White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-02-11

sake of argument, a like number OF
freight cars we're supposed to be in
use and they were licensed on the
same basis of about IS a ton, the
total licenses for each year would
amount to $3.50, 00o,0 900 at the Ne
yada rate. At the Utah rate the
amount would be $240, 900. 900.
In addition TO the regular Utah
rate, added 10 which in practice
there are several side gratis in
the form of fees for this and that,
if the one fer inspection alone be
added-5O cents each year for each
car-that amount would be $1,000
900 annually.
These figures would apply to cars
alone and take no account of loco
motives. which are not included in
these group figures. II for 10000
900 ears there are 100000 locomo-
tives these would pay a license at the
Nevada rate of $3.50, 900, 900, the
same as the cars, making a total of
1920, 900, 900 for engines and cars.
Under the Utah rate the total would
be $780, 900, 900, and 100000 moro
for inspection.
But" the railways will reply,
we own cur rights of way, roadbeds
and trackage. We cannot be asked
TO pay licenses to use our own prop
erty.'
Good enough. They have title to
them, but how did they acquire such
title? Fly land grants, stipulated by
congress to not be sold above $3.50
an acre, which the railways today are
selling at 800 to S20G, or at the
highest market price, an acre. By
untaxed incomes in the form of earn
ings, every nickel of which was paid
by the people. By watercd stock
transactions and frenzied financial
transactions generally in defiance of
law, good morals and private rights.
But putting aside these facts and
admitting that the titles are legal IL
not just, does their plant even up
with the facts? Can they show that
they are paying any operation tax
whatever, it being notorious that
trucks are paying every property AK
that railways pay and several others
in the form of operation taxes for the
privilege of turning their wheels.
The argument falls to the ground.
II is false, untruthful and ~insincere.
Again the railways will reply, as
did Vice President Mccormick Of the
Southern Pacific recently at Reno.
the money the railways are paying as
taxes is being used to build roads for
the use of the trucks. Mr.. McCor-
mick said for the free use" of the
trucks, but it has just been shown
that such is not the case The rail-
ways are paying taxes and the money
is used for many things, including
roads. Out Of the vast sums collect
ed as taxes in war times and after,
the railways were given a couple of
huge g~ratulties by congress, amount
ing, according to best recollection, to
close to II billion dollars. These
taxes were not collected in the form
of tariffs upon imported goods, hence
there is no chance for a protectionist
and free-trader to argue and fall cut
over whether or not the foreign ship
per or the American paid
the taxes. They were collected as
direct war taxes an a thousand differ
ent things that the people use.
breathe, eat, drink and enjoy, from
automobile tires to picture shows
and from soft drinks and ice cream
to incomes. When it is said that ev-
eryone paid his share 1t mean every
truck owner and his aged grand
parent down to his day old infant.
All contributed and the railways got
the money and spent it.
To make a long story short. there
is nothing in this argument hat the
railways are furnishing the money in
taxes to build roads for competitors.
The trucks have done and are still
doing the same.
PROPOSED IMMIGRATION LAWS.