East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-09-23

I leave the company but little over
100000 to pay and will thus reduce
their total tax burdens for the years
1872 to 1915, inclusive, to $780,
900.
It is important that these facts be
brought forcibly to the attention Of
the taxpayers Of the several land
grant counties for a mistaken impress
sion has gotten abroad through the
activities Of the agents Of certain "al-
legged" but not bona fide settlers that
the counties will be able to collect the
full amount Of unpaid taxes II con-
gress leaves the company's title to
the lands undisturbed.
If the state or federal government
should take over these lands the sew
eral counties should be paid every
dollar Of unpaid taxes And under
existing circumstances the counties
would stand a far better chance Of
obtaining the full amount from the
state or nation than they would from
the railroad company.
While discussing the tax question
and the moral equities Of the rail-
road company It Is well that we also
take into consideration the moral
equities" OF the people OF the state.
In this connection it should be re-
membered that by reason Of a large
acreage OF the grant remaining for
many years unpatented the company
was long permitted to escape the pay
ment OF Just share Of the annual
burdens Of taxation. II one will take
the total acreage OF the company's
grant and after making due allow
ance for sales apply a valuation Of
$3.50 per acre, and apply the prevail
ing tax rate during past years it will
be found that the amount Of taxes
the company would have paid far ex-
ceeds the total amount it has actual
ly paid
Any so called "moral equity" Of
the company growing out Of taxes
paid is, therefore, without merit. 1t
asked for the grant and took It with
the strings attached. Had 1t COM
piled with the terms Of the act the
lands would have long since passed
to other hands and It would long ago
have been relieved of the burdens Of
taxation.
transportation Of Troops.
Another "moral equity mentioned
by the company and which is without
merit is its claim for the transporta-
tion Of troops for the United States.
That was one of the obligations i'm
posed upon the company by the terms
of the grant. In consideration of this
magnificent grant, which has value
Figuring the lands at $3.50 per acre.
of $4,000 900, together with hundreds
of miles of free right of way, the
company agreed to transport the
troops of this government free OF
charge. II has never been, nor is
It going to be, deprived Of any of the
said SS,OO0,OO0 of value so it still
remains bound to render this service
to the government. If the company
wishes to be relieved Of this obliga-
tlon. and reimbursed for such SER
vices rendered in the past, it should
first return to the government not
only the unsold grant lands it now
holds but pay over to It the net re-
ceipts from all past sales.
In the adjustment Of this land grant
question hope to see the railroad
company fairly and literally dealt
with and nothing / have said has
been offered for the purpose of de-
feating any just claim 1t may put
forth but its interests are always so
well protected and its claims so ably
that It is well that the
moral equities" of the public be
fully presented and given due consid-
Grafton before any definite policy is
{ Continued on Page Is.