The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-05

.s-4a
GOOSE AND GOLDEN EGG, AGAIN.
We agree wholly with the Daily Re-
view, OF Clifton Forge, that there Is
much to be gained by fair treatment
snd great deal 10 lose by unfair
treatment OF railroads" We believe
that the people OF the state, speaking
generally. do not wish the railroads
TO be unfairly treated and TO have the
life taxed ou, OF them simply because
their properly In this state is nailed
down and cannot get away. We do
not care how the taxes are shared so
shey are shared even. and that, we be-
iieve. is the way the people in their,
hearts feel about It. ".
Railway taxation In Virginia is.
greater per mile than in any state In
the country having the same density OF
population, with railroads of similar
construction. and having no larger
volume OF traffic. According TO the
twenty-second annual report OF the
Interstate commerce Commission, the
average total tax per mile upon all
railroads in the United States for 1909
was s401. IN Virginia is was 1858. the
So me imposed in kentucky. but ma
Serialiy greater than in any other
Southern State, except Maryland. West
Virginia ana Oklahoma. This tax was
~
colorado, Idaho. Iowa. Kansas, Maine.
Missouri, Montana. Nebraska, Nevada.
North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont,
fsyyoming and Arizona. A rate OF 1868
the mile pad by the railroads in this
State last year was the average rate
covering all lines, branch lines and the
rest: but the rate paid by the Atlantic
Coast Line was s43i. by the Chesapeake
and Ohio ;5ss. by the Norfolk and
Western s51T and by the Seaboard Air
Line SAL.
These arc the facts set forth
In the olhcial statement OF the State
Corporation Commission OF Virginia
published in The Times-Dispatch less
than month ago. Notwithstanding
the admitted fact that the railroads
here last year We're taxed higher than
in seventeen OF the other States OF the
country similarly situated, in sense.
fiat increase OF e5 per cent. in the
assessment of railroad property was
made on all single track roads in the
State. and an increase OF more than IS
per cent on all doubl track roads This
amounted to an increase OF $4,000 to
$4,000 the mile on single track roads,
and from $4,000 to 100000 the mile on
i double track roads. Contending that
the railroads were already bearing
their Just proportion OF the public bur
den, the Corporation Commission yet
! decided that 1t would increase the
taxes on the roads. The conclusion OF
fthe Commission did not seem to be
warranted by the premises, but we sup
pose that its statement was made Up
as a sort Of contbrohis.e; compromise
for which the railroads 1t viii be noted.l
pay dearly.
The railroads. as the Commission
grants. are already bearing their Just !
proportion OF the public burdens, and, J
therefore. their load is to be increased. |
sThe railroads cannot help themselves
In the circumstances. They have made
mo resistance to the new assessment
placed upon them, except IN the way
of a WI
blest.
The Auditor of Public Accounts re-
sported to us. yesterday that the totali
State tax for 1910. assessed against the
railroads. was ss65,452.1s; that up to
this time all of ltshas been paid, ex-
sept s3o.131.1s. OF the s30.131,1s un-
paid, S2l,1s4.sa is a franchise tax as
fEessed against the Richmond, Fred
fericksburg and Potomac Railroad,
which is now matter of litigation.
in'he amount Of taxes paid by the sew
keral RAILROADS was as follows:
Atlantic Coast Lane I. .l.,....i.s 22,s45,52
chesapeake and Ohio (paid
under protes y -. - 2Os.12717
iNorrolk and Western. 313,75T6D
SEeaboard Air Line I.H...........5 26,ySO.G4
,4Ntrginian Is. .s.5.9.3.s..3.8. ss,9OO.37
washington and . Southern
(pafd under protesD 1872. 5,6Si.S9
i Southern Railway .......... lSD,55S.04
The Southern Railway is also operat-
Ing the following roads, and paid taxes
on them as follows.
1 Fran klin and I.ttsyiVania .... S 5O4.71
Atlantic and Danyille $S,2OT SG
y kichmond aud MecklenDurg., rs ,lb7.3s
The total amount OF taxes so far maid
BY the railroads aggregates sss5,sao.95.
4 This ought tc be "a great relief to the
Y condition OF The state Treasury.
II is to pc regretted. we think, thar
anything l!kespunitiye measures should
4 be doDted towards the transportation
Interests In this state. They ought
to pay their full share OF the cost or
sustaining tile government: but taxa
31ion that is not uniform and equal is
must taxatio We do not know that
there is any appeal from the decision
;'sor tho Corporation Commission. or whe-
ithers ! t would he wise for the railroads
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