Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1907-06-17

lawyer of reputable standing. and a
gentleman, was an applicant for the
appointment as Judge on the SUI
preme bench, and his appointment
was urged by the railroad attorneys
and those interested for the exemp-
ton of the railroad from taxation. He
had been an attorney for the Illinois
Central Railway Company ever since
shortly after he was licensed to prac-
tice law. This did not reflect dis
credit upon him, but it made his en-
vironments such that he was likely
to see things as the railroad attorneys
saw them. | was informed, as
thought reliably, that he had made up
his mind on the railroad back taxes
that the railroad was exempt from tax
alton, and therefore, if had appoint
ed him, holding that opinion, his de-
cision, with Judge Woods, would
have exempted the railroad from tax
alton, not only in that suit, but for
many years to come, if not for all
time ! did not appoint him, but ap-
pointed Judge Sam Terrell, who,
was satisfied, had not made up his
mind in the case, and who was equally
as good lawyer, and he sided with
Judge Whitfield, and by a divided
court. one, Judge Woods, for exempt
| ing the railroad from taxation, and
two, Judges Whitfield and Terrell, fol-
holding them to the payment of theii
taxes, a decision was rendered in fav
or of the State and the counties
through which the railroad ran, fol
State and county taxes. Neither the
railroad nor the Herald was so lob
question of whether the railroad
should be held liable for taxes or no
depended upon my lawful appoint
ment of a Judge who would have tht
catsing vote, upon a court that wal
equally divided, one for and TIVE
against requiring the railroad to pa,
it's taxes.
The railroad only claimed exemr
} ton from taxation under an act of tn
Legislature which they claimed eS
empted them until they could earn
per cent. on the capital invented Il
I 1898, after an impartial jury had de
nided that they had earned 5 pc
-, recommended to the Legisls
to repeal that act. did this be
lhse they were delaying the paymen
of their taxes, by appealing, first t
the Supreme Court of the State, an
Z then, to the Supreme Court of tn
United States. They admitted tha
| if this act of the Legislature were r.
i pealed their appeal would not ava
T them and that their property woul
!, have to go on the tax rolls at ono
Y do not think the railroad or the He
+ aid loved me for this recommend
l ton.
: The Herald says, in speaking I
e me: He was employed by the raj
e road as we have been informed an
believed to lobby in favor of a bill
l. the session of 1900 to compromise IL
e amount of the States claims as d
Il creed in this fair and impartial d
l. cision. l was not employed by Il
;, railroad to lobby in favor of the b
l. to compromise, nor to do anythir
e else for the railroad in the case, al
It no truthful man will say that | wa
p The Herald did not give the name
y its informant.
/. / was sick with pneumonia when n
e official term as Governor expired,
E. January, 1900. Governor harrison, f
o while. was acting Governor becau
n of my sickness. The suits for abo
.e one million and a half dollars. IT.
4, States Supreme Court had decided
Ie favor of the State by divided cou
two for and one against. The ca
ID was appealed to the Supreme Court
T. the United States. l could not t.
Id what would be the result, and W
of very solicitious for the collection
&c the taxes from the railroad compai
ly and putting the railroad property
err the tax roll for future taxes, and VIII
sy the railroad company offered one N
re lion dollars to compromise the n
as lion and half dollars, as that wor
A give one million at once and put I