other way to
compel tho corporations to pay their
just proportion of the taxes. il called
together for the purpose. But the light
is On, and we predict tho people will win.
Meanwhile wait and $50 Hho is boss
in Colorado-the people OF the big cor
porations.-Como Record.
Small Hope Of Short Session.
For the benefit Of the state We hope
that the extra session Of the legislature
will be short and fruitful and of the
most excellent results. When we look
back over the work Of this same legis-